Scribd
Upload
68 views10 pages

Examination of Nerves of Lower Limb Objectives

1) The document discusses the major nerves involved in innervating the lower limb, including the femoral nerve, sciatic nerve, obturator nerve, and others. 2) Examination of these nerves involves assessing motor function of associated muscles through inspection, palpation, and specific movement tests. Sensory function is also examined. 3) Lesions to different nerves can cause abnormalities such as muscle wasting or an inability to perform certain movements. Identifying which nerves are involved helps to localize neurological problems in the lower limb.

Uploaded by

Wasim R. Issa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
68 views10 pages

Examination of Nerves of Lower Limb Objectives

1) The document discusses the major nerves involved in innervating the lower limb, including the femoral nerve, sciatic nerve, obturator nerve, and others. 2) Examination of these nerves involves assessing motor function of associated muscles through inspection, palpation, and specific movement tests. Sensory function is also examined. 3) Lesions to different nerves can cause abnormalities such as muscle wasting or an inability to perform certain movements. Identifying which nerves are involved helps to localize neurological problems in the lower limb.

Uploaded by

Wasim R. Issa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

EXAMINATION OF NERVES OF LOWER

LIMB

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lecture the students should know:

The sensory and motor nerve supplies of the


different regions of lower limb

Examination of nerves of lower limb

Significance of lesions of different nerves of


lower limb and what abnormality would appear in
case of a lesion
Major Nerve supply of lower limbs
Through Lumbar and Sacral Plexuses:

Femoral Nerve
Obturator Nerve
Lateral Cutaneous Nerve of thigh
Sciatic Nerve

Lumbar and Sacral Plexus

Femoral Nerve (L2, L3, L4)


Motor Supply
Iliopsoas (HIP FLEXORS)
Quadriceps Group (KNEE EXTENSORS)
Rectus Femoris
Vastus Medialis
Vastus Lateralis
Vastus Intermedius
Sartorius Muscle

Sensory (Saphenous Nerve)


Skin on the medial aspect of the thigh (inner
thigh) and inner calf

Reflex
Knee jerk (requires the quadriceps to be
working)

Examination Of Femoral
Nerve
Inspection
Look for:
Swelling in the groin & evidence of trauma
Bruising
Wasting of the Quadriceps
Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
Muscle fasciculation, muscle atrophy (QUADRICEPS)
The back (L2-4) for evidence of disease

Palpation
Palpate the:
Inguinal ligament for pain
Inguinal area (bone and soft tissue)
Spine
Flanks
Quadriceps (for tone)

Motor Examination of Femoral Nerve


HIP FLEXION (LYING)

HIP FLEXION (SITTING)

Motor Examination of Femoral Nerve


KNEE EXTENSION (LYING)

KNEE EXTENSION (SITTING)

Motor Examination Of Femoral Nerve


KNEE REFLEX (LYING)

KNEE REFLEX (SITTING)

Sensory Examination of Femoral Nerve


Medial aspect of the thigh through anterior cutaneous
branch of Femoral nerve.

Calf through Saphenous nerve

Sciatic Nerve (L4, L5, S1, S2)


Supplies :
ALL OF THE MUSCLES BELOW THE KNEE via:
The Tibial nerve
Common Peroneal nerve.

THIGH (Motor)
Hamstring Group (KNEE FLEXORS)
Semimembranosus
Semitendinosus
Long and Short heads of biceps
Adductor Magnus

Nerve splits just above popliteal fossa to become tibial nerve


and common peroneal nerve
Examination of Sciatic Nerve
KNEE FLEXION

Common Peroneal Nerve (L4, L5, S1)


Division of Sciatic nerve
Divides into superficial and deep branches

SUPERFICIAL PERONEAL NERVE


Motor
Foot Evertors (Peroneus longus and Peroneus brevis)

Sensory
Sural nerve sensation to lateral calf and dorsum of the
foot

DEEP PERONEAL NERVE


Motor
Foot dorsiflexors (Tibialis anterior)
Toe dorsiflexors (Extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis
longus)

Sensory
Small area of web space between the 1st and 2nd toes

Examination of Deep Peroneal Nerve


DORSIFLEXION
TOE DORSIFLEXION

Tibial Nerve (L4, L5, S1, S2)


Division of Sciatic nerve

Motor
Foot plantarflexors (Gastrocnemius, Soleus,
Popliteus)
Foot Invertors (Tibialis Posterior)
Toe Flexors (Flexor digitorum longus, Flexor hallucis
longus)

Reflex
Ankle reflex (S1, S2)

Continues on as the Posterior tibial nerve


Supplies the muscles of the foot via the medial and lateral
plantar nerves.

Examination Of Tibial Nerve


TOE PLANTARFLEXION
PLANTARFLEXION

Ankle Reflex

Sensory Examination of Sciatic


Nerve
COMMON PERONEAL NERVE
Deep peroneal nerve
Superficial peroneal nerve
Lateral sural cutaneous nerve

TIBIAL NERVE
Sural nerve
Medial sural cutaneous nerve
Calcaneal nerve
Medial and lateral planter nerve

Obturator Nerve (L2, L3, L4)


Motor
Adductor group (HIP ADDUCTORS)
Adductor Brevis
Adductor Magnus
Adductor Longus
Gracilis

Sensory
Distal medial thigh

Examination Of Obturator Nerve

Sensory Examination of Obturator


Nerve
Distal medial thigh

Superior Gluteal
Nerve
Hip Abduction

Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus

Nerve root: L4, L5, S1


Inferior Gluteal Nerve
Hip extension

Gluteus maximus

Nerve root: L5, S1, S2

You might also like