Lower limb: great saphenous vein and nerve: 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: great saphenous vein and nerve

Sample item

After stripping of the great saphenous vein from ankle to groin for varicose veins, a woman reports numbness over the medial side of the leg and the medial border of the foot. Which nerve was most likely injured?

ASuperficial fibular nerveBSaphenous nerveCSural nerveDMedial plantar nerve

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Saphenous nerve

The saphenous nerve, the longest branch of the femoral nerve, leaves the adductor canal and accompanies the great saphenous vein in the leg, supplying the skin of the medial leg and medial border of the foot. It is therefore at risk during stripping below the knee and at the ankle. Vein-nerve pairs help in remembering the risk: great saphenous with saphenous, small saphenous with sural.

Option by option

A. Superficial fibular nerve
The superficial fibular nerve supplies most of the dorsum of the foot and the lower lateral leg, not the medial border.
B. Saphenous nerve (correct)
The saphenous nerve accompanies the great saphenous vein and supplies the medial leg and foot.
C. Sural nerve
The sural nerve accompanies the small saphenous vein and supplies the lateral border of the foot.
D. Medial plantar nerve
The medial plantar nerve supplies the medial sole and not the skin of the leg.

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.

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is B, Saphenous nerve. The saphenous nerve, the longest branch of the femoral nerve, leaves the adductor canal and accompanies the great saphenous vein in the leg, supplying the skin of the medial leg and medial border of the foot.

Why is "Superficial fibular nerve" not the answer?

The superficial fibular nerve supplies most of the dorsum of the foot and the lower lateral leg, not the medial border.

Why is "Sural nerve" not the answer?

The sural nerve accompanies the small saphenous vein and supplies the lateral border of the foot.

Why is "Medial plantar nerve" not the answer?

The medial plantar nerve supplies the medial sole and not the skin of the leg.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: great saphenous vein and nerve in Anatomy. It is therefore at risk during stripping below the knee and at the ankle. Vein-nerve pairs help in remembering the risk: great saphenous with saphenous, small saphenous with sural.

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: great saphenous vein and nerve?

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.