Which nerve innervates the biceps femoris short head?

Which nerve innervates the biceps femoris short head?

• A. Tibial nerve
• B. Deep fibular nerve
• C. Superficial fibular nerve
• D. Common fibular nerve

Answer: (D)

The short head of the biceps femoris is innervated by the common fibular (peroneal) nerve. This muscle head originates on the femur and inserts on the head of the fibula, and its motor supply comes from the common fibular nerve before it divides into the deep and superficial branches. The long head, by contrast, is innervated by the tibial portion of the sciatic nerve. So the correct nerve is the common fibular nerve because it supplies the short head specifically, while the tibial nerve supplies the long head and the leg’s posterior compartment muscles, and the deep and superficial fibular nerves innervate muscles in the leg compartments after the common fibular splits.

The short head of the biceps femoris is innervated by the common fibular (peroneal) nerve. This muscle head originates on the femur and inserts on the head of the fibula, and its motor supply comes from the common fibular nerve before it divides into the deep and superficial branches. The long head, by contrast, is innervated by the tibial portion of the sciatic nerve. So the correct nerve is the common fibular nerve because it supplies the short head specifically, while the tibial nerve supplies the long head and the leg’s posterior compartment muscles, and the deep and superficial fibular nerves innervate muscles in the leg compartments after the common fibular splits.