NCBTMB Applied Science and Anatomy Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client complains of numbness and tingling in their thumb, index finger, and middle finger, which often worsens at night. These symptoms are characteristic of pressure on which of the following nerves?
- Ulnar nerve
- Radial nerve
- Median nerve (Correct answer)
- Axillary nerve
Correct answer: Median nerve
The symptoms described (numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers) are classic signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which is caused by the compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel of the wrist.
Question 2: Which of the following proprioceptors is responsible for detecting the rate of change in muscle length and initiating a reflexive contraction to prevent overstretching?
- Golgi tendon organs
- Pacinian corpuscles
- Ruffini endings
- Muscle spindles (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Muscle spindles
Muscle spindles are sensory receptors located within the muscle belly that detect changes in muscle length and the speed of that change. When a muscle is stretched too quickly or too far, the muscle spindles trigger the myotatic stretch reflex, causing the muscle to contract to prevent injury.
Question 3: The primary biomechanical role of the rotator cuff muscles (SITS) as a group is to:
- elevate the scapula.
- powerfully adduct the arm.
- stabilize the glenohumeral joint. (Correct answer)
- protract the clavicle.
Correct answer: stabilize the glenohumeral joint.
While individual rotator cuff muscles contribute to rotation and abduction, their main collective function is to compress the head of the humerus into the glenoid fossa, providing dynamic stability to the highly mobile but inherently unstable glenohumeral joint.
Question 4: A client is performing a pushing motion, like a push-up or reaching forward to open a heavy door. Which muscle is the prime mover for the scapular protraction involved in this action?
- Rhomboids
- Serratus anterior (Correct answer)
- Middle trapezius
- Levator scapulae
Correct answer: Serratus anterior
The serratus anterior is the prime mover for protraction of the scapula, which is the action of moving the shoulder blade forward and around the rib cage. The rhomboids and middle trapezius are antagonists to this motion, as they perform scapular retraction.
Question 5: During a massage session, the therapist applies long, gliding strokes directed towards the heart. This technique, known as effleurage, primarily aims to achieve which physiological effect?
- Decrease arterial blood pressure
- Stimulate muscle spindle activation
- Increase venous and lymphatic return (Correct answer)
- Break down deep fascial adhesions
Correct answer: Increase venous and lymphatic return
The mechanical effect of applying effleurage strokes centripetally (towards the center of the body or heart) is to push deoxygenated blood through the veins and move lymphatic fluid towards lymph nodes. This action enhances circulation and fluid drainage.
Question 6: A client reports pain when reaching their arm across the front of their body to touch the opposite shoulder. This movement involves which primary joint action at the glenohumeral joint?
- Abduction
- External rotation
- Flexion
- Horizontal adduction (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Horizontal adduction
Horizontal adduction is the movement of the arm toward the midline of the body in the transverse plane, from a horizontally abducted (arm out to the side at 90 degrees) position. Reaching across the chest is a classic example of this action.
NCBTMB Applied Science and Anatomy Questions and Answers
A client complains of numbness and tingling in their thumb, index finger, and middle finger, which often worsens at night.
These symptoms are characteristic of pressure on which of the following nerves?