ABC ORTHOTICS & PROSTHETICS BOARD WRITTEN EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE 300-QUESTION PRACTICE EXAMINATION
|BASED ON ABC TEST CONTENT OUTLINES & PRACTICE ANALYSIS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES
SECTION 1: PATIENT EVALUATION - ANATOMY & BIOMECHANICS
(Questions 1-40)
1. The muscle that has the PRIMARY responsibility of rotating the thumb to
touch the tips of the index and middle fingers is the:
A. Opponens pollicis
B. Flexor pollicis longus
C. Abductor pollicis brevis
D. Extensor pollicis longus
Correct Answer: A. Opponens pollicis
Rationale: The opponens pollicis muscle is responsible for opposition of the
thumb, which is the movement that allows the thumb to touch the tips of the
fingers. This is a classic ABC sample question.
2. The functions of the tibialis posterior muscle are:
A. Plantar flexion and inversion
B. Plantar flexion and eversion
C. Dorsiflexion and inversion
D. Dorsiflexion and eversion
Correct Answer: A. Plantar flexion and inversion
Rationale: The tibialis posterior is a primary inverter and plantar flexor
of the foot. It plays a key role in supporting the medial arch during gait.
3. The distal aspect of the tibia articulates with the:
A. Calcaneus and fibula
B. Calcaneus and talus
C. Talus and fibula
D. Talus and navicular
Correct Answer: C. Talus and fibula
Rationale: The distal tibia forms the ankle mortise with the talus and
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, articulates with the fibula at the syndesmosis.
4. Anterior compression fractures of the spine involve the:
A. Posterior column
B. Anterior column
C. Middle column
D. Anterior and posterior columns
Correct Answer: B. Anterior column
Rationale: The spine is divided into three columns. The anterior column
includes the anterior longitudinal ligament and the anterior two-thirds of
the vertebral body. Anterior compression fractures involve this column.
5. Which of the following has its insertion at the adductor tubercle?
A. Adductor longus
B. Adductor brevis
C. Semitendinosis
D. Adductor magnus
Correct Answer: D. Adductor magnus
Rationale: The adductor magnus muscle inserts at the adductor tubercle on the
medial epicondyle of the femur.
6. At initial contact, the body weight line is:
A. Anterior to the ankle and posterior to the knee
B. Posterior to the ankle and posterior to the knee
C. Posterior to the ankle and anterior to the knee
D. Anterior to the ankle and anterior to the knee
Correct Answer: C. Posterior to the ankle and anterior to the knee
Rationale: At initial contact, the ground reaction force passes posterior to
the ankle and anterior to the knee, creating a plantarflexion moment at the
ankle and a knee extension moment.
7. The congenital abnormality of the spine in which one side of the vertebra is
incompletely developed is:
A. Hemivertebra
B. Spina bifida
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, C. Spondylolysis
D. Klippel-Feil syndrome
Correct Answer: A. Hemivertebra
Rationale: A hemivertebra is a congenital defect where one side of a vertebra
fails to develop, often causing congenital scoliosis.
8. A "gait cycle" refers to all activity that occurs between:
A. Double support on one side and the following support on the opposite side
B. Heel strike on one side and the following heel strike on the same side
C. Toe-off on one side and the following toe-off on the opposite side
D. Midstance on one side and the following midstance on the same side
Correct Answer: B. Heel strike on one side and the following heel strike on
the same side
Rationale: A complete gait cycle (stride) is from initial contact of one foot
to the next initial contact of the same foot.
9. During stance, the hip joint is most stable when it is in which position
relative to the weight line?
A. The weight line passes medial to the hip
B. The weight line passes lateral to the hip
C. The weight line passes through the hip
D. The hip is flexed
Correct Answer: C. The weight line passes through the hip
Rationale: The hip is most stable when the body weight line passes directly
through the joint, minimizing bending moments.
10. Which of the following is a primary knee extensor?
A. Gastrocnemius
B. Rectus femoris
C. Biceps femoris
D. Semitendinosus
Correct Answer: B. Rectus femoris
Rationale: The rectus femoris is part of the quadriceps group, which is the
primary knee extensor.
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, 11. The elbow joint is an example of which type of joint?
A. Ball-and-socket
B. Hinge
C. Pivot
D. Saddle
Correct Answer: B. Hinge
Rationale: The elbow is a hinge joint, allowing flexion and extension in one
plane.
12. Normal ambulation consists of:
A. 60% swing and 40% stance
B. 60% stance and 40% swing
C. 50% stance and 50% swing
D. 70% stance and 30% swing
Correct Answer: B. 60% stance and 40% swing
Rationale: In normal gait, approximately 60% of the cycle is stance phase and
40% is swing phase.
13. The gastrocnemius muscle has which of the following actions?
A. Dorsiflexion of the ankle
B. Plantarflexion of the ankle
C. Inversion of the foot
D. Eversion of the foot
Correct Answer: B. Plantarflexion of the ankle
Rationale: The gastrocnemius is a powerful plantarflexor of the ankle.
