Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the PLAB Test with interactive quizzes and comprehensive study materials. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and detailed explanations. Start studying today!

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.

What motor function is primarily associated with the L1-L2 spinal levels?

Knee extension
Hip flexion
Dorsiflexion
Plantar flexion

The correct answer is: Hip flexion

The motor function primarily associated with the L1-L2 spinal levels is hip flexion. The L1 and L2 nerve roots contribute to the lumbar plexus, which gives rise to the femoral nerve and the obturator nerve. Specifically, the iliopsoas muscle, the primary hip flexor, is innervated by these levels. Therefore, when considering the movements controlled by these spinal roots, hip flexion is the primary function. Knee extension is mainly driven by the L2-L4 levels, particularly through the innervation of the quadriceps muscle by the femoral nerve. Dorsiflexion involves the L4-L5 segments that affect the peroneal nerve, while plantar flexion involves the S1-S2 segments affecting the tibial nerve. Thus, hip flexion is distinctly linked to the motor functions of the L1-L2 spinal levels.