FREE AOA Osteopathic Principles and Practice Questions and Answers

Question 1

A 58-year-old male with a history of cholelithiasis presents with right-sided, mid-thoracic back pain and tenderness.
On osteopathic structural exam, you note tissue texture changes and restriction of motion at the T5-T9 vertebral levels on the right.
Which phenomenon BEST explains these somatic findings?

Accepted Answer

Viscerosomatic reflex

Answer

Somatovisceral reflex

Answer

Chapman's points

Answer

Referred pain pathway

Question 2

Which of the following is a core tenet of osteopathic medicine?

Accepted Answer

The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.

Answer

The body's systems are independent and should be treated as separate entities.

Answer

Pharmacological intervention is the primary modality for restoring health.

Answer

Structure and function are only minimally interrelated.

Question 3

A 34-year-old female presents with acute neck pain after a minor car accident. On examination, you palpate warmth, bogginess, and sharp tenderness over the right articular pillar of C4. Motion testing reveals a significant, abrupt restriction of motion. These findings are most consistent with which of the following diagnoses?

Accepted Answer

Acute somatic dysfunction

Answer

Chronic somatic dysfunction

Answer

Myofascial trigger point

Answer

Cervical sprain/strain

Question 4

A 65-year-old patient is hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. In addition to antibiotics, which osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) would be most appropriate to improve lymphatic drainage and respiratory mechanics?

Accepted Answer

Thoracic lymphatic pump and rib raising

Answer

Cervical muscle energy to address C3-C5 dysfunction

Answer

High-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) to the lumbar spine

Answer

Balanced ligamentous tension of the sacrum

Question 5

Rational treatment in the osteopathic model is based upon an understanding and integration of which three principles?

Accepted Answer

Body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function

Answer

Pathology, pharmacology, and surgical intervention

Answer

Evidence-based medicine, patient preference, and clinical expertise

Answer

Mind, spirit, and emotional well-being

Question 6

A patient is being treated with muscle energy technique for a left-rotated T7 vertebra. The physician instructs the patient to attempt to rotate to the left against the physician's unyielding counterforce. This is an example of which type of muscle contraction?

Accepted Answer

Isometric

Answer

Isotonic

Answer

Isokinetic

Answer

Eccentric