Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the medial length of the calf?

Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the medial length of the calf?

• A. Superficial peroneal nerve
• B. Deep peroneal nerve
• C. Sural nerve
• D. Saphenous nerve

Answer: (D)

The sensation along the medial aspect of the leg, including the length of the calf, is supplied by the saphenous nerve. This nerve is a purely sensory branch of the femoral nerve that travels with the great saphenous vein down the inner leg, providing cutaneous innervation to the medial surface from the knee down to the medial ankle and foot. The other nerves cover different territories: the superficial peroneal nerve supplies the dorsolateral aspect of the leg and most of the dorsum of the foot, the deep peroneal nerve supplies a small area between the first and second toes, and the sural nerve supplies the posterior-lateral aspect of the leg and the lateral foot. Thus, for the medial calf, the saphenous nerve is the correct source of sensory innervation.

The sensation along the medial aspect of the leg, including the length of the calf, is supplied by the saphenous nerve. This nerve is a purely sensory branch of the femoral nerve that travels with the great saphenous vein down the inner leg, providing cutaneous innervation to the medial surface from the knee down to the medial ankle and foot. The other nerves cover different territories: the superficial peroneal nerve supplies the dorsolateral aspect of the leg and most of the dorsum of the foot, the deep peroneal nerve supplies a small area between the first and second toes, and the sural nerve supplies the posterior-lateral aspect of the leg and the lateral foot. Thus, for the medial calf, the saphenous nerve is the correct source of sensory innervation.