Lower limb: posterior femoral cutaneous 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: posterior femoral cutaneous nerve

Sample item

A man develops numbness over the posterior thigh and the lower buttock after prolonged sitting on a hard bench, without weakness of the hamstrings. Which nerve is most likely involved?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve

The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (S1 to S3) leaves the pelvis below piriformis. It supplies the skin of the posterior thigh and lower buttock and, being purely sensory, causes no weakness.

Option by option

  • A. Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (correct)

    Correct. This sensory nerve supplies the back of the thigh and lower buttock.

  • B. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve

    This nerve supplies the lateral thigh, so numbness would be on the side.

  • C. Sciatic nerve

    A sciatic lesion would weaken the hamstrings and muscles below the knee.

  • D. Obturator nerve

    This nerve supplies the medial thigh skin and the adductor muscles.

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 A, Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve. The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (S1 to S3) leaves the pelvis below piriformis.

Why is "Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve" not the answer?

This nerve supplies the lateral thigh, so numbness would be on the side.

Why is "Sciatic nerve" not the answer?

A sciatic lesion would weaken the hamstrings and muscles below the knee.

Why is "Obturator nerve" not the answer?

This nerve supplies the medial thigh skin and the adductor muscles.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: posterior femoral cutaneous nerve in Anatomy. It supplies the skin of the posterior thigh and lower buttock and, being purely sensory, causes no weakness.

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: posterior femoral cutaneous 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.