MBLEx Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination Questions and Answers

The synergist or assisting muscle to the biceps brachii is the brachialis muscle.

There are various forms of myocytes in the body, but it is the cardiac myosytes that are responsible for generating the electrical impulses that control heart rate.

The musculotendinous junction is formed between the muscle and its respective tendon.

The purpose of the excretory system is to regulate the chemical composition of the body by removing metabolic waste and to monitor the proper amount of water, salts and nutrients. The integumentary, digestive and respiratory system all play a minor role in the excretory system. However, the urinary system is responsible for the excretion of fluid to maintain homeostasis.

Stretch reflex or myotatic reflex is an automatic muscle contraction in response to a stretching of muscle fibers. In this case, during the event of losing balance, muscles are stretched and triggered to automatically contract as a means of regaining balance.

Lordosis is a condition of the lumbar spine which causes and anteriorly rotated pelvis. The anterior rotation causes the hip flexors to tighten which includes a shortening of the psoas muscle.

The outside layer of the myelin sheath is called the neurilemma.

Skeletal muscle contraction occurs when an action potential from the brain reaches the neuromuscular junction. It causes a calcium ion influx which starts the process of a muscle contraction.

There are two types: myelinating and nonmyelating. Myelinating Schwann cells wrap around axons of motor and sensory neurons to form the myelin sheath, which acts to protect and support nerve functioning. Non-myelinating Schwann cells are involved with maintaining the health and vitality of the axon or nerve fiber.

Client autonomy is when the practitioner keeps the client up to date about any possible changes or adjustments that can affect the client. This gives the client a chance to choose their course of action with the practitioner.

An individual person, working as a sole proprietor or as an independent contractor, must file the Schedule C for all related business income and expenses to calculate the net profit or loss of the business. Net profit or loss is then carried to IRS Form 1040.

The concern with fraternizing with clients outside of the therapeutic environment is to avoid the possibility of creating a dual relationship.

The flexor carpi radailis muscle is part of the flexor muscle group of the forearm which inserts into the common flexor tendon. Medial epicondylitis is the condition which includes the flexor muscle group of the forearm. Medial epicondylitis is also called golfers elbow due to the end range of motion during a golf swing that causes the most damage to the flexor muscles.

A valgum deformity is an outward angulation of the distal segment of a joint or bone. In other words, the knees will be angled medially and the feet will be angled laterally. Reverse this scenario to laterally angled knees and medially angled feet and you will see a varum deformity also known as bow legged.

A pollicis is another term for thumb. Any question that includes the term pollicis will relate to the thumb.

One of the few times a massage therapist is allowed to break confidentiality is when he or she suspects a client to be in personal danger or harm. In this case, the massage therapist has a professional obligation to ensure the safety of the client.

Crepitus is a crackling, grating or popping sound from joints or other subcutaneous tissue.

Systole or systolic pressure is the measured amount of force required by the heart to pump or squeeze blood out of its chambers.

Sepsis is a serious immunity response and inflammation of the entire body. It is often caused by a pathogenic infection but sometimes the condition can arise from or is complicated by an organ malfunction. Some symptoms are high fever, irregular heart and breathing rate, altered mental state and edema pathology.

Malpractice insurance is not required by Federal law. Regulations on massage vary from state to state. However, to adhere to sound business practices and for the protection of yourself and your clients, malpractice insurance is considered a necessity within the massage community.

The mitral valve is also known as the bicuspid, which controls blood flow between the opening of the left atrium into the left ventricle.

Passive ROM is when the therapist performs the movement of the client’s body. This is used to determine joint versus muscular dysfunctions.

The trapezium, trapezoid, capitate and hamate comprise the distal row of carpal bones of the hand. The scaphoid lunate, triquetrum and pisiform comprise the proximal row of carpals.

The clavicle connects to the scapula at the acromion process and this juncture is called the acromioclavicular joint.

A client who routinely presses the structure of the practice, like in this case, is testing the boundaries on what is acceptable. Regardless of a client’s situation, it is the therapist’s responsibility to set appropriate boundaries to ensure all participants feel safe and comfortable within the therapeutic environment.