14. The bony landmark used to locate the anatomical hip joint axis is the:
A. Greater trochanter
B. Lesser trochanter
C. Anterior superior iliac spine
D. Pubic symphysis
Correct Answer: A. Greater trochanter
Rationale: The greater trochanter is the primary palpable landmark used to
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COMPREHENSIVE 300-QUESTION PRACTICE EXAMINATION
|BASED ON ABC TEST CONTENT OUTLINES & PRACTICE ANALYSIS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES
SECTION 1: PATIENT EVALUATION - ANATOMY & BIOMECHANICS
(Questions 1-40)
1. The muscle that has the PRIMARY responsibility of rotating the thumb to
touch the tips of the index and middle fingers is the:
A. Opponens pollicis
B. Flexor pollicis longus
C. Abductor pollicis brevis
D. Extensor pollicis longus
Correct Answer: A. Opponens pollicis
Rationale: The opponens pollicis muscle is responsible for opposition of the
thumb, which is the movement that allows the thumb to touch the tips of the
fingers. This is a classic ABC sample question.
2. The functions of the tibialis posterior muscle are:
A. Plantar flexion and inversion
B. Plantar flexion and eversion
C. Dorsiflexion and inversion
D. Dorsiflexion and eversion
Correct Answer: A. Plantar flexion and inversion
Rationale: The tibialis posterior is a primary inverter and plantar flexor
of the foot. It plays a key role in supporting the medial arch during gait.
3. The distal aspect of the tibia articulates with the:
A. Calcaneus and fibula
B. Calcaneus and talus
C. Talus and fibula
D. Talus and navicular
Correct Answer: C. Talus and fibula
Rationale: The distal tibia forms the ankle mortise with the talus and
1
, articulates with the fibula at the syndesmosis.
4. Anterior compression fractures of the spine involve the:
A. Posterior column
B. Anterior column
C. Middle column
D. Anterior and posterior columns
Correct Answer: B. Anterior column
Rationale: The spine is divided into three columns. The anterior column
includes the anterior longitudinal ligament and the anterior two-thirds of
the vertebral body. Anterior compression fractures involve this column.
5. Which of the following has its insertion at the adductor tubercle?
A. Adductor longus
B. Adductor brevis
C. Semitendinosis
D. Adductor magnus
Correct Answer: D. Adductor magnus
Rationale: The adductor magnus muscle inserts at the adductor tubercle on the
medial epicondyle of the femur.
6. At initial contact, the body weight line is:
A. Anterior to the ankle and posterior to the knee
B. Posterior to the ankle and posterior to the knee
C. Posterior to the ankle and anterior to the knee
D. Anterior to the ankle and anterior to the knee
Correct Answer: C. Posterior to the ankle and anterior to the knee
Rationale: At initial contact, the ground reaction force passes posterior to
the ankle and anterior to the knee, creating a plantarflexion moment at the
ankle and a knee extension moment.
7. The congenital abnormality of the spine in which one side of the vertebra is
incompletely developed is:
A. Hemivertebra
B. Spina bifida
2
, C. Spondylolysis
D. Klippel-Feil syndrome
Correct Answer: A. Hemivertebra
Rationale: A hemivertebra is a congenital defect where one side of a vertebra
fails to develop, often causing congenital scoliosis.
8. A "gait cycle" refers to all activity that occurs between:
A. Double support on one side and the following support on the opposite side
B. Heel strike on one side and the following heel strike on the same side
C. Toe-off on one side and the following toe-off on the opposite side
D. Midstance on one side and the following midstance on the same side
Correct Answer: B. Heel strike on one side and the following heel strike on
the same side
Rationale: A complete gait cycle (stride) is from initial contact of one foot
to the next initial contact of the same foot.
9. During stance, the hip joint is most stable when it is in which position
relative to the weight line?
A. The weight line passes medial to the hip
B. The weight line passes lateral to the hip
C. The weight line passes through the hip
D. The hip is flexed
Correct Answer: C. The weight line passes through the hip
Rationale: The hip is most stable when the body weight line passes directly
through the joint, minimizing bending moments.
10. Which of the following is a primary knee extensor?
A. Gastrocnemius
B. Rectus femoris
C. Biceps femoris
D. Semitendinosus
Correct Answer: B. Rectus femoris
Rationale: The rectus femoris is part of the quadriceps group, which is the
primary knee extensor.
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, 11. The elbow joint is an example of which type of joint?
A. Ball-and-socket
B. Hinge
C. Pivot
D. Saddle
Correct Answer: B. Hinge
Rationale: The elbow is a hinge joint, allowing flexion and extension in one
plane.
12. Normal ambulation consists of:
A. 60% swing and 40% stance
B. 60% stance and 40% swing
C. 50% stance and 50% swing
D. 70% stance and 30% swing
Correct Answer: B. 60% stance and 40% swing
Rationale: In normal gait, approximately 60% of the cycle is stance phase and
40% is swing phase.
13. The gastrocnemius muscle has which of the following actions?
A. Dorsiflexion of the ankle
B. Plantarflexion of the ankle
C. Inversion of the foot
D. Eversion of the foot
Correct Answer: B. Plantarflexion of the ankle
Rationale: The gastrocnemius is a powerful plantarflexor of the ankle.
14. The bony landmark used to locate the anatomical hip joint axis is the:
A. Greater trochanter
B. Lesser trochanter
C. Anterior superior iliac spine
D. Pubic symphysis
Correct Answer: A. Greater trochanter
Rationale: The greater trochanter is the primary palpable landmark used to
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