The straight leg raise test identifies radicular symptoms from which nerve roots?

• A. L4–L5
• B. L5–S1
• C. L1–L2
• D. S1–S2

Answer: (B)

The straight leg raise taps the tension on the lumbosacral nerve roots as they form the sciatic nerve. When you lift the leg, the sciatic nerve and its roots—primarily L5 and S1—are stretched. If this stretch reproduces radiating pain down the leg, it points to irritation or compression at those L5–S1 nerve roots, which are the roots most commonly affected by lumbar disc herniation and related radiculopathy. The other lumbar levels would be less consistently implicated by this maneuver because their pain patterns and the angles at which they’re stressed don’t align as reliably with what the straight leg raise reproduces.