Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

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Prepare for the COMLEX-USA with quizzes featuring flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Gear up for your osteopathic medicine exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

The anterior lower leg is associated with which dermatome?

Dermatome S1
Dermatome L5
Dermatome L3
Dermatome T10

The correct answer is: Dermatome L5

The correct association of the anterior lower leg with dermatome L5 is based on the specific nerve root innervations corresponding to that region. The L5 dermatome includes sensory distribution over the anterior leg and part of the lateral aspect of the lower leg, extending to the dorsum of the foot. Individuals with L5 nerve root involvement may experience sensory changes, weakness, or pain in this area. This is important in clinical practice for diagnosing conditions such as herniated discs or peripheral nerve entrapments affecting the lower extremity. Understanding dermatomes is essential in clinical examinations and for localizing neurologic deficits. The other choices refer to different regions; for instance, S1 primarily impacts the lateral aspect of the foot and posterior leg, L3 covers the anterior thigh, and T10 corresponds to the lower abdomen, excluding the anterior lower leg from those dermatomes.