An antigen is a substance either foreign or internal that triggers an immune response. This response is triggered by a histocompatibility molecule within each cell that can trigger an immune response.

There are three arches in a normal human foot. These are the medial longitudinal arch, the lateral longitudinal arch and the transverse arch.

The adrenal glands, known for releasing “fight or flight” hormones in response to stressors, are located superiorly to the kidneys.

Thrombocytes or platelets, are essential to blood clotting. Thrombocytes create platelet plugs by releasing prothrombin at an injury site that bonds with calcium to form a clot.

Testing the range of motion while the client is moving under their own power is known as an active range of motion test.

The cerebral cortex is divided into two halves or hemispheres. Each hemisphere consists of four lobes: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe. The lobes relate not to brain function but rather to the bones that underlie the cerebral cortex. The borders of these lobes are dictated by sutures in the skull with the exception between the frontal and parietal lobes which follow a deep fold in the brain called the central sulcus and this is just behind the frontal and parietal sutures.

Federal and state law form the legal boundaries of the massage profession.

The S is for subjective, which is a description of the client’s experience.

The term celiac describes the location of the abdomen and is used to describe the location of nerves as in the celiac plexus or the location of cardiovascular tissue as in the celiac artery. Celiac disease denotes the location of the disease located in the abdominal region.

Before starting treatment with a client, a massage therapist must first understand what the nature of the client’s complaint is, whether the condition is indicated or contraindicated or if a referral is necessary. Once the therapy session is complete, an assessment is necessary to determine the benefit of the treatment to the client.

The Adson maneuver is used to determine a thoracic outlet compression. To conduct the Adson maneuver, a massage therapist places the clients arm into horizontal abduction on the affected side to a 45 degree angle while rotating their head toward the affected side. The massage therapist then instructs the client to extend their head which tightens the scalene muscles, which should magnify any preexisting compression of the subclavian artery and brachial plexus. The massage therapist palpates for a decrease in the radial pulse while the client takes deep breathes to exaggerate the compression.

All aspects of the integumentary system are affected by aging. These changes result in thinning of the skin layers, fewer active hair follicles, leading to thin, sparse hair and sebaceous activity, and reduced blood supply. There is also dryness due to reduced sweat.

The time to collect information about a physical complaint or injury is during the intake process.

The brachial plexus is the nerve bundle that serves the arm and most of the shoulder.

The vastus lateralis is the largest quadriceps muscle with its origin starting superiorly to the intertrochanteric line and inserting into the lateral border of the patella.

The radial nerve divides into the superficial dorsal digital nerves and the deeper posterior interosseous nerve, located at the posterior aspect of the forearm.

Neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils are the three types of granular leukocytes (white blood cells) of the immune system which consume infectious diseases and foreign materials.

The splenius capitis muscle originates along the lower half of the nuchal ligament, spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebrae and the upper third or fourth thoracic vertebrae which insert into the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The action of the splenius capitis is to extend the neck posteriorly as well as assisting with lateral rotation and lateral flexion of the cervical spine.

Foreign objects, including food, can become lodged in the larynx or trachea (windpipe). These can often be expelled by coughing. If the person can speak or make sounds, the airway is open and there is no emergency. If the person cannot breathe or speak, there is an immediate threat of death by asphyxiation and emergency measures are needed. The Heimlich maneuver is the correct first emergency remedial action to take.

Pulmonary circulation transfers blood from the heart to the lungs and then back to the heart for systemic circulation which distributes blood, nutrients and gases throughout the body.

When the body is exposed to prolonged heat, more blood is shunted to superficial veins in order to lower body temperature. This results in decreased venous return to the heart. The resulting lowered cardiac output causes less oxygenated blood to reach the brain, causing dizziness and fainting.

Tennis elbow affects the extensor muscles of the forearm and is attributed to the tearing of flexor muscles during impact of a back hand swing.

