ACSM CPT STUDY EXAM GUIDE 2026/2027 QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔transverse plane - ✔✔divides the body into superior and inferior portions; cut across
at hips
✔✔center of gravity - ✔✔theoretical point where the weight force of the object can be
considered to act
when a person is in neutral position, approx. at the second sacral segment
✔✔line of gravity - ✔✔the body's imaginary vertical line passing through center of
gravity; consider when describing posture abnormalities
✔✔flexion - ✔✔movement resulting in decrease of the joint angle, usually moving
anteriorly in the sagittal plane
✔✔extension - ✔✔movement resulting in an increase of the joint angle, usually moving
posteriorly in the sagittal plane
✔✔abduction - ✔✔movement away from the midline, usually in frontal plane
✔✔adduction - ✔✔movement toward the midline, usually in frontal plane
✔✔inversion - ✔✔adducting the ankle
✔✔eversion - ✔✔abducting of the ankle
✔✔dorisflexion - ✔✔flexing ankle so the foot moves anteriorly in sagittal plane
✔✔plantarflexion - ✔✔extending the ankle
ex. pointing toe
✔✔internal rotation - ✔✔rotation in the transverse plane toward midline of the body
✔✔external rotation - ✔✔rotation in the transverse plane away from the midline of the
body
✔✔lateral flexion - ✔✔movement away from the midline of the body in the frontal plane,
usually used to describe neck and trunk movement
✔✔elevation - ✔✔movement of the scapula superiorly in the frontal plane
✔✔depression - ✔✔movement of the scapula inferiorly in the frontal plane
,✔✔retraction - ✔✔movement of the scapula toward the spine in frontal plane
✔✔protraction - ✔✔movement of the scapula away from the spine in frontal plane
✔✔radial deviation - ✔✔abduction of the wrist in frontal plane
✔✔ulnar deviation - ✔✔adduction of the wrist in frontal plane
✔✔pronation - ✔✔combined movements of abduction and eversion resulting in lowering
of the medial margin of foot
✔✔supination - ✔✔combined movements of adduction and inversion resulting in raising
of the margin of foot
✔✔sesamoid bones - ✔✔found within tendons & joint capsules
shaped like sesame seeds
ex. patella
✔✔ligaments - ✔✔tough, fibrous connective tissue
connect bone to bone
✔✔synarthrodial - ✔✔joint that does not move
✔✔ampiarthrodial - ✔✔joint that moves slightly and held together by ligaments
✔✔synovial joint - ✔✔most common type of joint in body
✔✔open chain movement - ✔✔occur when the distal segment of a joint moves in space
ex. for the knee joint- leg extension on a machine
✔✔closed chain movement - ✔✔occur when the joint is fixed in face
ex. for the knee joint- standing barbell squats
✔✔hypermobile - ✔✔excessive joint ROM
✔✔hypomobile - ✔✔joints w/ restricted ROM
✔✔skeletal muscles - ✔✔primarily attached to bones; under voluntary control
, ✔✔parallel - ✔✔type of skeletal muscle
muscle fibers run in the pull of the muscle
4 types- fusiform, longitudinal, quadrate, fan-shaped
✔✔pennate - ✔✔type of skeletal muscle
fibers run obliquely or at the angle to the line of pull
3 types- uni, bi, or multi
✔✔agonist - ✔✔when muscle/group of muscles is responsible for the action or
movement
✔✔antagonist - ✔✔opposing group of muscles relax to permit the primary movement
✔✔synergist - ✔✔muscle or muscle group that prevents unwanted movement
✔✔shoulder bones (3) - ✔✔humerus, scapula, clavicle
✔✔humerus - ✔✔long arm bone
✔✔shoulder joints (4) - ✔✔glenohumeral
acromioclavicular (ac)
sternoclavicular (sc)
scapulothoracic
✔✔rorator cuff muscles (4) - ✔✔supraspinatus
infraspinatus
teres minor
subscapularis
✔✔bones of the elbow (3) - ✔✔humerus, radius, ulna
✔✔joints of the elbow (2) - ✔✔humeroulnar, humeroradial
✔✔anterior muscles of arm that flex elbow joint (3) - ✔✔biceps brachii
brachialis
brachioradialis
✔✔posterior muscles of the elbows (2) - ✔✔triceps brachii
anconeus
✔✔pelvic girdle - ✔✔the link between the axial skeleton (trunk) and the lower
