Nerves of the Lower Limb

Question 1

Describe features of the lumbar plexus

Answer 1

Question 2

Describe the travel of the femoral nerve, its roots and the branches.

Answer 2

Question 3

What is the sensory innervation supply by the femoral nerve

Answer 3

Hip joint

Knee joint

Skin on anterior surface of thigh

Skin on medial leg and foot (by saphenous vein).

Question 4

Describe the motor innervation of the femoral nerve

Answer 4

Illiacus and muscles within the anterior compartment of the thigh (Quadricepts femoris, sartorius and pectineus)

Question 5

Describe features of the saphenous nerve

Answer 5

Question 6

What is the sensory supple of the saphenous nerve and its roots

Answer 6

Roots = L3-L4.

Supplies = Skin on medial surface of knee and anteromedial surface of leg and medial malleolus

Question 7

Describe the sensory innervation of the obturator nerve and its roots

Answer 7

Roots = L2-4.
Inntervation;
- Hip joint, knee joint and upper half of medial thigh

Question 8

Describe the motor innervation of the obturator nerve

Answer 8

Question 9

Describe features of the sacral plexus

Answer 9

Has roots L4-S4. Located on surface of posterior pelvic wall, deep to piriformis muscle

Question 10

Name the two gluteal nerves

Answer 10

Superior gluteal nerve and the inferior gluteal nerve

Question 11

Describe the features of the superior gluteal nerve

Answer 11

• Roots are L4-S1
• Exits pelvis through suprapiriform space
• Runs laterally between the gluteus medius and minimus
• Supplies gluteus medius, gluteal minimus and tensor fasciae latae

Question 12

Describe the features of the inferior gluteal nerve

Answer 12

• Roots L5-S2
• Exits pelvis through infrapiriform space and innervates gluteal maximus

Question 13

Describe features of the sciatic nerve

Answer 13

Question 14

Where should intragluteal injections be preformed and why?

Answer 14

In the superiolateral quadrant of the buttock as this is away from the majority of the neuromuscular structures

Question 15

What is the sensory and motor innervation of the sciatic nerve

Answer 15

Question 16

What are the nerves in each compartment of the leg (remember leg is not thigh!)

Answer 16

Lateral compartment - Superficial fibular nerve
Anterior compartment - Deep fibular nerve
Posterior compartment - Tibial nerve

Question 17

Describe features of the tibial nerve

Answer 17

Question 18

What is the sensory function of the tibial nerve?

Answer 18

Ankle joint and skin of the heal

Question 19

What is the motor function of the tibial nerve

Answer 19

Question 20

Describe features of the medial plantar nerve (sensory and motor supply)

Answer 20

Question 21

Describe features of the lateral plantar nerve (sensory and motor supply)

Answer 21

Question 22

What are the other nerves in the foot (plantar side)

Answer 22

Plantar digital nerves

Question 23

Describe some features of the common fibular (peroneal) nerve

Answer 23

Question 24

Describe features of the sural nerve

Answer 24

Question 25

What is the sensory innervation of the deep fibular nerve and what are its root

Answer 25

Roots = L4-5 Ankle join and web space between the 1st and 2nd toes

Question 26

What is the motor innervation of the deep fibular nerve

Answer 26

Question 27

What is the sensory innervation from the superficial fibular nerve and what are its roots

Answer 27

Roots = L5-S2 Sensory innervation - Ankle joint, skin on anterior distal leg, skin on dorsum of foot.

Question 28

What is the motor innervation of the superficial fibular nerve

Answer 28

Muscles in the lateral compartment of the thigh (fibularis longus and fibularis brevis)

Question 29

What are the features of Obturator nerve

Answer 29