Which nerve innervates the flexor digitorum brevis? (Alternate phrasing)

Which nerve innervates the flexor digitorum brevis? (Alternate phrasing)

• A. Medial plantar nerve
• B. Tibial nerve
• C. Lateral plantar nerve
• D. Common fibular nerve

Answer: (A)

Flexor digitorum brevis is one of the intrinsic muscles on the plantar surface of the foot, and its motor supply comes from the medial plantar nerve. This nerve is a branch of the tibial nerve and provides innervation to most of the medial-layer intrinsic foot muscles, including flexor digitorum brevis, as well as abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, and the first lumbrical. The lateral plantar nerve handles other intrinsic muscles on the lateral side of the sole, not this one, while the common fibular nerve supplies muscles in the leg and dorsum of the foot rather than the plantar intrinsic muscles. So the medial plantar nerve is the correct source of innervation for the flexor digitorum brevis.

Flexor digitorum brevis is one of the intrinsic muscles on the plantar surface of the foot, and its motor supply comes from the medial plantar nerve. This nerve is a branch of the tibial nerve and provides innervation to most of the medial-layer intrinsic foot muscles, including flexor digitorum brevis, as well as abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, and the first lumbrical. The lateral plantar nerve handles other intrinsic muscles on the lateral side of the sole, not this one, while the common fibular nerve supplies muscles in the leg and dorsum of the foot rather than the plantar intrinsic muscles. So the medial plantar nerve is the correct source of innervation for the flexor digitorum brevis.