Ernesto feels a sudden pain that shoots from his hip, down his leg, and to his feet. What is MOST likely responsible for this pain?

Pain that shoots from the hip down the leg and into the foot follows the path of the sciatic nerve. Irritation or compression of this nerve can cause radiating pain, often called sciatica. The iliac veins and popliteal artery carry blood, while the lumbricales are small muscles in the foot, so they are not the likely cause.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.