3 – The tibial nerve

The tibial nerve runs in the posterior compartment of the leg, before it divides into the two terminal branches: the medial and the lateral plantar nerves. The two terminal branches give off cutaneous and muscular branches to the foot

Within the popliteal fossa, the tibial nerve gives off:
– articular branches to the knee joint (the genicular nerves)
– muscular branches to the ankle flexor muscles in the posterior compartment
– a cutaneous nerve to the lateral ankle and foot – the sural nerve

In the distal part of the leg, the tibial nerve gives off:
– articular branches to the ankle joint
– a cutaneous nerve to the heel, the medial calcaneal nerve