Return to the common fibular (peroneal) nerve  in the popliteal fossa and trace its branches in the lateral and anterior compartments of the leg. (G 5.59B;N 529;Gl 34.39)

1. Blunt dissect along the common fibular nerve until it disappears into the muscle of the lateral compartment of the leg.
2. Separate the tibialis anterior and extensor hallucis longus muscles. Identify the deep fibular (peroneal) nerve deep between these two muscles.
3. Identify the superficial branch of the fibular nerve where it emerges between the peroneal muscles and extensor digitorum longus muscle (approximately 10 cm superior to the lateral malleolus).
4. Trace the superficial and deep branches in the proximal direction and attempt to identify where they split from the common fibular (peroneal) nerve.