What area does the superficial peroneal nerve supply?

The superficial peroneal nerve primarily supplies sensation to the dorsum of the foot, which includes the upper surface of the foot. It is a branch of the common peroneal nerve and provides motor function mainly to the muscles in the lateral compartment of the leg, specifically the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis. This supports involuntary actions such as eversion of the foot.

Understanding the role of the superficial peroneal nerve is crucial because, while it has motor functions, its key sensory supply is also significant in clinical contexts, such as assessing for nerve injury.

The other choices pertain to different nerve supplies; for instance, the anterior compartment of the leg is mainly supplied by the deep peroneal nerve, while the medial compartment of the thigh is innervated by the obturator nerve. Recognizing these distinctions helps clarify the function and relevance of the superficial peroneal nerve in both anatomy and clinical practice.