NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAM
(NPTE) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND UPDATED)
List the functions of the skeletal system - ANS -Supports and shape the body
-Protects vital organs
-Produced red blood cells
-Stores calcium and phosphorus
Name the muscles that the axillary nerve innervates - ANS -Deltoids
-Teres minor
Name the muscles that the musculocutaneous nerve innervates - ANS -Biceps
-Brachialis
-Coracobrachialis
Sternoclavicualar joint - ANS -Connects the clavicle and UE to the axial skeleton
-plane joint
-motions: elevation/depression, protraction/retraction, and rotation* (check book for accuracy)
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Scapulohumeral Rhythm - ANS For every 2 degrees of GH flexion and abduction, there is a
corresponding 2 degrees of scapular upward rotation
-prevents impingement of supraspinatus
-maintains length: tension relationship of muscles
Explain the scale of Manual Muscle Testing (MMT): - ANS -5: Normal, max resistance
-4: Good, mod resistance
-3: Fair, AROM AG
-2: Poor, AROM GL
-1: Trace, palpable/visible contraction
-0: Absent
What muscles make up the rotator cuff? - ANS "SITS" muscles
-Supraspinatus
-Infraspinatus
-Teres minor
-Subscapularis
Glenohumeral Joint - ANS -approximation of the humeral head and glenoid fossa
-ball and socket joint
-3 degrees of freedom
-high mobility low stability
-most functional in scaption plane
What muscles in the sternoclavicular joint limit motion? - ANS -Anterior/Posterior
sternoclavicular tendon limit ant/post translation
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,-Costoclavicular tendon limits elevation
-Interclavicular tendon limits depression
List the types of bones: - ANS -long: femur
-short: trapezoid
-flat: sternum
-irregular: vertabrae
-sesamoid: patella
Rotator cuff - ANS -comprised of 4 muscles ("SITS" muscles)
-prevents the humeral head from rotating on the glenoid fossa
Trendelenburg - ANS gait deviation caused by weak hip abductors on stance leg
-How to treat:
strengthen muscles, use AD, rest before getting tired, vc/tc
Synovial Joint - ANS no direct union between bony ends.
-articulates ends of bones with hyaline/articular cartilage by a cavity/capsule filled with synovial
fluid
-limited stability, but allows free motion
Acromialclavicular Joint - ANS Articulation between the acromion and lateral clavicle
-Superior/Inferior acromioclavicular ligaments: provides stability
Saddle joints - ANS -Allows motions in 2+ directions
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -bones fit together like horseback rider in a saddle
-EX: CMC of thumb
Ball-and-socket joint - ANS -Allows motion in all 3 planes
-EX: hip/GH
Pivot joint - ANS -allows motion in the transverse plane
-EX: proximal radioulnar joint
Condyloid joint - ANS Motion in 2 different directions
-Wrist & MCP's
Hinge joint - ANS Motion occurs in 1 plane and 1 axis
-EX: humeroulnar & IP joints
What are the 5 normal end feels? - ANS -Hard: (elbow ext.)
-Firm muscular (hip flex. w/ knee flex.)
-Firm capsular (MCP ext.)
-Firm ligamentous (forearm sup.)
-Soft (elbow/knee flexion)
What are the 4 abnormal end feels? - ANS -Hard (Fx, OA, osteomyelitis)
-Firm (tight ligament/capsular, increased muscular tone)
-Soft: edema
-Empty: too painful to reach end ROM
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
(NPTE) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND UPDATED)
List the functions of the skeletal system - ANS -Supports and shape the body
-Protects vital organs
-Produced red blood cells
-Stores calcium and phosphorus
Name the muscles that the axillary nerve innervates - ANS -Deltoids
-Teres minor
Name the muscles that the musculocutaneous nerve innervates - ANS -Biceps
-Brachialis
-Coracobrachialis
Sternoclavicualar joint - ANS -Connects the clavicle and UE to the axial skeleton
-plane joint
-motions: elevation/depression, protraction/retraction, and rotation* (check book for accuracy)
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Scapulohumeral Rhythm - ANS For every 2 degrees of GH flexion and abduction, there is a
corresponding 2 degrees of scapular upward rotation
-prevents impingement of supraspinatus
-maintains length: tension relationship of muscles
Explain the scale of Manual Muscle Testing (MMT): - ANS -5: Normal, max resistance
-4: Good, mod resistance
-3: Fair, AROM AG
-2: Poor, AROM GL
-1: Trace, palpable/visible contraction
-0: Absent
What muscles make up the rotator cuff? - ANS "SITS" muscles
-Supraspinatus
-Infraspinatus
-Teres minor
-Subscapularis
Glenohumeral Joint - ANS -approximation of the humeral head and glenoid fossa
-ball and socket joint
-3 degrees of freedom
-high mobility low stability
-most functional in scaption plane
What muscles in the sternoclavicular joint limit motion? - ANS -Anterior/Posterior
sternoclavicular tendon limit ant/post translation
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,-Costoclavicular tendon limits elevation
-Interclavicular tendon limits depression
List the types of bones: - ANS -long: femur
-short: trapezoid
-flat: sternum
-irregular: vertabrae
-sesamoid: patella
Rotator cuff - ANS -comprised of 4 muscles ("SITS" muscles)
-prevents the humeral head from rotating on the glenoid fossa
Trendelenburg - ANS gait deviation caused by weak hip abductors on stance leg
-How to treat:
strengthen muscles, use AD, rest before getting tired, vc/tc
Synovial Joint - ANS no direct union between bony ends.
-articulates ends of bones with hyaline/articular cartilage by a cavity/capsule filled with synovial
fluid
-limited stability, but allows free motion
Acromialclavicular Joint - ANS Articulation between the acromion and lateral clavicle
-Superior/Inferior acromioclavicular ligaments: provides stability
Saddle joints - ANS -Allows motions in 2+ directions
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -bones fit together like horseback rider in a saddle
-EX: CMC of thumb
Ball-and-socket joint - ANS -Allows motion in all 3 planes
-EX: hip/GH
Pivot joint - ANS -allows motion in the transverse plane
-EX: proximal radioulnar joint
Condyloid joint - ANS Motion in 2 different directions
-Wrist & MCP's
Hinge joint - ANS Motion occurs in 1 plane and 1 axis
-EX: humeroulnar & IP joints
What are the 5 normal end feels? - ANS -Hard: (elbow ext.)
-Firm muscular (hip flex. w/ knee flex.)
-Firm capsular (MCP ext.)
-Firm ligamentous (forearm sup.)
-Soft (elbow/knee flexion)
What are the 4 abnormal end feels? - ANS -Hard (Fx, OA, osteomyelitis)
-Firm (tight ligament/capsular, increased muscular tone)
-Soft: edema
-Empty: too painful to reach end ROM
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
