Lower limb: sural 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.

Try it

Anatomy · Lower limb: sural nerve

Sample item

A surgeon harvests a sensory nerve graft that runs beside the short saphenous vein and behind the lateral malleolus. Which nerve is this, and what area does it supply?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Sural nerve, lateral side of the foot

The sural nerve is formed by the medial sural cutaneous branch of the tibial nerve and a communicating branch of the common fibular nerve. It runs with the short saphenous vein behind the lateral malleolus and supplies the lateral foot and little toe.

Option by option

  • A. Superficial fibular nerve, dorsum of the foot

    This nerve crosses the front of the ankle and supplies the dorsum of the foot.

  • B. Saphenous nerve, medial side of the leg

    This nerve follows the great saphenous vein on the medial side.

  • C. Sural nerve, lateral side of the foot (correct)

    Correct. It accompanies the short saphenous vein and supplies the lateral foot.

  • D. Deep fibular nerve, first web space

    This nerve passes in front of the ankle and supplies only 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 C, Sural nerve, lateral side of the foot. The sural nerve is formed by the medial sural cutaneous branch of the tibial nerve and a communicating branch of the common fibular nerve.

Why is "Superficial fibular nerve, dorsum of the foot" not the answer?

This nerve crosses the front of the ankle and supplies the dorsum of the foot.

Why is "Saphenous nerve, medial side of the leg" not the answer?

This nerve follows the great saphenous vein on the medial side.

Why is "Deep fibular nerve, first web space" not the answer?

This nerve passes in front of the ankle and supplies only the first web space.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: sural nerve in Anatomy. It runs with the short saphenous vein behind the lateral malleolus and supplies the lateral foot and little toe.

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: sural 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.