ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS COMBINED WRITTEN BOARDS ACTUAL EXAM /
NEWEST / COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE – EXPERT VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS.
Question 1
A complete lesion of the femoral nerve as it leaves the lumbar plexus will most significantly
affect which lower extremity motion?
A) Knee extension
B) Hip adduction
C) Hip extension
D) Knee flexion
Correct Answer: A) Knee extension
Rationale: The femoral nerve is the primary motor nerve for the quadriceps femoris muscle
group (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius), which are the
primary extensors of the knee.
Question 2
What is the largest nerve that originates from the lumbar plexus?
A) Obturator nerve
B) Sciatic nerve
C) Tibial nerve
D) Femoral nerve
Correct Answer: D) Femoral nerve
Rationale: The femoral nerve (L2-L4) is the largest branch of the lumbar plexus and provides
motor and sensory innervation to the anterior thigh.
Question 3
While several muscles contribute, what is considered the primary and most powerful flexor of
the hip?
A) Rectus femoris
B) Sartorius
C) Iliopsoas
D) Tensor fasciae latae
,Correct Answer: C) Iliopsoas
Rationale: The iliopsoas, a composite muscle formed by the psoas major and iliacus, is the
strongest flexor of the hip joint.
Question 4
A patient presents with a foot drop, exhibiting a paralytic equinus deformity during the swing
phase of gait. This is most often caused by an injury to which nerve?
A) Tibial nerve
B) Common peroneal nerve
C) Femoral nerve
D) Sciatic nerve
Correct Answer: B) Common peroneal nerve
Rationale: The common peroneal (fibular) nerve innervates the dorsiflexor and evertor
muscles of the foot. Damage to this nerve leads to a foot drop (inability to dorsiflex), causing
the foot to hang in a plantarflexed (equinus) position during swing.
Question 5
What is the universally accepted definition of one complete cycle of gait?
A) The time from heel strike on one foot to the next heel strike of the opposite foot.
B) The period when both feet are on the ground.
C) The time from heel strike on one limb to the subsequent heel strike on the same limb.
D) The period when one foot is off the ground.
Correct Answer: C) The time from heel strike on one limb to the subsequent heel strike on the
same limb.
Rationale: A full gait cycle includes one stance phase and one swing phase for a single limb,
starting and ending with the same event (typically heel strike) on that same limb.
Question 6
The terms "toe-in" and "toe-out" describe the angular relationship between the long axis of the
foot and the:
A) Subtalar joint axis
,B) Ankle joint axis
C) Line of progression
D) Transverse knee axis
Correct Answer: C) Line of progression
Rationale: The line of progression is the imaginary straight line indicating the direction of
travel. Foot progression angle (toe-in/toe-out) is measured between this line and the long
axis of the foot.
Question 7
The cardinal plane motions of inversion and eversion occur primarily at which joint in the foot
and ankle complex?
A) Talocrural joint
B) Midtarsal joint
C) Tarsometatarsal joint
D) Subtalar joint
Correct Answer: D) Subtalar joint
Rationale: The subtalar (talocalcaneal) joint, with its unique anatomical orientation, is the
primary site for the frontal plane motions of inversion and eversion.
Question 8
The talocrural joint, often referred to as the ankle joint proper, is formed by which three bones?
A) Talus, calcaneus, and navicular
B) Talus, tibia, and fibula
C) Tibia, fibula, and calcaneus
D) Calcaneus, cuboid, and navicular
Correct Answer: B) Talus, tibia, and fibula
Rationale: The talocrural joint is a synovial hinge joint formed by the articulation of the talus
with the mortise created by the distal ends of the tibia and fibula.
Question 9
What are the primary motions that occur at the talocrural joint?
, A) Inversion and eversion
B) Abduction and adduction
C) Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion
D) Pronation and supination
Correct Answer: C) Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion
Rationale: The talocrural joint functions essentially as a hinge, allowing for sagittal plane
motion of the foot (dorsiflexion and plantar flexion).
Question 10
The medial ligament of the ankle, also known as the deltoid ligament, primarily functions to
resist:
A) Excessive inversion of the foot.
B) Excessive dorsiflexion.
C) Excessive plantar flexion.
D) Excessive eversion of the foot.
Correct Answer: D) Excessive eversion of the foot.
Rationale: The strong, fan-shaped deltoid ligament complex on the medial side of the ankle
provides stability and prevents the foot from over-everting or externally rotating relative to
the tibia.
Question 11
The lateral ligament complex of the ankle, which includes the anterior talofibular ligament
(ATFL), primarily functions to resist:
A) Excessive eversion of the foot.
B) Excessive inversion of the foot.
C) Excessive dorsiflexion.
D) Excessive abduction.
Correct Answer: B) Excessive inversion of the foot.
Rationale: The ligaments on the lateral side of the ankle (ATFL, CFL, PTFL) are the primary
stabilizers against inversion stress. The ATFL is the most commonly sprained ligament in the
body.
