Unit 2: Nerves of Lower Limb

What happens to ventral rami?

form plexuses

What is a plexus?

multiple levels of nerves come together

What plexuses are associated with the lower limb? What levels?

Lumbar (T12-L4) and Sacral Plexuses (L4-S4)

Where does sacral plexus begin and lumbar plexus end?

Sacrum

What are the levels of lumbar plexus?

T12-L4

What nerves come off the lumbar plexus?

Obturator and Femoral Nerve

What compartment does femoral nerve innervate? Any other muscles?

anterior thigh, half of pectineus muscle

What compartment does obturator nerve innervate?

medial thigh

What muscle does femoral nerve run superficial to? What ligament does it run deep to?

Iliacus muscle, inguinal ligament

What is the most lateral content of the femoral triangle?

Femoral Nerve

What are the levels of the femoral nerve?

L2-L4

Identify Yellow

Femoral Nerve

What compartment does the obturator nerve innervate?

Medial thigh

What levels are the obturator nerve?

L2-L4

Between what two muscles can you find the obturator nerve?

Adductor longus muscle and adductor brevis muscle

What muscle in the pelvis does the obturator nerve run medial to?

psoas major muscle

How does the obturator nerve enter the medial thigh?

Obturator Foramen

Identify

Obturator Nerve

What are the levels of the sacral plexus?

L4-S4

What nerves come from sacral plexus?

Superior Gluteal Nerve, Inferior Gluteal Nerve, Sciatic Nerve, Tibial Nerve, Common Fibular Nerve, Deep Fibular Nerve, Superficial Fibular Nerve

How does the superior gluteal nerve exit the pelvis?

Greater Sciatic Foramen

What muscles does superior gluteal nerve run between?

gluteus medius and gluteus minimus

Where is the superior gluteal nerve located in the posterior gluteal region?

Superior to Piriformis Muscle

What muscles does superior gluteal nerve innervate?

Gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, tensor fasciae latae

Identify Thinner Yellow

Superior Gluteal Nerve

How does inferior gluteal nerve exit the pelvis?

Greater Sciatic Foramen

Where is the inferior gluteal nerve located in the posterior gluteal region?

Inferior to piriformis muscle

What muscle does inferior gluteal nerve run deep to?

Gluteus Maximus Muscle

What muscle does inferior gluteal nerve innervate?

Gluteus Maximus Muscle

Identify Green

Inferior Gluteal Nerve

What is the biggest nerve in the body?

Sciatic Nerve

What levels are the sciatic nerve?

L4-S3

How does the sciatic nerve exit the pelvis?

Greater Sciatic Foramen

Where is the sciatic nerve located in the posterior gluteal region?

Inferior to Piriformis Muscle

Where does bifurcation of sciatic nerve occur?

Behind knee

What does the sciatic nerve bifurcate into?

Common fibular nerve and tibial nerve

Identify Green

Sciatic Nerve

What division of sciatic nerve is medial?

Tibial Nerve

Where can the tibial nerve be found in?

Popliteal Fossa

What muscle compartments does tibial nerve innervate? Exceptions?

Posterior thigh (except biceps femoris short head), posterior leg

What does tibial nerve bifurcate into to?

Medial and lateral plantar nerves

Identify Yellow going straight down

Tibial Nerve

Where does bifurcation of tibial nerve occur?

Deep to abductor hallucis muscle

What muscle group do medial and lateral plantar nerves innervate?

Plantar foot muscles

What muscles does medial plantar nerve innervate?

Abductor Hallucis Muscle, Flexor Digitorum Brevis Muscle

What muscle does lateral plantar nerve innervate?

Abductor Digiti Minimi Muscle

Identify yellow

Medial Plantar Nerve

Identify grey

Lateral Plantar Nerve

What is the lateral division of the sciatic nerve?

Common Fibular Nerve

What does the common fibular nerve bifurcate into?

Superficial fibular nerve, deep fibular nerve

What muscle does the common fibular nerve innervate?

Biceps Femoris Short Head Muscle

What does the common fibular nerve wrap around?

Head of Fibula

Identify

Common Fibular Nerve

What is the lateral division of the common fibular nerve?

Superficial Fibular Nerve

Where is superficial fibular nerve found?

Between fibularis longus muscle and fibularis brevis muscle

What muscle compartment does superficial nerve innervate?

Lateral Leg

Identify

Superficial Fibular Nerve

What is the medial division of the common fibular nerve?

Deep Fibular Nerve

Where can you find the deep fibular nerve?

Between tibialis anterior muscle and extensor digitorum longus muscle

What muscle compartments does deep fibular nerve innervate?

Anterior leg, dorsum of foot

Identify

Deep Fibular Nerve

What is foot drop?

Damage to common fibular nerve, patient would have anesthesia (numbness) on dorsum of the foot

What leg muscle compartments foot drop affect?

Anterior and Lateral Leg, Dorsum of Foot

Patient would be unable to ___ the ankle and ____ all digits due to damage to the deep fibular nerve

Dorsiflex, Extend

Patient would be unable to ___ the foot due to damage to the deep and superficial fibular nerves

Evert