Fourth toe flexion sign: a new clinical sign for identification of the superficial peroneal nerve
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2026

Diagnosis of Musculus Gastrocnemius Tightness - Key Factors for the Clinical Examination
Published on: July 7, 2016
1Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract:
We describe a clinical sign for identification of the superficial peroneal nerve. Flexion of the fourth toe accentuates the subcutaneous course of the cutaneous branches of the superficial peroneal nerve. Thirty feet from 15 volunteers were examined for presence of this sign. Twenty-six of 30 feet had a positive sign that was confirmed by infiltrating the observed nerve with 1% lignocaine and correlating the consequent area of hypoaesthesia with the known distribution of the superficial peroneal nerve.
Related Concept Videos
Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment includes muscles that contribute to the dorsiflexion of the foot. This compartment houses the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles.
Pulse Assessment Sites
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
Ankle Joint
Reflex Activity
A reflex exam is a diagnostic procedure performed by a healthcare professional to evaluate the functionality of a patient's...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula

