Front of Leg and Dorsum of Foot – Quiz

📝 Practice MCQs

Welcome to your Lower Limb – Chapter 9 – Front of Leg and Dorsum of Foot

Which muscle inserts into both the medial cuneiform and the base of the first metatarsal?

Peroneus tertius

Extensor hallucis longus

Tibialis anterior

Extensor digitorum longus

None

A patient is unable to walk on the heels but can still evert the foot weakly. Which muscle is most likely primarily affected?

Tibialis anterior

Flexor hallucis longus

Gastrocnemius

Peroneus longus

None

The superficial peroneal nerve supplies all of the following regions EXCEPT:

Dorsum of the lateral four toes except nail beds

Lower one-third of the lateral side of the leg

Cleft between the first and second toes

Most of the dorsum of the foot

None

Which tendon lies most medially beneath the extensor retinacula at the ankle?

Peroneus tertius

Extensor digitorum longus

Extensor hallucis longus

Tibialis anterior

None

Which structure passes deep to the extensor retinacula immediately lateral to the anterior tibial artery?

Tibialis anterior tendon

Deep peroneal nerve

Extensor hallucis longus tendon

Extensor digitorum longus tendon

None

All of the following muscles originate partly from the fibula EXCEPT:

Extensor hallucis longus

Peroneus tertius

Extensor digitorum longus

Tibialis anterior

None

A patient presents with loss of sensation confined to the cleft between the first and second toes. Which nerve is most likely injured?

Saphenous nerve

Superficial peroneal nerve

Sural nerve

Deep peroneal nerve

None

The small saphenous vein is formed by the union of the lateral end of the dorsal venous arch with the:

Dorsal metatarsal vein

Medial marginal vein

Great saphenous vein

Lateral marginal vein

None

A runner develops anterior compartment syndrome with ischemic pain in the leg. Compression of which artery is primarily responsible?

Dorsalis pedis artery

Anterior tibial artery

Posterior tibial artery

Fibular artery

None

During a saphenous cutdown performed anterior to the medial malleolus, injury to the accompanying nerve would most likely produce sensory loss over the:

Dorsum of the lateral three toes

Lateral border of the foot

Medial border of the foot up to the ball of the great toe

First interdigital cleft

None

Time's up

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🎙️ Frequently Asked Viva Questions

Q1. Why does injury to the deep peroneal nerve produce foot drop?
Answer: Paralysis of the anterior compartment muscles abolishes dorsiflexion, leaving the plantar flexors unopposed and causing foot drop.

Q2. Why is sensory loss in deep peroneal nerve injury confined mainly to the first interdigital cleft?
Answer: The medial terminal branch of the deep peroneal nerve supplies only the skin between the first and second toes.

Q3. Why is tibialis anterior considered the chief dorsiflexor of the ankle?
Answer: It is the strongest muscle of the anterior compartment and provides powerful dorsiflexion while also inverting the foot.

Q4. Why is heel walking used to test the integrity of the deep peroneal nerve?
Answer: Heel walking requires active dorsiflexion by the anterior compartment muscles supplied by the deep peroneal nerve.

Q5. Why is the deep peroneal nerve called the nervus hesitans?
Answer: In the middle third of the leg, it attempts to cross the anterior tibial artery but remains on its lateral side.

Q6. Why are the extensor retinacula essential for normal ankle function?
Answer: They prevent bowstringing of the extensor tendons during dorsiflexion, ensuring efficient transmission of muscle force.

Q7. Why is the order of structures beneath the extensor retinacula clinically important?
Answer: It guides surgical exposure, tendon identification, and interpretation of traumatic or compressive lesions around the ankle.

Q8. Why is the great saphenous vein preferred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)?
Answer: It is long, easily accessible, has an appropriate diameter, and can be harvested with minimal functional impairment.

Q9. Why is the saphenous vein approached anterior to the medial malleolus during venous cut-down?
Answer: The vein is superficial and consistently located at this site, allowing rapid vascular access.

Q10. Why does injury during saphenous cut-down produce numbness along the medial border of the foot?
Answer: The saphenous nerve accompanies the great saphenous vein and may be damaged during the procedure.

Q11. Why is palpation of the dorsalis pedis pulse an important part of peripheral vascular examination?
Answer: It assesses arterial perfusion of the foot and helps detect peripheral arterial disease or arterial occlusion.

Q12. Why is the dorsalis pedis artery clinically important despite being a continuation of the anterior tibial artery?
Answer: It forms the plantar arterial arch through anastomosis with the lateral plantar artery and serves as the principal palpable artery on the dorsum of the foot.