OMM EXAM| Questions Solved with Verified
Correct Answers | Latest Update 2024-2025
*What axis is the cranial sacral motion around?* - ANSWER *The transverse axis at the second
sacral segment*
*Flexion of the occiput causes the dura to pull the sacrum....* - ANSWER *UP towards the
patient's head and the base of the sacrum to move POSTERIORLY*
The dura attaches where on the sacrum? - ANSWER *Anterior surface of the sacral canal at
the level of S2*
(this is why in occiput flexion the base moves posteriorly - OPPOSITE of anatomic flexion of
the sacrum where the base of the sacrum would tilt anteriorly and it would be called an
extension when the sacral base moves posteriorly)
What is the cranial rhythmic impulse (*CRI*)? - ANSWER The palpable, rhythmic fluctuation
in the PRM
- 6-12 cycles per minute on average
,*Vault Hold* - ANSWER Index fingers on *greater wings of sphenoid*
Little fingers on *lateral angles of the occiput*
Ears between the 3rd and 4th fingers
Thumbs should lightly rest on top of the skull along the sagittal suture or slightly above the
skull in midair.
The palms should NOT be resting in the skull
*Flexion/Extension* in cranial - ANSWER -Physiologic motion of the cranium
-*Midline, unpaired bones* (sphenoid, occiput, vomer, ethmoid)
-sphenoid and occiput move around each other at the *SBS* - *act as gears and move
in opposite direction around 2 transverse axes*
*Bases rise in flexion, descend in extension* (base rising is in relation to you at the head of
the table, SBS coming towards you; NOT towards the ceiling)
Fingers for Flexion - ANSWER Fingers move away from you and widen
Fingers for Extension - ANSWER Fingers come towards you and come together
*When the midline bones go into FLEXION... the paired bones go into _______ rotation?* -
ANSWER *EXTERNAL*
*When the midline bones go into EXTENSION... the paired bones go into _______ rotation?* -
ANSWER *INTERNAL*
,The Fronto-Occipital (A-P) Hold - ANSWER Can be done from the head of the table or the side
of the table
If at the head of the table:
-One hand under the pt's occiput cupping it slightly (NO real pressure) where the
*occipital angles are on the fingertips and thenar or hypothenar eminences*
-Top hand is in the opposite direction to the bottom with your *middle finger over the
greater wing on one side, and the palm resting over the other* (or thumb and middle fingers
over greater wings - but don't squeeze)
Temporal Hold - ANSWER Arms comfortable on the table, pt supine, you at head of table
Cradle the patient's head in your hands with their *ear in front of your thumbs* - this places the
mastoid process under your thumbs and their *occiput on your thenar eminences*
-May need to rest fingers of one hand lighlty on top of fingers of other hand
Don't apply any pressure to the head
BADNF: Flexion - ANSWER A: 2 transverse
D: Opposite
N: Sphenobasilar angle decreasing
F: Move away from you and widen
BADNF: Extension - ANSWER A: 2 Transverse
D: Opposite
N: Sphenobasilar angle increasing
F: Move toward you and come together
BADNF: Torsion - ANSWER A: 1 A-P
D: Opposite
N: Superior greater wing of the sphenoid
, F: On affected side, fingers will move anteriorly (toward the ceiling if pt is supine)
BADNF: Sidebending - ANSWER A: 2 Vertical
D: Opposite
N: Side of convexity
F: Affected side will feel full, bow laterally, on affected side fingers will split apart,
opposite hand fingers will come together
BADNF: Rotation - ANSWER A: 1 A-P
D: Same
N: Side that drops inferiorly (toward pt's feet)
F: Affected side will drop toward pt's feet
BADNF: Vertical Strain - ANSWER A: 2 Transverse
D: Same
N: Base of sphenoid superior/inferior
F: With 3rd and 4th finger tips together, if pads point toward ceiling = superior, pads
toward floor = inferior
BADNF: Lateral Strain - ANSWER A: 2 Vertical
D: Same
N: Base of sphenoid left/right
F: Little fingers move right = right lateral strain and vice versa (hands are parallelograms)
BADNF: Compression - ANSWER A: 1 A-P
D: Into each other
N:
Correct Answers | Latest Update 2024-2025
*What axis is the cranial sacral motion around?* - ANSWER *The transverse axis at the second
sacral segment*
*Flexion of the occiput causes the dura to pull the sacrum....* - ANSWER *UP towards the
patient's head and the base of the sacrum to move POSTERIORLY*
The dura attaches where on the sacrum? - ANSWER *Anterior surface of the sacral canal at
the level of S2*
(this is why in occiput flexion the base moves posteriorly - OPPOSITE of anatomic flexion of
the sacrum where the base of the sacrum would tilt anteriorly and it would be called an
extension when the sacral base moves posteriorly)
What is the cranial rhythmic impulse (*CRI*)? - ANSWER The palpable, rhythmic fluctuation
in the PRM
- 6-12 cycles per minute on average
,*Vault Hold* - ANSWER Index fingers on *greater wings of sphenoid*
Little fingers on *lateral angles of the occiput*
Ears between the 3rd and 4th fingers
Thumbs should lightly rest on top of the skull along the sagittal suture or slightly above the
skull in midair.
