In straight leg raise, which nerve roots are commonly implicated in radicular pain?

• A. L2-L3
• B. L3-L4
• C. L4-S1
• D. S2-S3

Answer: (C)

Straight leg raise tests tension on the lumbosacral nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve, and radicular pain from disc herniation most often involves the lower lumbar roots. The most common affected roots are around L5 and S1 from herniations at the typical levels (L4–L5 or L5–S1), so the nerve root range that best encompasses these is L4 through S1. Higher roots like L2–L3 or L3–L4 are less commonly implicated in the classic straight leg raise radicular pattern, and S2–S3 involvement is not the usual culprit in this scenario. Thus, the L4–S1 range best explains the common radicular pain seen with straight leg raise.