Which nerve innervates both the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius?

Which nerve innervates both the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius?

• A. Common fibular nerve
• B. Femoral nerve
• C. Tibial nerve
• D. Obturator nerve

Answer: (C)

Gastrocnemius is part of the posterior leg and its motor supply comes from the tibial nerve, the tibial division of the sciatic nerve. Because both the medial and lateral heads belong to the same muscle group in the posterior compartment, they share this single innervation, so the tibial nerve drives both heads. The common fibular (peroneal) nerve mainly supplies muscles of the anterior and lateral compartments and the short head of the biceps femoris, not the gastrocnemius. The femoral nerve goes to the anterior thigh (quadriceps), and the obturator nerve supplies most of the medial thigh adductors.

Gastrocnemius is part of the posterior leg and its motor supply comes from the tibial nerve, the tibial division of the sciatic nerve. Because both the medial and lateral heads belong to the same muscle group in the posterior compartment, they share this single innervation, so the tibial nerve drives both heads. The common fibular (peroneal) nerve mainly supplies muscles of the anterior and lateral compartments and the short head of the biceps femoris, not the gastrocnemius. The femoral nerve goes to the anterior thigh (quadriceps), and the obturator nerve supplies most of the medial thigh adductors.