The sciatic nerve tension test provokes neural symptoms along which distribution?

The sciatic nerve tension test provokes neural symptoms along which distribution?

• A. Brachial distribution
• B. Sciatic distribution
• C. Median nerve distribution
• D. Ulnar distribution

Answer: (B)

The test targets the sciatic nerve and stretches it along its entire path. Because the sciatic nerve travels from the lower spine down the posterior thigh and into the leg and foot, tensioning it reproduces symptoms along that same route—the sciatic distribution. The other options refer to nerves that serve the upper limb (brachial region, median, and ulnar nerves) and would produce symptoms in the arm and hand, not along the leg. So the sciatic nerve tension test is expected to provoke neural signs along the sciatic distribution.

The test targets the sciatic nerve and stretches it along its entire path. Because the sciatic nerve travels from the lower spine down the posterior thigh and into the leg and foot, tensioning it reproduces symptoms along that same route—the sciatic distribution. The other options refer to nerves that serve the upper limb (brachial region, median, and ulnar nerves) and would produce symptoms in the arm and hand, not along the leg. So the sciatic nerve tension test is expected to provoke neural signs along the sciatic distribution.