Limbs nerves and vessels

Question 1

How would you test the motor and sensory components of the axillary nerve?

Answer 1

Motor
• Deltoid and teres minor
• Abduction against resistance

Sensory
• Area below shoulder
• C5, 6

Question 2

How would you test the motor and sensory components of the musculocutaneous nerve?

Answer 2

Motor
• Anterior arm muscles
• Flex arm at elbow against resistance

Sensory
• Lateral anterior surface of forearm
• C5, 6, 7

Question 3

How would you test the motor and sensory components of the radial nerve?

Answer 3

Motor
• Posterior forearm muscles
• Wrist, finger extensors

Sensory
• Test at dorsal web space between thumb and index finger (only dorsal side)

Question 4

How would you test the motor and sensory components of the ulnar nerve?

Answer 4

Motor
• All intrinsic hand muscles except thenar group
• Abduct fingers against resistance

Sensory
• Ulnar portion of the hand
• Test at tip of pinky finger

Question 5

How would you test the motor and sensory components of the median nerve?

Answer 5

Motor
• Fine precision and pinch
• Thenar muscles
• 2+3 lumbricals
• Ask patient to thumb to 5th finger, watch thenar muscles

Sensory
• Radial side of palm of hand (and thumb)
• Most of index and middle finger
• Test at tip of index finger

Question 6

Which nerve is vulnerable to damage at the elbow?

Answer 6

• Ulnar nerve
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Pinky and ring finger (half on palmar) numbness

Question 7

What goes through the carpal tunnel?

Answer 7

Tendons (9)
• FDS
• FDP
• Flexor pollicis longus

Nerve (1)
• Median nerve

Question 8

What goes through the carpal tunnel?

Answer 8

Tendons (9)
• FDS
• FDP
• Flexor pollicis longus

Nerve (1)
• Median nerve

Question 9

How would you test the motor component of the sciatic nerve?

Answer 9

Innervates posterior compartment of the thigh (hamstrings) and part of adductor magnus

• Ask patient to lie prone (face down) with legs slightly flexed at the knee
• Ask to flex further as you apply resistance - palpate mid thigh

Question 10

How would you test the motor component of the gluteal nerve?

Answer 10

• Test gluteus medius and minimus

* Lie on side and abduct thigh - apply resistance

Question 11

How would you test the motor component of the femoral nerve?

Answer 11

Innervates quadriceps femoris

• Ask patient to sit over end of couch
• Ask to extend at knee joint
• Apply resistance and palpate top of thigh

Question 12

How would you test the motor component of the obturator nerve?

Answer 12

Innervates the adductors and obturator externus

• Ask patient to lie supine and slightly abduct the leg
• Then ask to adduct against resistance
• Palpate medial aspect of thigh

Question 13

How would you test the motor component of the superficial peroneal nerve?

Answer 13

Innervates the fibularis longus and brevis

• Ask patient for the eversion and plantarflexion of the foot
• Apply resistance and palpate lateral aspect of the leg

Question 14

How would you test the motor component of the deep peroneal nerve?

Answer 14

Innervates anterior leg muscles (tibialis anterior, EHL, EDL)

• Ask patient for inversion and dorsiflexion of the foot
• Apply resistance and palpate anterior leg muscles

Question 15

What is foot drop?

Answer 15

• Damage to the common fibular nerve including the sciatic nerve
• Paralysis of the muscles in the anterior portion of the lower leg, so foot drops

Question 16

Which nerve is vulnerable at the head of the fibula?

Answer 16

Common peroneal (fibular) nerve

Question 17

Which nerve segments do the following nerves come from:
• Femoral nerve
• Obturator nerve
• Sciatic nerve
• Common peroneal nerve
• Tibial nerve

Answer 17

• Femoral nerve - L2-4
• Obturator nerve - L2-4
• Sciatic nerve - L4-5, S1-3

(Common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve are same as sciatic)

Question 18

Which nerve segments do the following nerves come from:
• Musculocutaneous nerve
• Axillary nerve
• Radial nerve
• Median nerve
• Ulnar nerve

Answer 18

• Musculocutaneous nerve - C5, 6, 7
• Axillary nerve - C5, 6
• Radial nerve - C5-T1
• Median nerve - C5-T1
• Ulnar nerve - C8, T1