Advanced Extensor Hallucis Longus Quiz

Q1. Why can a deep fibular nerve lesion weaken both great toe extension and ankle dorsiflexion?

• The nerve supplies extensor hallucis longus and other anterior compartment dorsiflexors
• The nerve supplies the hamstrings and calf muscles
• The nerve supplies only the lateral compartment
• The nerve supplies only intrinsic plantar muscles

Q2. Why is resisted great toe extension useful during a focused neurologic examination?

• It helps assess deep fibular nerve function with an important L5 contribution
• It tests only the superficial fibular nerve
• It selectively tests the tibial nerve and S3
• It isolates the obturator nerve and L2

Q3. Why can anterior compartment syndrome impair extensor hallucis longus function?

• Its tendon is supplied by the posterior tibial nerve
• The muscle lies outside all leg fascia
• The muscle and its neurovascular supply are contained in the affected compartment
• Its nerve enters only through the tarsal tunnel

Q4. How does the distal insertion of extensor hallucis longus allow it to extend the interphalangeal joint of the hallux?

• The tendon passes plantar to the joint
• The tendon inserts on the calcaneus
• The tendon ends on the proximal tibia
• The tendon crosses dorsally to the joint and inserts on the distal phalanx

Q5. Why may weakness of extensor hallucis longus contribute to toe drag during gait?

• It abolishes hip abduction
• It reduces toe extension and contributes to reduced dorsiflexion during swing
• It prevents knee extension during stance
• It causes excessive plantar toe flexion by direct contraction

Q6. Which anatomical feature helps distinguish the extensor hallucis longus tendon from the tibialis anterior tendon at the ankle?

• It passes through the fibular tunnel
• It lies behind the medial malleolus
• It lies lateral to the tibialis anterior tendon
• It lies behind the Achilles tendon

Q7. Why can injury near the fibular neck cause weakness of extensor hallucis longus even though the muscle arises farther distally?

• The obturator nerve supplies the anterior compartment
• The deep fibular component originates from the common fibular nerve near this region
• The femoral nerve crosses the fibular neck
• The tibial nerve enters the muscle at the fibular neck

Q8. How does extensor hallucis longus contribute to coordinated foot clearance during swing?

• It combines foot inversion with toe flexion only
• It combines hallux flexion with ankle plantarflexion
• It combines knee extension with hip adduction
• It combines hallux extension with assistance in ankle dorsiflexion

Q9. Why is the tendon of extensor hallucis longus an important surface landmark on the dorsum of the foot?

• It forms the medial border of the Achilles tendon
• It lies permanently hidden behind the medial malleolus
• It becomes prominent during active great toe extension
• It becomes prominent only during knee flexion

Q10. Which statement best integrates the anatomy and function of extensor hallucis longus?

• It is a superficial-fibular-nerve-supplied lateral leg muscle that only everts the foot
• It is a femoral-nerve-supplied anterior thigh muscle that extends the knee
• It is a deep-fibular-nerve-supplied anterior leg muscle that extends the hallux and assists dorsiflexion
• It is a tibial-nerve-supplied posterior leg muscle that flexes the hallux