Which lumbar disc level is associated with pain radiating to the anterolateral leg and great toe?

The lumbar disc level associated with pain radiating to the anterolateral leg and great toe is indeed the L4-L5 level. At this location, the herniation can affect the L4 nerve root, which supplies sensation to the anterior and lateral aspects of the leg and extends down to innervate the great toe.

The L4-L5 intervertebral disc is particularly relevant in the context of a herniated disc resulting in symptoms like lower back pain and neurological issues. Patients may experience symptoms such as weakness in dorsiflexion of the foot or difficulty walking on their heels.

Understanding the dermatomes associated with each lumbar nerve root further clarifies this. The L4 dermatome covers the medial side of the leg and the great toe, while the L5 nerve root covers the more lateral aspect of the leg and provides sensation to the area around the dorsum of the foot.

By contrast, the other lumbar disc levels impact different areas. For instance, L3-L4 primarily affects the medial aspect of the thigh and knee, L5-S1 influences the posterior aspect of the leg and the lateral aspect of the foot, and L2-L3 is linked more with the proximal thigh area. Therefore, the L4