Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards
6 cards from real Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Anatomy and Physiology flashcards as text
A client complains of pain and tightness on the side of their neck and has difficulty rotating their head to the opposite side. Which muscle is most likely affected?
Answer: Sternocleidomastoid
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle's primary unilateral actions are to rotate the head to the opposite side (contralateral rotation) and flex the neck to the same side (ipsilateral flexion). Therefore, if a client has difficulty rotating their head to the opposite side, the SCM is the muscle most likely involved.
Which of the following is a primary function of the integumentary system relevant to massage therapy?
Answer: Thermoregulation through sweat and blood flow
The integumentary system, which includes the skin, plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature. It achieves this through the secretion of sweat from sweat glands, which cools the body through evaporation, and by dilating or constricting superficial blood vessels to release or conserve heat. Massage can influence these functions by increasing local circulation.
A massage therapist is using a technique that involves slow, sustained stretching of a muscle to its full length. This technique is designed to trigger a relaxation response by stimulating which type of proprioceptor?
Answer: Golgi tendon organs
Golgi tendon organs (GTOs) are proprioceptors located in the musculotendinous junction that sense changes in muscle tension. When a muscle is stretched for a prolonged period, the GTO is stimulated, which causes a reflex inhibition (relaxation) of the muscle to prevent injury from excessive tension. This is known as autogenic inhibition.
What are the two heads of origin for the sternocleidomastoid muscle?
Answer: Manubrium of the sternum and medial clavicle
The sternocleidomastoid muscle is named for its attachments. It has two heads of origin: one from the manubrium of the sternum (sterno-) and the other from the medial third of the clavicle (cleido-). It inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
A client is receiving a gentle, rhythmic massage with very light pressure intended to affect fluid movement in the body. This type of work primarily aims to stimulate the circulation of what?
Answer: Lymph
Gentle, rhythmic massage with light pressure is characteristic of manual lymphatic drainage. This technique is designed to stimulate the flow of lymph fluid through the lymphatic system, which helps remove waste products, reduce swelling (edema), and support the immune system.
Which physiological principle explains why applying non-painful stimuli, such as massage, can reduce the sensation of pain?
Answer: Gate Control Theory
The Gate Control Theory of pain suggests that non-painful input closes the 'gates' to painful input, preventing pain sensations from traveling to the central nervous system. Massage provides sensory information (touch, pressure) that travels along faster nerve fibers than pain signals, effectively 'beating' the pain signals to the brain and overriding them.