Advanced Superficial Fibular Nerve Quiz

Q1. Why can entrapment where the superficial fibular nerve pierces deep fascia produce predominantly sensory symptoms?

• The nerve supplies only quadriceps before piercing fascia
• The nerve contains no sensory fibers distally
• All motor branches arise on the dorsum of the foot
• Motor branches may already have arisen proximal to the entrapment site

Q2. Which examination finding most strongly favors an isolated superficial fibular neuropathy over a common fibular neuropathy at the fibular neck?

• Preserved dorsiflexion and toe extension
• Weak fibularis brevis
• Weak foot eversion
• Dorsal foot sensory loss

Q3. Why is testing sensation in the first dorsal web space useful when evaluating suspected superficial fibular neuropathy?

• It tests the main sural nerve territory
• It tests a deep fibular territory within the dorsal foot
• It tests the entire L4 dermatome
• It is supplied exclusively by the tibial nerve

Q4. Which pattern best fits a lesion of the superficial fibular nerve distal to its major motor branches?

• Dorsal foot sensory disturbance with relatively preserved eversion
• Quadriceps weakness with medial leg numbness
• Plantar numbness with weak plantarflexion
• Foot drop with complete dorsiflexion loss

Q5. Why may the lateral border of the foot remain sensate in an isolated superficial fibular nerve lesion?

• The deep fibular nerve supplies the lateral border
• The tibial nerve supplies the entire dorsum
• The saphenous nerve supplies the entire lateral foot
• The sural nerve supplies the lateral border of the foot

Q6. Which additional motor deficit suggests that a lesion is proximal to the superficial fibular nerve and involves the common fibular nerve?

• Weak fibularis longus
• Weak fibularis brevis
• Weak foot eversion
• Weak ankle dorsiflexion

Q7. Why can a severe superficial fibular motor lesion create a tendency toward inversion of the foot?

• The deep fibular nerve loses every dorsiflexor
• The tibial nerve becomes an evertor
• All invertors are denervated
• The major evertors are weakened while the invertors remain active

Q8. Why is the superficial fibular nerve vulnerable during superficial procedures in the distal lateral leg?

• It passes beneath the flexor retinaculum
• It becomes subcutaneous after piercing the deep fascia
• It enters the tibial medullary cavity
• It remains deep to soleus at the ankle

Q9. Which sensory pattern most strongly matches an isolated superficial fibular nerve lesion?

• Loss over much of the dorsum with sparing of the first web space
• Complete loss of sensation over the sole
• Isolated numbness of the first dorsal web space
• Isolated numbness of the medial thigh

Q10. Which statement best integrates superficial fibular nerve anatomy?

• It is an L2 through L4 femoral branch supplying quadriceps and medial leg skin
• It is an L5 through S2 common fibular branch supplying the lateral leg and most dorsal foot skin
• It is an L4 through S3 tibial branch supplying the posterior leg and sole
• It is an L4 through S1 branch supplying the anterior leg and only the first web space