NPTE MSK EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What is the ATP-PC system used for? - ANS It provides energy for muscle contraction for up to
15 seconds during high-intensity, short-duration exercise.
What is anaerobic glycolysis? - ANS It is the major supplier of ATP during high-intensity, short-
duration exercise, such as sprinting 400m-800m, resulting in the formation of lactic acid.
How does aerobic metabolism function? - ANS It is used predominantly during low-intensity,
long-duration exercise, yielding the most ATP by utilizing fatty acids, amino acids, and glucose
with oxygen.
What is the frontal (coronal) plane? - ANS It divides the body into anterior and posterior
sections and runs on the anterior/posterior axis.
What movements occur in the sagittal plane? - ANS Flexion and extension, dividing the body
into left and right sides.
What is the transverse plane? - ANS It divides the body into upper and lower sections and
runs on a vertical axis.
What is a class one lever? - ANS The axis of rotation (fulcrum) is between the effort (force)
and resistance (load), like a seesaw.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Describe a class two lever. - ANS The resistance (load) is between the axis of rotation
(fulcrum) and the effort (force), such as in a pushup.
What characterizes a class three lever? - ANS The effort (force) is between the axis of rotation
(fulcrum) and the resistance (load), allowing for large movements at faster speeds.
What are fibrous joints? - ANS Joints united by fibrous tissue with minimal to no movement,
such as sutures in the skull.
What are cartilaginous joints? - ANS Joints connected by hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage,
allowing slight movement, such as the pubic symphysis.
What are synovial joints? - ANS Joints that provide free movement between bones,
characterized by a joint cavity, articular cartilage, synovial membrane, synovial fluid, and fibrous
capsule.
What types of movements do uniaxial joints allow? - ANS Movement around a single axis in
one plane, such as hinge joints (elbow) and pivot joints (atlantoaxial joint).
What is the function of free nerve endings in joints? - ANS They are sensitive to non-noxious
and noxious mechanical stress and are distributed throughout all joints.
Where are Golgi ligament endings located? - ANS They are located in ligaments, adjacent to
the ligaments' bony attachment, and are sensitive to tension or stretch.
What do muscle spindles do? - ANS They send information to the nervous system about
muscle length and the rate of change of its length, controlling posture and involuntary
movements.
What are the characteristics of Type I muscle fibers? - ANS They are aerobic, red, slow-twitch
fibers with low fatigability, high capillary density, and extensive blood supply.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What are Type II muscle fibers known for? - ANS They are anaerobic, phasic, fast-twitch fibers
with high fatigability and lower capillary density.
What is the role of the Golgi tendon organ? - ANS It serves as a sensory receptor that detects
tension in tendons, located at the junction of muscle and tendon.
What type of information do muscle spindles transmit? - ANS Information about tension and
the rate of change of tension within the muscle.
Which muscles are responsible for depression of the mandible? - ANS Lateral pterygoid and
suprahyoid muscles.
What muscles elevate the mandible? - ANS Temporalis, masseter, and medial pterygoid.
Which muscle is primarily responsible for the protrusion of the mandible? - ANS Lateral
pterygoid.
What is the role of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) in cervical spine movement? - ANS It
assists in flexion, rotation, and lateral bending.
What muscles are involved in the extension of the cervical spine? - ANS Splenius cervicis,
semispinalis cervicis, iliocostalis, longissimus, and multifidus.
Which muscles are responsible for flexion at the thoracic and lumbar intervertebral joints? -
ANS Rectus abdominus, internal oblique, and external oblique.
What is the primary action of the psoas major? - ANS Flexion of the hip.
Which muscles are involved in shoulder flexion? - ANS Anterior deltoid, coracobrachialis,
pectoralis major (clavicular head), and biceps brachii.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What is the ATP-PC system used for? - ANS It provides energy for muscle contraction for up to
15 seconds during high-intensity, short-duration exercise.
What is anaerobic glycolysis? - ANS It is the major supplier of ATP during high-intensity, short-
duration exercise, such as sprinting 400m-800m, resulting in the formation of lactic acid.
How does aerobic metabolism function? - ANS It is used predominantly during low-intensity,
long-duration exercise, yielding the most ATP by utilizing fatty acids, amino acids, and glucose
with oxygen.
What is the frontal (coronal) plane? - ANS It divides the body into anterior and posterior
sections and runs on the anterior/posterior axis.
What movements occur in the sagittal plane? - ANS Flexion and extension, dividing the body
into left and right sides.
What is the transverse plane? - ANS It divides the body into upper and lower sections and
runs on a vertical axis.
What is a class one lever? - ANS The axis of rotation (fulcrum) is between the effort (force)
and resistance (load), like a seesaw.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Describe a class two lever. - ANS The resistance (load) is between the axis of rotation
(fulcrum) and the effort (force), such as in a pushup.
What characterizes a class three lever? - ANS The effort (force) is between the axis of rotation
(fulcrum) and the resistance (load), allowing for large movements at faster speeds.
What are fibrous joints? - ANS Joints united by fibrous tissue with minimal to no movement,
such as sutures in the skull.
What are cartilaginous joints? - ANS Joints connected by hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage,
allowing slight movement, such as the pubic symphysis.
What are synovial joints? - ANS Joints that provide free movement between bones,
characterized by a joint cavity, articular cartilage, synovial membrane, synovial fluid, and fibrous
capsule.
What types of movements do uniaxial joints allow? - ANS Movement around a single axis in
one plane, such as hinge joints (elbow) and pivot joints (atlantoaxial joint).
What is the function of free nerve endings in joints? - ANS They are sensitive to non-noxious
and noxious mechanical stress and are distributed throughout all joints.
Where are Golgi ligament endings located? - ANS They are located in ligaments, adjacent to
the ligaments' bony attachment, and are sensitive to tension or stretch.
What do muscle spindles do? - ANS They send information to the nervous system about
muscle length and the rate of change of its length, controlling posture and involuntary
movements.
What are the characteristics of Type I muscle fibers? - ANS They are aerobic, red, slow-twitch
fibers with low fatigability, high capillary density, and extensive blood supply.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What are Type II muscle fibers known for? - ANS They are anaerobic, phasic, fast-twitch fibers
with high fatigability and lower capillary density.
What is the role of the Golgi tendon organ? - ANS It serves as a sensory receptor that detects
tension in tendons, located at the junction of muscle and tendon.
What type of information do muscle spindles transmit? - ANS Information about tension and
the rate of change of tension within the muscle.
Which muscles are responsible for depression of the mandible? - ANS Lateral pterygoid and
suprahyoid muscles.
What muscles elevate the mandible? - ANS Temporalis, masseter, and medial pterygoid.
Which muscle is primarily responsible for the protrusion of the mandible? - ANS Lateral
pterygoid.
What is the role of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) in cervical spine movement? - ANS It
assists in flexion, rotation, and lateral bending.
What muscles are involved in the extension of the cervical spine? - ANS Splenius cervicis,
semispinalis cervicis, iliocostalis, longissimus, and multifidus.
Which muscles are responsible for flexion at the thoracic and lumbar intervertebral joints? -
ANS Rectus abdominus, internal oblique, and external oblique.
What is the primary action of the psoas major? - ANS Flexion of the hip.
Which muscles are involved in shoulder flexion? - ANS Anterior deltoid, coracobrachialis,
pectoralis major (clavicular head), and biceps brachii.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
