From its origin under the laciniate ligament it passes under cover of the abductor hallucis muscle, and, appearing between this muscle and the flexor digitorum brevis, gives off a proper digital plantar nerve and finally divides opposite the bases of the metatarsal bones into three common digital plantar nerves.

The cutaneous branches pierce the plantar aponeurosis between the abductor hallucis and the flexor digitorum brevis and are distributed to the skin of the sole of the foot.

The muscular branches supply muscles on the medial side of the sole, including the abductor hallucis, the flexor digitorum brevis, the flexor hallucis brevis, and the first lumbrical; those for the abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis arise from the trunk of the nerve near its origin and enter the deep surfaces of the muscles; the branch of the flexor hallucis brevis springs from the proper digital nerve to the medial side of the great toe, and that for the first lumbrical is from the first common digital nerve.

Each proper digital nerve gives off cutaneous and articular filaments; and opposite the last phalanx sends upward a dorsal branch, which supplies the structures around the nail, the continuation of the nerve being distributed to the ball of the toe.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 963 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)