PTA Board Exam UPDATED Study
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Anatomic dead space volume (VD) - CORRECT ANSWER The volume of air that
occupies the non-respiratory conducting airways
Expiratory reserve volume (ERV) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximal volume of air
that can be exhaled after a normal tidal exhalation. ERV is approx. 15% of total lung volume.
Forced expiratory volume (FEV) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximal volume of air
exhaled in a specified period of time: usually the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second of a forced vital
capacity maneuver.
Functional residual capacity (FRC) - CORRECT ANSWER The volume of air in the
lungs after normal exhalation. FRC=ERV+RV. FRC is approx. 40% of total lung volume.
Inspiratory capacity (IC) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximal volume of air that can
be inspired after a normal tidal exhalation. IC=TV+IRV. Approx. 60% of total lung volume
Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximal volume of air
that can be inspired after normal tidal volume inspiration. IRV is approximately 50% of total
lung volume.
Peak expiratory flow (PEF) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximum flow of air during
the beginning of a forced expiratory maneuver
Residual Volume (RV) - CORRECT ANSWER the volume of gas remaining in the
lungs at the end of a maximal expiration. Approx. 25% of total lung volume.
Tidal Volume (TV) - CORRECT ANSWER Total volume inspired and expired with
each breath during quiet breathing. Approx. 10% of total lung volume
,Total Lung Capacity (TLC) - CORRECT ANSWER The volume of air in the lungs
after max inspiration. The sum of all lung volumes.
Vital Capacity (VC) - CORRECT ANSWER volume change that occurs between
maximal inspiration and maximal expiration. Approx. 75% of total lung volume
Akinesia - CORRECT ANSWER The inability to initiate movement; commonly seen
in patients with Parkinson's disease
Asthenia - CORRECT ANSWER generalized weakness, typically secondary to
cerebellar pathology
Ataxia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to perform coordinated movements
Athetosis - CORRECT ANSWER A condition that presents with involuntary
movements combined with instability of posture. Peripheral movements occur without central
stability
Bradykinesia - CORRECT ANSWER slow movement
Chorea - CORRECT ANSWER movements that are sudden, random, and involuntary
Clasp-knife response - CORRECT ANSWER A form of resistance seen during range of
motion of a hypertonic joint where there is greatest resistance at the initiation of range that
lessens with movement through the range of motion
Clonus - CORRECT ANSWER characteristic of an upper motor neuron lesion;
involuntary alternating spasmodic contraction of a muscle precipitated by a quick stretch
reflex
cogwheel rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER A form of rigidity where resistance to
movement has a phasic quality to it; often seen with Parkinson's disease.
,Dysdiadochokinesia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to perform rapid alternating
movements
Dysmetria - CORRECT ANSWER The inability to control the range of a movement
and the force of muscular activity.
Dystonia - CORRECT ANSWER closely related to athetosis; however there is larger
axial muscle involvement rather than appendicular muscles
Fasciculation - CORRECT ANSWER A muscular twitch that is caused by random
discharge of a lower motor neuron and its muscle fibers; suggests lower motor neuron
disease, however, can be benign
Hemiballism - CORRECT ANSWER an involuntary and violent movement of a large
body part
Kinesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER Ability to perceive the direction and extent of
movement of a joint or body part
Lead pipe rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER form of rigidity where there is uniform and
constant resistance to ROM, often associated with lesions of basal ganglia
rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER a state of severe hypertonicity where a sustained
muscle contraction does not allow for any movement at a specified joint
Tremor - CORRECT ANSWER involuntary, rhythmic, oscillatory movements
secondary to a basal ganglia lesion
Agnosia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to interpret information
, Agraphesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to recognize symbols, letters or
numbers traced on the skin
Agraphia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to write due to a lesion on the brain.
Normally found in combo with aphasia
Apraxia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to perform purposeful learned movements or
activities even though there is no sensory or motor impairment
astereogenesis - CORRECT ANSWER inability to recognize objects by sense of touch
Body schema - CORRECT ANSWER having an understanding of the body as a whole
and the relationship of its parts to the whole
decerebrate rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER characteristic of a corticospinal lesion at
level of brainstem that results in extension of trunk and all extremities
decorticate rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER A characteristic of a corticospinal lesion at
the level of the diencephalon where the trunk and lower extremities are positioned in
extension and the upper extremities are positioned in flexion
diplopia - CORRECT ANSWER double vision
Dysarthria - CORRECT ANSWER slurred and impaired speech due to a motor deficit
of the tongue or other muscles essential for speech.
