Lower Limb Peripheral Nerves

Question 1

What is the sensory distribution of the tibial nerve?

Answer 1

Combines with the sural nerve to form the common fibular nerve.
Supplies the foot via the :
Medial calcaneal branch-heel of the foot
Medial plantar nerve- plantar surface of medial 3 1/2 digits
Lateral plantar nerve- plantar surface of lateral 1 1/2 digits

Question 2

What is the motor distribution of the tibial nerve?

Answer 2

Muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg: tibialis posterior, popliteus, gastrocnemius, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus
Intrinsic muscles of the foot via medial and lateral plantar nerves

Question 3

What is the sensory distribution of the femoral nerve?

Answer 3

Anterior and medial aspect of the thigh

Question 4

What is the motor distribution of the femoral nerve?

Answer 4

Muscles of the anterior thigh:
Knee extensors- Rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius
Hip flexors- pectineus, sartorius, iliacus

Question 5

What is the sensory distribution of the common peroneal nerve?

Answer 5

Lateral aspect of the leg and dorsal surface of the foot

Question 6

What is the motor distribution of the common peroneal nerve?

Answer 6

Directly innervates the biceps femoris
Indirectly innervates the muscles of the anterior and lateral leg via branches

Question 7

What is the sensory distribution of the deep peroneal nerve?

Answer 7

Webbed space between the hallux and the second toe

Question 8

What is the motor distribution of the deep peroneal nerve?

Answer 8

Muscles of the anterior leg: tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus
Some intrinsic foot muscles: extensor digitorum brevis, extensor hallucis brevis

Question 9

What is the sensory distribution of the sciatic nerve?

Answer 9

Indirectly to the skin of the lateral leg, dorsal and plantar surfaces of the foot and the heel

Question 10

What is the motor distribution of the sciatic nerve?

Answer 10

Muscles of the posterior thigh: semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris

Question 11

What is the sensory distribution of the saphenous nerve?

Answer 11

Medial aspect of the lower leg and foot up until the metatarsophalangeal joints

Question 12

What is the sensory distribution of the lateral plantar nerve?

Answer 12

Lateral aspect of the sole of the foot, lateral 1 1/2 digits

Question 13

What is the motor distribution of the lateral plantar nerve?

Answer 13

All intrinsic muscles of the foot that aren’t innervated by the medial plantar nerve

Question 14

What is the sensory distribution of the medial plantar nerve?

Answer 14

Medial 2/3 of the plantar surface of the foot

Question 15

What is the motor distribution of the medial plantar nerve?

Answer 15

Great toe flexors and abductors: flexor hallucis brevis, abductor hallucis
Toe flexors: flexor digitorum brevis, 1st lumbrical

Question 16

What is the sensory distribution of the sural nerve

Answer 16

Posterolateral aspect of the distal leg

Question 17

What is the sensory distribution of the superficial peroneal nerve?

Answer 17

Anterolateral compartment of the distal leg and majority of the dorsum of the foot

Question 18

What is the motor distribution of the superficial peroneal nerve?

Answer 18

Muscles of the lateral aspect of the distal leg

Question 19

What are the lower limb peripheral nerves and what are their nerve roots?

Answer 19

Tibial nerve-L4-S3
Common peroneal nerve -L4-S2
Deep peroneal nerve L4-S1
Lateral plantar nerve -L4-S3
Medial plantar nerve - L4-S3
Femoral nerve- L2-L4
Saphenous nerve -L3-L4
Sciatic nerve-L4-S3
Sural nerve - S1-S2
Superficial peroneal nerve -L4-S1