NEWEST / COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE – EXPERT VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS.
Question 1
A complete lesion of the femoral nerve as it leaves the lumbar plexus will most significantly
affect which lower extremity motion?
A) Knee extension
B) Hip adduction
C) Hip extension
D) Knee flexion
Correct Answer: A) Knee extension
Rationale: The femoral nerve is the primary motor nerve for the quadriceps femoris muscle
group (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius), which are the
primary extensors of the knee.
Question 2
What is the largest nerve that originates from the lumbar plexus?
A) Obturator nerve
B) Sciatic nerve
C) Tibial nerve
D) Femoral nerve
Correct Answer: D) Femoral nerve
Rationale: The femoral nerve (L2-L4) is the largest branch of the lumbar plexus and provides
motor and sensory innervation to the anterior thigh.
Question 3
While several muscles contribute, what is considered the primary and most powerful flexor of
the hip?
A) Rectus femoris
B) Sartorius
C) Iliopsoas
D) Tensor fasciae latae
,Correct Answer: C) Iliopsoas
Rationale: The iliopsoas, a composite muscle formed by the psoas major and iliacus, is the
strongest flexor of the hip joint.
Question 4
A patient presents with a foot drop, exhibiting a paralytic equinus deformity during the swing
phase of gait. This is most often caused by an injury to which nerve?
A) Tibial nerve
B) Common peroneal nerve
C) Femoral nerve
D) Sciatic nerve
Correct Answer: B) Common peroneal nerve
Rationale: The common peroneal (fibular) nerve innervates the dorsiflexor and evertor
muscles of the foot. Damage to this nerve leads to a foot drop (inability to dorsiflex), causing
the foot to hang in a plantarflexed (equinus) position during swing.
Question 5
What is the universally accepted definition of one complete cycle of gait?
A) The time from heel strike on one foot to the next heel strike of the opposite foot.
B) The period when both feet are on the ground.
C) The time from heel strike on one limb to the subsequent heel strike on the same limb.
D) The period when one foot is off the ground.
Correct Answer: C) The time from heel strike on one limb to the subsequent heel strike on the
same limb.
Rationale: A full gait cycle includes one stance phase and one swing phase for a single limb,
starting and ending with the same event (typically heel strike) on that same limb.
Question 6
The terms "toe-in" and "toe-out" describe the angular relationship between the long axis of the
foot and the:
A) Subtalar joint axis
,B) Ankle joint axis
C) Line of progression
D) Transverse knee axis
Correct Answer: C) Line of progression
Rationale: The line of progression is the imaginary straight line indicating the direction of
travel. Foot progression angle (toe-in/toe-out) is measured between this line and the long
axis of the foot.
Question 7
The cardinal plane motions of inversion and eversion occur primarily at which joint in the foot
and ankle complex?
A) Talocrural joint
B) Midtarsal joint
C) Tarsometatarsal joint
D) Subtalar joint
Correct Answer: D) Subtalar joint
Rationale: The subtalar (talocalcaneal) joint, with its unique anatomical orientation, is the
primary site for the frontal plane motions of inversion and eversion.
Question 8
The talocrural joint, often referred to as the ankle joint proper, is formed by which three bones?
A) Talus, calcaneus, and navicular
B) Talus, tibia, and fibula
C) Tibia, fibula, and calcaneus
D) Calcaneus, cuboid, and navicular
Correct Answer: B) Talus, tibia, and fibula
Rationale: The talocrural joint is a synovial hinge joint formed by the articulation of the talus
with the mortise created by the distal ends of the tibia and fibula.
Question 9
What are the primary motions that occur at the talocrural joint?
, A) Inversion and eversion
B) Abduction and adduction
C) Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion
D) Pronation and supination
Correct Answer: C) Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion
Rationale: The talocrural joint functions essentially as a hinge, allowing for sagittal plane
motion of the foot (dorsiflexion and plantar flexion).
Question 10
The medial ligament of the ankle, also known as the deltoid ligament, primarily functions to
resist:
A) Excessive inversion of the foot.
B) Excessive dorsiflexion.
C) Excessive plantar flexion.
D) Excessive eversion of the foot.
Correct Answer: D) Excessive eversion of the foot.
Rationale: The strong, fan-shaped deltoid ligament complex on the medial side of the ankle
provides stability and prevents the foot from over-everting or externally rotating relative to
the tibia.
Question 11
The lateral ligament complex of the ankle, which includes the anterior talofibular ligament
(ATFL), primarily functions to resist:
A) Excessive eversion of the foot.
B) Excessive inversion of the foot.
C) Excessive dorsiflexion.
D) Excessive abduction.
Correct Answer: B) Excessive inversion of the foot.
Rationale: The ligaments on the lateral side of the ankle (ATFL, CFL, PTFL) are the primary
stabilizers against inversion stress. The ATFL is the most commonly sprained ligament in the
body.
