Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Japan.
Clin Anat. 2011 Jul;24(5):646-51. doi: 10.1002/ca.21138. Epub 2011 Mar 11.
The connecting branch between the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve and medial plantar nerve often has an enlarged site. We investigated these enlarged sites of the connecting branches. We observed the 22 human feet of 20 Japanese cadavers. We investigated the connecting branch macroscopically and histologically. We found the connecting branches between the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve and medial plantar nerve in 19 feet out of 22 feet. This connecting nerve branch was interposed between the tendon of the flexor hallucis longus and the flexor hallucis brevis, and there enlarged in the anteroposterior direction. After penetration, numbers of fascicles of this connecting branch were increased at the enlarged site. In this region, the connective tissues surrounding the nerve fascicles and vessels were more developed compared with the adjoining sides of this branch. A few fascicles at this enlarged site innervated the first metatarsophalangeal joint capsule. Other nerve fascicles arose from the connecting branch and branched off muscular branches to the flexor hallucis brevis. This branch possibly receives the physical exertion or friction during gait due to its position. Deformity and overload of the foot can cause sensory disorders of the foot, but the anatomical basis for the relationship between the deformity/overload and sensory disorders of the foot is unclear. We discussed that this connecting branch can be a potential cause of pressure neuropathies in the human foot.
足底外侧神经深支与足底内侧神经的交通支通常有一个扩大的部位。我们研究了这些交通支的扩大部位。我们观察了 20 具日本尸体的 22 只人脚。我们从宏观和组织学上研究了交通支。我们发现，在 22 只脚中有 19 只脚存在足底外侧神经深支与足底内侧神经的交通支。该交通神经支位于踇长屈肌腱和踇短屈肌腱之间，并在前后方向上扩大。穿透后，该交通支的神经束数量在扩大部位增加。在这个区域，神经束和血管周围的结缔组织比该分支的相邻侧更为发达。该扩大部位的一些束支配第一跖趾关节囊。其他神经束从交通支发出，分支为短屈肌肌支。由于其位置，该分支可能在步态中受到身体活动或摩擦的影响。足部的畸形和过载会导致足部感觉障碍，但足部畸形/过载与感觉障碍之间的关系的解剖学基础尚不清楚。我们讨论了该交通支可能是人类足部压迫性神经病的潜在原因。
