SCS Anatomy & Biomechanics — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The rotator cuff is composed of which four muscles?

Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis (Correct answer)
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres major, subscapularis
Supraspinatus, deltoid, teres minor, subscapularis
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, biceps brachii

Correct answer: Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis

The rotator cuff consists of supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis, remembered by the SITS acronym.

Question 2: Which ligament primarily prevents anterior tibial translation relative to the femur?

Posterior cruciate ligament
Medial collateral ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament (Correct answer)
Lateral collateral ligament

Correct answer: Anterior cruciate ligament

The ACL is the primary restraint against anterior tibial translation and also limits internal tibial rotation.

Question 3: The Q-angle is measured using which anatomical landmarks?

ASIS to center of patella to tibial tuberosity (Correct answer)
Greater trochanter to center of patella to tibial tuberosity
PSIS to center of patella to tibial tuberosity
ASIS to lateral femoral condyle to fibular head

Correct answer: ASIS to center of patella to tibial tuberosity

The Q-angle is formed by lines from the ASIS to the patellar center and from the tibial tuberosity to the patellar center.

Question 4: During normal walking gait, the center of mass follows which movement pattern?

A straight horizontal line
A figure-eight pattern
A sinusoidal path in both vertical and lateral planes (Correct answer)
A circular arc pattern

Correct answer: A sinusoidal path in both vertical and lateral planes

The center of mass oscillates both vertically and laterally during walking, tracing a sinusoidal path in each plane.

Question 5: Which structure provides the primary static restraint against inferior glenohumeral translation with the arm at the side?

Supraspinatus muscle
Superior glenohumeral ligament (Correct answer)
Coracohumeral ligament
Long head of the biceps tendon

Correct answer: Superior glenohumeral ligament

The superior glenohumeral ligament (SGHL) is the primary static stabilizer resisting inferior translation of the humeral head when the arm is adducted.

Question 6: The iliotibial band (ITB) originates primarily from which structure(s)?

Iliac crest and tensor fasciae latae (Correct answer)
Greater trochanter of the femur
Gluteus maximus alone
Anterior superior iliac spine alone

Correct answer: Iliac crest and tensor fasciae latae

The ITB originates from the iliac crest and the tensor fasciae latae, with additional contributions from the gluteus maximus.

Question 7: Open kinetic chain (OKC) knee exercises differ from closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises primarily because in OKC exercises:

The distal segment is fixed to a surface
The distal segment is free to move (Correct answer)
The exercises are always weight-bearing
More muscle groups are always recruited

Correct answer: The distal segment is free to move

In OKC exercises, the distal segment (foot) is free to move, whereas in CKC exercises the foot is fixed and proximal segments move.

Question 8: Which muscle is the primary dynamic supporter of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot?

Peroneus longus
Tibialis anterior
Tibialis posterior (Correct answer)
Flexor hallucis longus

Correct answer: Tibialis posterior

The tibialis posterior is the primary dynamic stabilizer of the medial longitudinal arch, coursing beneath and supporting it during weight-bearing.

Question 9: During the overhead throwing motion, which phase produces the greatest valgus stress on the medial elbow?

Wind-up
Early cocking
Late cocking (Correct answer)
Acceleration

Correct answer: Late cocking

Late cocking generates the greatest valgus stress on the medial elbow as the shoulder reaches maximum external rotation and large deceleration forces build.

Question 10: Femoral anteversion is measured as the angle between which two reference axes?

Femoral neck axis and the transcondylar axis of the femoral condyles (Correct answer)
Femoral neck axis and the sagittal plane
Femoral shaft axis and the horizontal plane
Greater trochanter to lesser trochanter axis and the transverse axis

Correct answer: Femoral neck axis and the transcondylar axis of the femoral condyles

Femoral anteversion is the angle between the femoral neck axis and the transcondylar axis, reflecting the forward twist of the proximal femur.

Question 11: Which type of muscle contraction generates the greatest force per unit of cross-sectional area?

Concentric
Isometric
Eccentric (Correct answer)
Isokinetic

Correct answer: Eccentric

Eccentric contractions generate more force per cross-sectional area than concentric or isometric contractions due to titin's passive contribution during muscle lengthening.

Question 12: The pivot shift test evaluates which combination of tibial movements in an ACL-deficient knee?

Anterior translation and external rotation
Anterior translation and internal rotation (Correct answer)
Posterior translation and external rotation
Valgus stress and external rotation

Correct answer: Anterior translation and internal rotation

The pivot shift tests for anterior tibial translation combined with internal rotation, the coupled motion that the ACL primarily restrains.

Question 13: The thoracolumbar fascia transmits forces diagonally by connecting which two muscles?

Thoracic erector spinae to iliopsoas
Latissimus dorsi to contralateral gluteus maximus (Correct answer)
Serratus anterior to contralateral rhomboids
Multifidus to contralateral piriformis

Correct answer: Latissimus dorsi to contralateral gluteus maximus

The thoracolumbar fascia creates a cross-body force couple connecting the latissimus dorsi to the contralateral gluteus maximus, stabilizing the lumbar spine.

Question 14: Scapulohumeral rhythm describes which ratio of glenohumeral to scapulothoracic motion during arm elevation?

1:1
2:1 (Correct answer)
3:1
4:1

Correct answer: 2:1

Scapulohumeral rhythm is approximately 2:1, meaning for every 2° of glenohumeral motion, 1° of scapulothoracic upward rotation occurs.

Question 15: Which nerve innervates the tibialis anterior and is vulnerable to traction injury during severe ankle inversion sprains?

Tibial nerve
Sural nerve
Deep peroneal nerve (Correct answer)
Superficial peroneal nerve

Correct answer: Deep peroneal nerve

The deep peroneal nerve innervates the tibialis anterior and is susceptible to traction injury during severe ankle inversion.

Question 16: The force couple producing scapular upward rotation involves which three muscles?

Upper and lower trapezius only
Upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior (Correct answer)
Serratus anterior and rhomboids
Upper and middle trapezius with rhomboids

Correct answer: Upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior

Scapular upward rotation is produced by a three-muscle force couple: upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior.

Question 17: Patellofemoral joint reaction forces are greatest during which activity?

Walking on level ground
Ascending stairs
Deep squatting (Correct answer)
Rising from a chair

Correct answer: Deep squatting

Deep squatting generates the highest patellofemoral joint reaction forces because the compressive load increases exponentially with knee flexion angle.

Question 18: The Lisfranc joint complex consists of the articulation between which structures?

Calcaneus and cuboid
Navicular and cuneiforms
Cuneiforms and cuboid with metatarsal bases (Correct answer)
Talus and navicular

Correct answer: Cuneiforms and cuboid with metatarsal bases

The Lisfranc joint complex includes the tarsometatarsal articulations between the cuneiforms/cuboid and the bases of the five metatarsals.

Question 19: Plantar flexion during heel rise represents which class of lever system?

First-class lever
Second-class lever (Correct answer)
Third-class lever
Fourth-class lever

Correct answer: Second-class lever

Heel rise is a second-class lever with the fulcrum at the metatarsal heads, the load (body weight) between the fulcrum and the gastrocnemius/soleus effort at the calcaneus.

Question 20: The classic unhappy triad (O'Donoghue's triad) involves injury to which three structures?

ACL, MCL, and lateral meniscus
ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus (Correct answer)
PCL, MCL, and medial meniscus
ACL, LCL, and lateral meniscus

Correct answer: ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus

O'Donoghue's unhappy triad classically involves the ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus, typically from a valgus-external rotation force to the knee.

Question 21: During running, the peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) typically occurs during which phase?

Initial contact
Midstance (Correct answer)
Terminal stance
Pre-swing

Correct answer: Midstance

The peak vertical ground reaction force during running occurs at midstance, typically reaching 2–3 times body weight as the center of mass descends to its lowest point.

SCS Anatomy & Biomechanics

The rotator cuff is composed of which four muscles?

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