The spelling of the word "nervus suralis" follows the rules of Latin spelling conventions. The first part, "nervus," is spelled as it sounds, with the "e" pronounced as "ay" and the "v" and "s" pronounced as they are in English. The second part, "suralis," is derived from the Latin word "sura" meaning calf, and is pronounced "soo-RAH-lis" with emphasis on the second syllable. The "s" is pronounced as "z" and the "u" represents a short "oo" sound. Thus, the correct IPA transcription for this word is "ˈnɛrvəs sʊˈreɪlɪs."
Nervus suralis, also known as the sural nerve, is a peripheral nerve located in the lower extremities of the human body. It is a small sensory nerve that arises from the tibial nerve and common fibular nerve in the leg, specifically from their union at the back of the knee, known as the popliteal fossa.
The nervus suralis descends down the back of the leg and divides into branches that provide sensory innervation to the skin over the lateral and posterior aspects of the calf, ankle, and foot. It also supplies the lateral side of the fifth toe and half of the fourth toe. These sensory fibers relay information from the skin to the central nervous system, specifically the spinal cord, allowing the individual to perceive touch, temperature, and pain in the mentioned areas.
In clinical medicine, the nervus suralis plays a significant role in various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. It is commonly used as a source for obtaining a sural nerve biopsy, which involves sampling a small piece of the nerve for laboratory examination to assess potential nerve abnormalities or diseases. The sural nerve can also be used as a donor nerve in nerve grafting procedures, where a segment of it is utilized to repair damaged nerves in other parts of the body.
Overall, the nervus suralis is a vital peripheral nerve that serves the sensory needs of the lower leg and foot, contributing to the overall sensory perception and motor functionality of the lower extremities.
Sural nerve, short or external saphenous nerve, formed by the union of the medial sural cutaneous from the tibial and the peroneal anastomotic branch of the common peroneal, about the middle of the calf; thence it accompanies the small saphenous vein around the lateral (external) malleolus to the dorsum of the foot.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "nervus suralis" originates from Latin.
The word "nervus" in Latin means "nerve", referring to a bundle of fibers responsible for transmitting signals throughout the body.
The word "suralis" is derived from the Latin term "sura", meaning "calf". It is used to denote the posterior region of the lower leg, particularly the area around the calf muscles.
Therefore, "nervus suralis" can be translated as "sural nerve", which is a sensory nerve located in the calf region.