Lower limb
Medial plantar nerve
Nervus plantaris medialis
- Origin
- Larger terminal branch of the tibial nerve originating in the tarsal tunnel (homologous to the median nerve of the hand)
- Insertion
- Passes forward deep to abductor hallucis and divides into muscular and proper digital branches supplying digits 1–3 and the medial half of 4
- Function
- Motor to abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, flexor hallucis brevis, and 1st lumbrical; sensory to medial two-thirds of the sole and plantar digits 1 through 3.5
- Innervation
- Mixed sensorimotor nerve driving intrinsic medial arch support and toe flexion
- Movement & chain
- Stabilizes the longitudinal arch during heel-to-toe push-off
- Palpation
- Palpable along the medial longitudinal arch beneath the navicular tuberosity
- Clinical
- Jogger's foot (medial plantar nerve entrapment beneath the navicular tuberosity in runners with pes planovalgus); burning arch pain
- Segmental innervation
- L4, L5 spinal roots
- In clinical practice
- Custom orthotic arch support, shoe modification, and local ultrasound-guided anti-inflammatory injection
- Region in the model
- Lower limb