Plantar Nerves | Medial Plantar Nerve | Lateral Plantar Nerve

Anatomy

  • Terminal branches of the tibial nerve within the tarsal tunnel
  • Medial plantar nerve runs deep to abductor hallucis, then between abductor hallucis and FDB
  • Lateral plantar nerve crosses deep to abductor hallucis and FDB to the lateral sole
  • First branch of the lateral plantar nerve (Baxter nerve) supplies abductor digiti minimi

Motor Supply

  • Medial plantar nerve supplies abductor hallucis, FDB, FHB and the first lumbrical
  • Lateral plantar nerve supplies the remaining intrinsics, including quadratus plantae, adductor hallucis and the interossei

Sensory Supply

  • Medial plantar nerve to the medial sole and medial three and a half toes
  • Lateral plantar nerve to the lateral sole and lateral one and a half toes
  • Medial calcaneal branches of the tibial nerve supply the heel

Clinical Features

  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome compresses both nerves
  • Medial plantar nerve entrapment at the knot of Henry (jogger’s foot) causes medial arch pain
  • Baxter nerve entrapment mimics plantar fasciitis, with medial heel pain and abductor digiti minimi weakness
  • Interdigital (Morton’s) neuroma arises from the common digital nerves, most often in the third web space

Investigations

Posteromedial Approach to Ankle, tendon sheaths around the ankle, medial aspect, gray’s anatomy plate 442
Tendon sheaths around the ankle, medial aspect, Gray’s Anatomy plate 442. Image by Henry Vandyke Carter, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
  • Nerve conduction studies
  • MRI for a space occupying lesion in the tarsal tunnel

Management

  • Orthoses for hindfoot valgus
  • Release of the abductor hallucis fascia for distal entrapment

Reviewed by Professor Phong Tran, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health. Last updated 10 October 2026.