The acromion process is located at the top of the shoulder and articulates with the lateral end of the clavicle. It is the fibers of the middle trapezius that insert into the medial margin of the acromion process.

The hepatic duct transports bile secreted in the liver into the gall bladder. The gall bladder stores and concentrates bile. The bile duct releases bile from the gall bladder into the small intestine.

Hard end feel is the natural sensation at the end range of motion where bone meets bone such as elbow or knee extension. Since a hard end feel would indicate that the client’s joints are functioning normally, there would typically be no pain experienced.

The extensor carpi ulnaris acts to both extend and adduct the wrist.

The mesencephalon is also known as the midbrain, and is associated with arousal, hearing, motor control, vision, sleeping patterns and more.

A grade 4 whiplash is a critical condition associated with extreme neck pain, cervical fractures and/or dislocations, possible spinal cord injury and serious soft tissue damage. Massage is contraindicated until the condition is stabilized and a medical release is provided.

Whole hand nerve sensations with arm discoloration indicate compression at the thoracic outlet.

The tibial nerve is a distal branch of the sciatic nerve which passes through the popliteal fossa where it divides into the medial and lateral plantar nerves.

The tendinoperiosteal junction is located between tendon and bone.

Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body. Arterioles are the connecting vessels between arteries and capillaries. Venules are the connecting vessels between capillaries and veins.

There are two primary types of circulation systems in nature, one being open and the other being closed. In humans, the blood never leaves the intricate webbing of blood vessels and is thus considered a closed circulatory system. An open circulatory system is one where blood and interstitial fluid move freely within an organism, as in the case of gastropods, otherwise known as snails.

Protons located within the nucleus are counted to determine the atomic number of an atom. This is different than the atomic mass which is a count of the total count of neutrons and protons within a nucleus.

A person who has been in an auto accident could have any number of injuries including shock. For the safety of the client and your protection as a therapist, the best recommendation is to refer the client for a medical evaluation before any treatment is considered.

The passive range of motion test assesses the antagonist muscles of the body. We are looking for the muscle that would inhibit rotation to the right. In this case, the left levator scapularis is the shortened muscle.

Muscle tone relates to a continuous muscle contraction that resists stretching or elongation during a resting state. In other words, muscle tone describes a muscle that is unable to relax.

Phasic muscles are fast twitch muscles which are prone to inhibition or fatigue. Muscles that are designed to move our bodies are typically phasic while muscles that are designed to hold our bodies upright are typically postural.

Vasodilation leads to an increased blood flow and is responsible for the redness and heat of an acute inflammation. As fluid continues to concentrate in the area, the permeability of tissue is exceeded which leads to swelling and edema.

Hacking, tapping and pounding are techniques of tapotement.

The question describes the fundamentals of framework. A framework is all encompassing within the massage field and includes the values and visions, conception, design and desires of a massage therapist as they apply to a business model. Developing a solid framework is essential to creating a healthy and successful practice.

The ossicles are the three smallest bones in the human body and help transmit sound to the cochlea. The term ossicles literally means “tiny bones” and are named the incus, the malleus and the stapes. An absence of these bones causes a severe hearing loss.

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The massage code of ethics is a standard of conduct that defines ethical behavior for a massage therapist. The question lists principles of the massage code of ethics.

A sulcus is the anatomical term for a furrow, fissure, crevice or a groove in the human body. Two examples are the central sulcus of the cerebellum which divides the frontal and parietal lobes, and the radial sulcus along the lateral border of the humerus which houses the radial nerve and the deep brachial artery.

Inert tissues are those that are not contractile such as bone, bursa, blood vessels, cartilage, fat, ligaments, nerves and nerve coverings.

All directional terms use the anatomical position as the standard point of reference. The term “distal” refers to a structure that is located away from a base structure - for example, the hand is distal to the elbow.

The Wright’s hyperabduction test raises the client’s arms above their heads through abduction which stretch tightens the pectoralis minor. A change in the radial pulse indicates a positive test for impingement by the pectoralis minor.