Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Flashcards

Viscerosomatic reflexes cause somatic changes at which spinal levels for the liver and gallbladder?

Answer: T5–T9

The liver and gallbladder receive sympathetic innervation from T5–T9, making these levels the sites of viscerosomatic reflex changes.

Sacral rocking in OMM is primarily used to treat dysfunction of which anatomical region?

Answer: Sacrum and lumbosacral junction

Sacral rocking uses rhythmic anteroposterior motion to release restrictions in sacral motion and relieve lumbosacral tension.

In craniosacral therapy, the practitioner monitors the 'primary respiratory mechanism,' which has a normal rate of approximately how many cycles per minute?

Answer: 6–12 cycles per minute

The craniosacral rhythm, reflecting the primary respiratory mechanism, normally oscillates at 6–12 cycles per minute.

An osteopathic physician finds a rib that is stuck in inhalation. In what position will this rib appear?

Answer: Elevated and anterior

A rib in inhalation dysfunction is held in an elevated, anterior position and resists moving to the depressed exhalation position.

The Zink patterns in fascial compensation describe alternating regions of fascial preference. Which pattern is considered the 'common compensatory pattern'?

Answer: OA right, CT left, TL right, LS left

The common compensatory Zink pattern shows alternating fascial rotatory preferences: OA right, CT left, TL right, LS left.

Soft tissue technique in OMM achieves its effect primarily through which mechanism?

Answer: Stretching and kneading muscles and fascia to reduce tension

Soft tissue technique uses sustained pressure, stretching, and kneading to lengthen hypertonic muscles and improve local circulation.