Relations of the common peroneal nerve to the insertion of biceps femoris and origin of peroneus longus

ABSTRACT

A keen knowledge of the course of the common peroneal nerve and its relationship to the adjacent anatomical structures is mandatory to minimize the iatrogenic insult to the nerve and to elucidate the mechanisms of its injury. The aim of the present work was to study the relations of the common peroneal nerve to the insertion of biceps femoris and the origin of peroneus longus muscles. Cadaveric study included dissection often preserved lower limbs. The common peroneal nerve was plastered to the reinforced deep fascia at the posteromedial border of the biceps femoris tendon by a strap of delicate fibrous tissue. The nerve on its way to the fibular tunnel passed successively between the fibular head and the reinforced fascia then between soleus muscle and the reinforced fascia. The medial boundary of the fibular tunnel was made by the bare fibular neck. Its lateral boundary was made by the fleshy fibres of the first segment of peroneus longus muscle. The common peroneal nerve and its branches lied on the bare part of the lateral surface of the fibula between the first and second segments of peroneus longus on their superficial side and the third segment of the muscle on their deep side