A purely sensory nerve formed from branches of the peroneal and tibial nerves is known as which nerve?

The nerve formed from branches of the peroneal and tibial nerves that is purely sensory is the sural nerve. This nerve supplies sensation to areas on the posterior and lateral side of the leg as well as portions of the foot, making it essential for providing feeling to these regions. The sural nerve is significant in clinical settings, especially for nerve conduction studies, as it serves as a useful target for assessing sensory nerve function.

The medial plantar and lateral plantar nerves are branches of the tibial nerve but are primarily motor nerves with some sensory components, innervating the muscles and skin of the foot. The saphenous nerve, which is a branch of the femoral nerve, primarily supplies sensation to the medial side of the leg and foot, not deriving from the peroneal and tibial nerves. Thus, the sural nerve stands out as the purely sensory nerve formed from the combinations of the peroneal and tibial nerves.