Vessels and Nerves of Lower Extremity

Question 1

the aorta divides into R/L ___ at the 5th lumbar vertebra

Answer 1

R/L common iliac arteries

Question 2

the common iliac divides into external and internal iliac arteries - which supplies the pelvis and gluteal region?

Answer 2

internal iliac artery

Question 3

which artery becomes the femoral artery after crossing deep to the inguinal ligament to enter the thigh?

Answer 3

external iliac artery

Question 4

what is the name of the branch of the femoral artery as it enters the thigh?

Answer 4

deep (profunda) femoral

the main femoral continues distally

Question 5

through what gap does the main femoral artery course posteriorly to the knee?

Answer 5

adductor hiatus of the adductor muscle

Question 6

after passing through the adductor hiatus, the main femoral artery becomes the ___

Answer 6

popliteal artery

Question 7

just distal to the knee, the popliteal artery divides into ____ and ____

Answer 7

posterior tibial artery, anterior tibial artery (which passes between fibula and tibia to course anteriorly)

Question 8

the dorsalis pedis artery is a continuation of which artery of the leg?

Answer 8

anterior tibial artery

dorsal surface of foot is top of foot, what you see when you look down

Question 9

what artery of the leg continues around medial malleolus onto plantar surface of foot?

Answer 9

posterior tibial artery

Question 10

what large vein, which does not have an accompanying artery, begins on the medial aspect of the foot, passes anteriorly to the medial malleolus, and drains superficially upwards of the extremity?

Answer 10

great saphenous vein - drainage channel that participates in drainage of lower extremity

Question 11

which deep vein does the great saphenous vein join in the thigh?

Answer 11

joins the femoral vein up by the head of the femur

Question 12

which structures make up the popliteal fossa?

Answer 12

diamond-shaped, bound by hamstrings on each side and head of gastrocnemius
within the popliteal fossa, you can feel popliteal pulse

Question 13

spinal nerves from __ to __ intermingle to form the peripheral nerves of the lower limb

Answer 13

L2 to S3

Question 14

what are the 5 major nerves of the lower extremities?

Answer 14

femoral (anterior thigh), obturator (medial thigh), sciatic (posterior thigh, leg, foot), superior gluteal (gluteus medius), inferior gluteal (gluteus maximus)

Question 15

just posterior to the knee the large sciatic nerve divides into ___ and ___

Answer 15

tibial nerve, common peroneal (fibular) nerve

the peroneal/fibular nerve then splits into deep and superficial fibular nerve

Question 16

what nerve supplies the fibularis longus and brevis?

Answer 16

superficial peroneal (fibular) nerve

Question 17

what nerve supplies the tibialis anterior?

Answer 17

deep fibular nerve

Question 18

what does the obturator nerve innervate?

Answer 18

medial thigh (adductor group)

Question 19

compression of this nerve can cause pain on the lateral thigh, a condition called meralgia paresthetica

Answer 19

lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, a branch of the lumbar plexus

Question 20

meralgia paresthetica

Answer 20

tingling/numbness caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (branch of lumbar plexus)

Question 21

the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve supplies the anterior thigh. It is a direct branch of what?

Answer 21

femoral nerve

Question 22

the femoral artery and vein within the femoral triangle are [superficial/deep]?

Answer 22

superficial - allows for palpitation of femoral pulse

Question 23

the femoral nerve is composed of the ventral rami of which spinal nerves?

Answer 23

L2-L4

Question 24

this artery supplies most of the muscles of the thigh

Answer 24

deep femoral artery, aka profunda femoris artery

Question 25

this artery supplies the lateral thigh and has a branch that ascends superiorly to join the plexus around the greater trochanter. What is?

Answer 25

lateral femoral circumflex artery

(there’s also a medial femoral circumflex artery which supplies the medial thigh and has an ascending branch supplying the head of the femur)

Question 26

where might an obturator hernia occur? What symptom would it cause?

Answer 26

at the obturator foramen - where the obturator nerve passes from the pelvis into the thigh

obturator hernia would cause weakness in medial thigh

Question 27

what nerve is the cutaneous terminal branch of the femoral nerve, supplying sensation to the medial leg and as far distantly as the base of the great toe?

Answer 27

saphenous nerve

Question 28

all muscles of the lateral thigh are innervated by the ____

Answer 28

superior gluteal nerve (also supplies gluteus medias and minimus)

Question 29

the superior gluteal nerve arises from which spinal nerve segments?

Answer 29

L4, L5, S1

Question 30

where does the inferior gluteal nerve arise from and what does it supply?

Answer 30

L5 and S1, supplies gluteus maximus

Question 31

the large sciatic nerve is formed by a union of the ventral rami of which spinal nerves?

Answer 31

L4, L5, S1-S4

Question 32

the pudendal nerve is formed by union of which spinal nerves?

Answer 32

S2-S4