- Continuation of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa
- Runs deep in the posterior compartment of the leg
- Motor: posterior leg muscles (gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus)
- Sensory: via medial sural cutaneous nerve (joins to form sural nerve → supplies posterolateral leg and lateral foot)
- Passes behind the medial malleolus → divides into medial and lateral plantar nerves in the foot