Applied Science and Anatomy Flashcards

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?

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.

Which of the following proprioceptors is responsible for detecting the rate of change in muscle length and initiating a reflexive contraction to prevent overstretching?

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.

The primary biomechanical role of the rotator cuff muscles (SITS) as a group is to:

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.