major nerves

Question 1

femoral nerve

Answer 1

roots from L2, L3, L4

• runs b/w iliacus, psoas (innervates)
• crosses hip behind inguinal ligament
• innervates hip flexors and knee extensors (quads) as it travels down front of thigh

Question 2

obturator nerve

Answer 2

roots from L2, L3, L4

• runs on medial side of thigh, through obturator foramen in pelvis to the thigh
• innervates medial compartment of the thigh

Question 3

greater sciatic foramen

Answer 3

• on the posterior aspect of pelvis
• formed by greater sciatic notch and the sacrospinous ligament
• piriformis runs through greater sciatic foramen and sometimes sciatic nerve runs through piriformis which could cause problems
• 2 gluteal nerves also run through here

Question 4

gluteal nerves

Answer 4

innervate gluteals (abduct hip)

Question 5

sciatic nerve

Answer 5

roots from L4 to S3

• comprised of 2 branches (tibial and common peroneal) that start together and split later
• cross posterior aspect of the hip and splits partway down the posterior aspect of thigh
• innervates hip extensors and hamstrings (knee flexors)

Question 6

tibial nerve

Answer 6

runs straight down posterior aspect of thigh/leg, through popliteal fossa
- innervates deep and superficial compartments of the leg (plantarflexion, some toe flexion, inversion)

Question 7

common peroneal nerve

Answer 7

runs laterally from the sciatic nerve split towards the head of fibula

• innervates peroneals and biceps femoris which all have insertions on head of fib
• splits into 2 branches:
  1. superficial peroneal nerve
  2. deep peroneal nerve - runs around front to innervate anterior aspect of leg (dorisflexion, some to extension)

Question 8

superficial peroneal nerve

Answer 8

a branch of the common peroneal nerve

- runs along lateral side to innervate peroneals

Question 9

deep peroneal nerve

Answer 9

a branch of the common peroneal nerve

- runs around front to innervate anterior aspect of leg (dorisflexion, some to extension)

Question 10

brachial plexus

Answer 10

supplied by spinal nerves C5 to T1

- runs b/w anterior and middle scalenes, under the clavicle and towards the axilla

Question 11

nerves of the brachial plexus

Answer 11

axillary
musculocutaneus
radial
median
ulnar

Question 12

axillary nerve

Answer 12

roots from C4-C6

• loops around humerus to lateral side
• innervates deltoid (abduction of GH joint)

Question 13

musculocutaneous nerve

Answer 13

roots from C5-C7

• found on more distal part of arm
• runs through coracobrachialis (innervates)
• innervates biceps brachii and brachialis
• causes flexion of shoulder and flexion of elbow

Question 14

radial nerve

Answer 14

roots from C5-T1

• runs down back of arm, down through radial groove and ends around the radial/lateral side of the elbow
• innervates triceps brachii (extension of elbow) and extensors of wrist (post side of forearm = supination)

Question 15

median nerve

Answer 15

roots from C5-T1

• runs across cubital fossa, medially down front of forearm and under the flexor retinaculum in the carpal tunnel
• innervates flexors of wrist and fingers and thenar eminence (thumb side)

Question 16

ulnar nerve

Answer 16

roots from C8-T1

• travels along ulnar side of forearm to tunnel of guyon
• innervates hypothenar eminence, and smaller intrinsic muscles of the hand

Question 17

what do the median and ulnar nerves do

Answer 17

they travel together for awhile down the medial side of arm b/w anterior and posterior compartments but does not innervate either
- instead is aiming to innervate the hand