Neuromuscular and Nervous Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real NPTE-PT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Neuromuscular and Nervous Systems flashcards as text
A patient demonstrates an inability to oppose the thumb and has wasting of the thenar eminence. Which nerve is most likely compressed?
Answer: Median nerve at the wrist
Carpal tunnel syndrome involves median nerve compression at the wrist, causing thenar wasting and loss of thumb opposition due to opponens pollicis weakness.
Which area of the brain is primarily responsible for the learning and coordination of skilled, sequential movements?
Answer: Cerebellum
The cerebellum coordinates the timing, sequencing, and precision of skilled voluntary movements and is critical for motor learning.
A patient presents with a positive Romberg test. What does this finding indicate?
Answer: Proprioceptive deficit with visual compensation
A positive Romberg test indicates that the patient can maintain balance with eyes open (using vision) but loses balance with eyes closed, suggesting proprioceptive or dorsal column impairment.
Which type of motor neuron disease is characterized by both upper and lower motor neuron signs occurring simultaneously?
Answer: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is characterized by simultaneous degeneration of both upper motor neurons (corticospinal tract) and lower motor neurons (anterior horn cells).
A therapist observes fasciculations and muscle atrophy in a patient's right quadriceps. These findings are most consistent with a lesion of which structure?
Answer: Lower motor neuron
Fasciculations and muscle atrophy are classic lower motor neuron signs resulting from denervation of the muscle.
A patient with Parkinson's disease demonstrates difficulty initiating movements. This symptom is referred to as:
Answer: Akinesia
Akinesia refers to difficulty or absence of voluntary movement initiation, a hallmark motor symptom of Parkinson's disease due to dopamine depletion in the basal ganglia.
The Tinel's sign at the medial elbow (cubital tunnel) tests for entrapment of which nerve?
Answer: Ulnar nerve
Tinel's sign at the cubital tunnel (medial elbow) reproduces paresthesias in the ulnar nerve distribution when the nerve is tapped at the site of entrapment.