NBCE Exam 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners

The condition characterized by nerve entrapment in the lower back region is best represented by sciatica. Sciatica specifically refers to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which can occur due to various structures in the lower back, including herniated discs, facet joints, or other underlying conditions that impinge upon the nerve roots.

Facet syndrome typically involves pain arising from the facet joints in the spine but does not specifically denote nerve entrapment. It is more related to joint dysfunction than to direct nerve involvement.

A herniated disc can lead to sciatica if it protrudes and compresses a nerve root, but it is primarily a mechanism of injury rather than a condition defined by the nerve entrapment itself.

Spinal stenosis involves the narrowing of the spinal canal or neural foramina, which may lead to nerve compression, but it is a more generalized narrowing rather than being specifically tied to entrapment in the lower back.

Thus, while all these conditions can involve nerve issues, sciatica is most clearly defined as a condition of nerve entrapment specifically affecting the lower back region.