Injury to which nerve of the leg can most likely lead to atrophy of the lateral calf?

The nerve that, when injured, can most likely lead to atrophy of the lateral calf is the common peroneal nerve. Here are the steps to understand why:

1. The lateral calf muscle, also known as the peroneus longus and brevis, is innervated by the superficial branch of the common peroneal nerve.

2. The common peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve, which runs down the back of the leg and splits into the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve at the knee.

3. The common peroneal nerve then wraps around the fibula bone in the leg, where it is susceptible to injury.

4. If the common peroneal nerve is injured, it can lead to weakness or loss of movement in the foot and ankle, known as foot drop. Over time, this can cause the muscles that the nerve supplies, including the lateral calf, to atrophy or waste away.

5. Therefore, injury to the common peroneal nerve can most likely lead to atrophy of the lateral calf.