Lower Limb Examination

Question 1

What are you testing with hip flexion?

Answer 1

L1,L2, L3

Question 2

What are you testing with hip extension?

Answer 2

L4, L5

Question 3

What are you testing with knee flexion?

Answer 3

L5,S1

Question 4

What are you testing with knee extension?

Answer 4

**L3,L4

Question 5

What are you testing with ankle dorsiflexion?

Answer 5

L4, L5

Question 6

What are you testing with plantar flexion?

Answer 6

S1

Question 7

Differentials for unilateral foot drop

Answer 7

Peripheral: Anterior horn cell, L5 or L4 root, sacral plexus, sciatic nerve, common perineal, deep perineal, NMJ, muscle

**L5 **dermatome and flaccid paralysis of big toe dorsiflexion
**L4 **dermatome and ankle inversion
Sciatic: wasting of lateral thighs, loss of sensation from lateral knees to medial down to foot and whole foot including underneath
Common perineal: loss of dorsiflexion, some weakness of toe, both L5/S1 dermatome but not underneath foot
Deep perineal: loss of dorsiflexion and saddle gap anaesthesia