The Baxter’s nerve, also known the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve, is a small nerve (under 1mm in diameter) running along the inside of the heel. It is an uncommon cause of heel pain, but one that should be considered when pain is not improving, particularly if you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. This tiny nerve is responsible for providing muscular control to three small muscles of the foot, quadratus plantae, abductor digiti minimi and the flexor digitorum brevis. It also provides sensation to the heel bone (calcaneus) (Presley et al., 2013).
The Baxter’s nerve is a branch of a larger nerve, called the tibial nerve. The tibial nerve provides the calf muscles with both muscle control and sensation.