Fascicular analysis at perineurial level of the branching pattern of the human common peroneal nerve

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The macroscopic branching pattern of the peripheral nerves is usually provided by the epineurial connective tissue, whereas the removal of the epineurium discloses component fascicles covered by a perineurial sheath comprising a fine network with a peculiar branching pattern. In order to compare both patterns, the common peroneal nerve (PC) was dissected minutely in 10 human legs. At the epineurial level the branching pattern into tributary bundles was variable in respect to both the origin of the superficial peroneal nerve and that of the muscular branches (Rr. m. peroneus longus, RPL) to the peroneus longus. At the perineurial level the fascicles formed intricate tiny plexuses without a discrete branching pattern, but as a whole consisted of a regular arrangement divided into four crural streams for the deep peroneal (PP), the accessory deep peroneal (PPA) and two dorsal cutaneous nerves. The RPL fascicles were derived substantially from the PPA stream. The findings on the fascicular branching pattern in the present study show that the PC consists of two muscular and two sensory streams that were ensheathed by the epineurium to form the PP containing a single muscular stream, and the superficial peroneal nerve with the three remaining streams. Thus the extensor and peroneal muscles of the leg have their own nerve supply from the PP and PPA, respectively. The branching pattern of the fascicles of muscular branches at the perineurial level may be a useful estimator of muscle grouping, for which the branching pattern at the epineurial level is hardly of any use due to its variability.