Lower limb: tibial nerve lesion: 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: tibial nerve lesion

Sample item

After a posterior knee dislocation, a patient cannot plantar flex or invert the foot, cannot curl the toes, and has numbness over the sole. Dorsiflexion and eversion are preserved. Which nerve is injured?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Tibial nerve

The tibial nerve supplies the calf flexors and the plantar muscles and gives sensation to the sole. A lesion above the calf branches abolishes plantar flexion and inversion and the foot assumes a dorsiflexed, everted posture. The fibular nerves supply the dorsiflexors and evertors, which are preserved here.

Option by option

  • A. Tibial nerve (correct)

    Correct. Loss of plantar flexion, inversion, toe flexion and sole sensation is a tibial lesion.

  • B. Common fibular nerve

    A common fibular lesion would cause foot drop and loss of eversion, which are preserved.

  • C. Superficial fibular nerve

    A superficial fibular lesion weakens eversion and numbs the dorsum of the foot.

  • D. Deep fibular nerve

    A deep fibular lesion weakens dorsiflexion and gives numbness only 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.

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Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Tibial nerve. The tibial nerve supplies the calf flexors and the plantar muscles and gives sensation to the sole.

Why is "Common fibular nerve" not the answer?

A common fibular lesion would cause foot drop and loss of eversion, which are preserved.

Why is "Superficial fibular nerve" not the answer?

A superficial fibular lesion weakens eversion and numbs the dorsum of the foot.

Why is "Deep fibular nerve" not the answer?

A deep fibular lesion weakens dorsiflexion and gives numbness only in the first web space.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: tibial nerve lesion in Anatomy. A lesion above the calf branches abolishes plantar flexion and inversion and the foot assumes a dorsiflexed, everted posture. The fibular nerves supply the dorsiflexors and evertors, which are preserved here.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: tibial nerve lesion?

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.