extremities
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔transverse plane - ✔✔divides the body into superior and inferior portions; cut across
at hips
✔✔center of gravity - ✔✔theoretical point where the weight force of the object can be
considered to act
when a person is in neutral position, approx. at the second sacral segment
✔✔line of gravity - ✔✔the body's imaginary vertical line passing through center of
gravity; consider when describing posture abnormalities
✔✔flexion - ✔✔movement resulting in decrease of the joint angle, usually moving
anteriorly in the sagittal plane
✔✔extension - ✔✔movement resulting in an increase of the joint angle, usually moving
posteriorly in the sagittal plane
✔✔abduction - ✔✔movement away from the midline, usually in frontal plane
✔✔adduction - ✔✔movement toward the midline, usually in frontal plane
✔✔inversion - ✔✔adducting the ankle
✔✔eversion - ✔✔abducting of the ankle
✔✔dorisflexion - ✔✔flexing ankle so the foot moves anteriorly in sagittal plane
✔✔plantarflexion - ✔✔extending the ankle
ex. pointing toe
✔✔internal rotation - ✔✔rotation in the transverse plane toward midline of the body
✔✔external rotation - ✔✔rotation in the transverse plane away from the midline of the
body
✔✔lateral flexion - ✔✔movement away from the midline of the body in the frontal plane,
usually used to describe neck and trunk movement
✔✔elevation - ✔✔movement of the scapula superiorly in the frontal plane
✔✔depression - ✔✔movement of the scapula inferiorly in the frontal plane
,✔✔retraction - ✔✔movement of the scapula toward the spine in frontal plane
✔✔protraction - ✔✔movement of the scapula away from the spine in frontal plane
✔✔radial deviation - ✔✔abduction of the wrist in frontal plane
✔✔ulnar deviation - ✔✔adduction of the wrist in frontal plane
✔✔pronation - ✔✔combined movements of abduction and eversion resulting in lowering
of the medial margin of foot
✔✔supination - ✔✔combined movements of adduction and inversion resulting in raising
of the margin of foot
✔✔sesamoid bones - ✔✔found within tendons & joint capsules
shaped like sesame seeds
ex. patella
✔✔ligaments - ✔✔tough, fibrous connective tissue
connect bone to bone
✔✔synarthrodial - ✔✔joint that does not move
✔✔ampiarthrodial - ✔✔joint that moves slightly and held together by ligaments
✔✔synovial joint - ✔✔most common type of joint in body
✔✔open chain movement - ✔✔occur when the distal segment of a joint moves in space
ex. for the knee joint- leg extension on a machine
✔✔closed chain movement - ✔✔occur when the joint is fixed in face
ex. for the knee joint- standing barbell squats
✔✔hypermobile - ✔✔excessive joint ROM
✔✔hypomobile - ✔✔joints w/ restricted ROM
✔✔skeletal muscles - ✔✔primarily attached to bones; under voluntary control
, ✔✔parallel - ✔✔type of skeletal muscle
muscle fibers run in the pull of the muscle
4 types- fusiform, longitudinal, quadrate, fan-shaped
✔✔pennate - ✔✔type of skeletal muscle
fibers run obliquely or at the angle to the line of pull
3 types- uni, bi, or multi
✔✔agonist - ✔✔when muscle/group of muscles is responsible for the action or
movement
✔✔antagonist - ✔✔opposing group of muscles relax to permit the primary movement
✔✔synergist - ✔✔muscle or muscle group that prevents unwanted movement
✔✔shoulder bones (3) - ✔✔humerus, scapula, clavicle
✔✔humerus - ✔✔long arm bone
✔✔shoulder joints (4) - ✔✔glenohumeral
acromioclavicular (ac)
sternoclavicular (sc)
scapulothoracic
✔✔rorator cuff muscles (4) - ✔✔supraspinatus
infraspinatus
teres minor
subscapularis
✔✔bones of the elbow (3) - ✔✔humerus, radius, ulna
✔✔joints of the elbow (2) - ✔✔humeroulnar, humeroradial
✔✔anterior muscles of arm that flex elbow joint (3) - ✔✔biceps brachii
brachialis
brachioradialis
✔✔posterior muscles of the elbows (2) - ✔✔triceps brachii
anconeus
✔✔pelvic girdle - ✔✔the link between the axial skeleton (trunk) and the lower
extremities