Dysphagia - CORRECT ANSWER difficulty swallowing
homonymous hemianopsia - CORRECT ANSWER The loss of the right or left half of
the field of vision in both eyes.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Anatomic dead space volume (VD) - CORRECT ANSWER The volume of air that
occupies the non-respiratory conducting airways
Expiratory reserve volume (ERV) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximal volume of air
that can be exhaled after a normal tidal exhalation. ERV is approx. 15% of total lung volume.
Forced expiratory volume (FEV) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximal volume of air
exhaled in a specified period of time: usually the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second of a forced vital
capacity maneuver.
Functional residual capacity (FRC) - CORRECT ANSWER The volume of air in the
lungs after normal exhalation. FRC=ERV+RV. FRC is approx. 40% of total lung volume.
Inspiratory capacity (IC) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximal volume of air that can
be inspired after a normal tidal exhalation. IC=TV+IRV. Approx. 60% of total lung volume
Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximal volume of air
that can be inspired after normal tidal volume inspiration. IRV is approximately 50% of total
lung volume.
Peak expiratory flow (PEF) - CORRECT ANSWER The maximum flow of air during
the beginning of a forced expiratory maneuver
Residual Volume (RV) - CORRECT ANSWER the volume of gas remaining in the
lungs at the end of a maximal expiration. Approx. 25% of total lung volume.
Tidal Volume (TV) - CORRECT ANSWER Total volume inspired and expired with
each breath during quiet breathing. Approx. 10% of total lung volume
,Total Lung Capacity (TLC) - CORRECT ANSWER The volume of air in the lungs
after max inspiration. The sum of all lung volumes.
Vital Capacity (VC) - CORRECT ANSWER volume change that occurs between
maximal inspiration and maximal expiration. Approx. 75% of total lung volume
Akinesia - CORRECT ANSWER The inability to initiate movement; commonly seen
in patients with Parkinson's disease
Asthenia - CORRECT ANSWER generalized weakness, typically secondary to
cerebellar pathology
Ataxia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to perform coordinated movements
Athetosis - CORRECT ANSWER A condition that presents with involuntary
movements combined with instability of posture. Peripheral movements occur without central
stability
Bradykinesia - CORRECT ANSWER slow movement
Chorea - CORRECT ANSWER movements that are sudden, random, and involuntary
Clasp-knife response - CORRECT ANSWER A form of resistance seen during range of
motion of a hypertonic joint where there is greatest resistance at the initiation of range that
lessens with movement through the range of motion
Clonus - CORRECT ANSWER characteristic of an upper motor neuron lesion;
involuntary alternating spasmodic contraction of a muscle precipitated by a quick stretch
reflex
cogwheel rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER A form of rigidity where resistance to
movement has a phasic quality to it; often seen with Parkinson's disease.
,Dysdiadochokinesia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to perform rapid alternating
movements
Dysmetria - CORRECT ANSWER The inability to control the range of a movement
and the force of muscular activity.
Dystonia - CORRECT ANSWER closely related to athetosis; however there is larger
axial muscle involvement rather than appendicular muscles
Fasciculation - CORRECT ANSWER A muscular twitch that is caused by random
discharge of a lower motor neuron and its muscle fibers; suggests lower motor neuron
disease, however, can be benign
Hemiballism - CORRECT ANSWER an involuntary and violent movement of a large
body part
Kinesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER Ability to perceive the direction and extent of
movement of a joint or body part
Lead pipe rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER form of rigidity where there is uniform and
constant resistance to ROM, often associated with lesions of basal ganglia
rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER a state of severe hypertonicity where a sustained
muscle contraction does not allow for any movement at a specified joint
Tremor - CORRECT ANSWER involuntary, rhythmic, oscillatory movements
secondary to a basal ganglia lesion
Agnosia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to interpret information
, Agraphesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to recognize symbols, letters or
numbers traced on the skin
Agraphia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to write due to a lesion on the brain.
Normally found in combo with aphasia
Apraxia - CORRECT ANSWER inability to perform purposeful learned movements or
activities even though there is no sensory or motor impairment
astereogenesis - CORRECT ANSWER inability to recognize objects by sense of touch
Body schema - CORRECT ANSWER having an understanding of the body as a whole
and the relationship of its parts to the whole
decerebrate rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER characteristic of a corticospinal lesion at
level of brainstem that results in extension of trunk and all extremities
decorticate rigidity - CORRECT ANSWER A characteristic of a corticospinal lesion at
the level of the diencephalon where the trunk and lower extremities are positioned in
extension and the upper extremities are positioned in flexion
diplopia - CORRECT ANSWER double vision
Dysarthria - CORRECT ANSWER slurred and impaired speech due to a motor deficit
of the tongue or other muscles essential for speech.
Dysphagia - CORRECT ANSWER difficulty swallowing
homonymous hemianopsia - CORRECT ANSWER The loss of the right or left half of
the field of vision in both eyes.
