Lower limb: leg compartments: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Lower limb: leg compartments

Sample item

After a lateral leg incision for a fasciotomy, a patient has weak foot eversion and numbness over the dorsum of the foot and lower lateral leg. Dorsiflexion and toe extension are normal. Which nerve was injured?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Superficial peroneal nerve

The lateral compartment contains peroneus longus and brevis, the evertors of the foot, supplied by the superficial peroneal nerve. The same nerve gives sensation to the lower lateral leg and dorsum of the foot except the first web space. The anterior compartment dorsiflexors are supplied by the deep peroneal nerve and are spared here.

Option by option

  • A. Tibial nerve

    The tibial nerve causes weak plantar flexion and sole numbness.

  • B. Superficial peroneal nerve (correct)

    Correct. Loss of eversion and dorsal foot sensation with preserved dorsiflexion indicates this nerve.

  • C. Sural nerve

    The sural nerve gives only lateral foot sensation and has no motor loss.

  • D. Deep peroneal nerve

    The deep peroneal nerve causes weak dorsiflexion and numbness in the first web space.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is B, Superficial peroneal nerve. The lateral compartment contains peroneus longus and brevis, the evertors of the foot, supplied by the superficial peroneal nerve.

Why is "Tibial nerve" not the answer?

The tibial nerve causes weak plantar flexion and sole numbness.

Why is "Sural nerve" not the answer?

The sural nerve gives only lateral foot sensation and has no motor loss.

Why is "Deep peroneal nerve" not the answer?

The deep peroneal nerve causes weak dorsiflexion and numbness in the first web space.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: leg compartments in Anatomy. The same nerve gives sensation to the lower lateral leg and dorsum of the foot except the first web space. The anterior compartment dorsiflexors are supplied by the deep peroneal nerve and are spared here.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Lower limb: leg compartments?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.