The palms should NOT be resting in the skull
*Flexion/Extension* in cranial - ANSWER -Physiologic motion of the cranium
-*Midline, unpaired bones* (sphenoid, occiput, vomer, ethmoid)
-sphenoid and occiput move around each other at the *SBS* - *act as gears and move
in opposite direction around 2 transverse axes*
*Bases rise in flexion, descend in extension* (base rising is in relation to you at the head of
the table, SBS coming towards you; NOT towards the ceiling)
Fingers for Flexion - ANSWER Fingers move away from you and widen
Fingers for Extension - ANSWER Fingers come towards you and come together
*When the midline bones go into FLEXION... the paired bones go into _______ rotation?* -
ANSWER *EXTERNAL*
*When the midline bones go into EXTENSION... the paired bones go into _______ rotation?* -
ANSWER *INTERNAL*
,The Fronto-Occipital (A-P) Hold - ANSWER Can be done from the head of the table or the side
of the table
If at the head of the table:
-One hand under the pt's occiput cupping it slightly (NO real pressure) where the
*occipital angles are on the fingertips and thenar or hypothenar eminences*
-Top hand is in the opposite direction to the bottom with your *middle finger over the
greater wing on one side, and the palm resting over the other* (or thumb and middle fingers
over greater wings - but don't squeeze)
Temporal Hold - ANSWER Arms comfortable on the table, pt supine, you at head of table
Cradle the patient's head in your hands with their *ear in front of your thumbs* - this places the
mastoid process under your thumbs and their *occiput on your thenar eminences*
-May need to rest fingers of one hand lighlty on top of fingers of other hand
Don't apply any pressure to the head
BADNF: Flexion - ANSWER A: 2 transverse
D: Opposite
N: Sphenobasilar angle decreasing
F: Move away from you and widen
BADNF: Extension - ANSWER A: 2 Transverse
D: Opposite
N: Sphenobasilar angle increasing
F: Move toward you and come together
BADNF: Torsion - ANSWER A: 1 A-P
D: Opposite
N: Superior greater wing of the sphenoid
, F: On affected side, fingers will move anteriorly (toward the ceiling if pt is supine)
BADNF: Sidebending - ANSWER A: 2 Vertical
D: Opposite
N: Side of convexity
F: Affected side will feel full, bow laterally, on affected side fingers will split apart,
opposite hand fingers will come together
BADNF: Rotation - ANSWER A: 1 A-P
D: Same
N: Side that drops inferiorly (toward pt's feet)
F: Affected side will drop toward pt's feet
BADNF: Vertical Strain - ANSWER A: 2 Transverse
D: Same
N: Base of sphenoid superior/inferior
F: With 3rd and 4th finger tips together, if pads point toward ceiling = superior, pads
toward floor = inferior
BADNF: Lateral Strain - ANSWER A: 2 Vertical
D: Same
N: Base of sphenoid left/right
F: Little fingers move right = right lateral strain and vice versa (hands are parallelograms)
BADNF: Compression - ANSWER A: 1 A-P
D: Into each other
N:
