Which muscle is a primary evertor of the foot and is innervated by the superficial fibular nerve?

Which muscle is a primary evertor of the foot and is innervated by the superficial fibular nerve?

• A. Fibularis longus
• B. Tibialis anterior
• C. Soleus
• D. Gastrocnemius

Answer: (A)

Eversion of the foot is carried out mainly by the muscles in the lateral compartment of the leg, especially the fibularis (peroneus) longus and fibularis brevis, which are innervated by the superficial fibular nerve. The fibularis longus not only everts the foot but also assists in plantarflexion. Its tendon runs behind the lateral malleolus and under the foot to insert on the plantar surface of the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform, helping stabilize the arches during gait. In contrast, the tibialis anterior dorsiflexes and inverts the foot and is innervated by the deep fibular nerve. The soleus and gastrocnemius are plantarflexors and are innervated by the tibial nerve. Therefore, the muscle that best fits being a primary evertor and being innervated by the superficial fibular nerve is fibularis longus.

Eversion of the foot is carried out mainly by the muscles in the lateral compartment of the leg, especially the fibularis (peroneus) longus and fibularis brevis, which are innervated by the superficial fibular nerve. The fibularis longus not only everts the foot but also assists in plantarflexion. Its tendon runs behind the lateral malleolus and under the foot to insert on the plantar surface of the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform, helping stabilize the arches during gait. In contrast, the tibialis anterior dorsiflexes and inverts the foot and is innervated by the deep fibular nerve. The soleus and gastrocnemius are plantarflexors and are innervated by the tibial nerve. Therefore, the muscle that best fits being a primary evertor and being innervated by the superficial fibular nerve is fibularis longus.