National Pilates Certification Exam
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Hyaline cartilage - CORRECT ANSWER Most common type of cartilage; it is found on the
ends of long bones, ribs, and nose
Elastic cartilage - CORRECT ANSWER cartilage with abundant elastic fibers; more flexible
than hyaline cartilage. EARS
Fibro cartilage - CORRECT ANSWER JOINTS/LIGAMENTS
Ligaments - CORRECT ANSWER Connect bone to bone
Tendon - CORRECT ANSWER Connects muscle to bone
Fascia - CORRECT ANSWER a band or sheet of fibrous connective tissue that covers,
supports, and separates muscle. CONNECTIVE TISSUE HOLDING ORGANS, BLOOD VESSEL,
NERVE FIBER, MUSCLES IN PLACE
Muscle functions - CORRECT ANSWER producing movement, maintaining posture,
stabilizing joints, generating heat
MUSCLE FUNCTION AGAINST - CORRECT ANSWER MUSCLE DOING WORK
MUSCLE FUNCTION ANTAGONISTS - CORRECT ANSWER DOES OPPOSITE ACTION.
EX: GLUE MAX AGAINST FLEXORS
SYNERGIST - CORRECT ANSWER MUSCLES THAT WORK TOGETHER
Muscle contraction - CORRECT ANSWER the tensioning of the muscle during shortening
(concentric), lengthening (eccentric), or no motion (isometric)
, CONCENTRIC - CORRECT ANSWER BICEP CURL - MUSCLE SHORTENED
ESSENTRIC - CORRECT ANSWER LOWERING BICEP CURL. MUSCLE LENGTHENED
Lordosis - CORRECT ANSWER abnormal anterior curvature of the lumbar spine (sway-back
condition)
Kyphosis - CORRECT ANSWER excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing hunching
of the back. HUNCHBACK
Swayback - CORRECT ANSWER common term for lordosis
Hyperlordosis - CORRECT ANSWER exaggerated anterior lumbar curvature (swayback)
Scolisis - CORRECT ANSWER abnormal lateral curvature of the spine
Cobb angle - CORRECT ANSWER Measured to define scoliosis. > 10° is needed for dx.
Vargus deformity - CORRECT ANSWER BOWLEGGED
Vulgus and varus - CORRECT ANSWER a deformity involving oblique displacement of part of
a limb away from the midline.
Valgus - CORRECT ANSWER Outward angulation of the distal segment of a bone or joint, as
in knock-knees (TIP: VALGUM)
Anterior cruciate ligament - CORRECT ANSWER A ligament in the knee that attaches to the
anterior aspect of the tibial plateau. Restricting anterior movement of the tibia on the femur
ACL INJURY - CORRECT ANSWER 10 WEEK PT, NO FEET IN STRAPS OR LEG
SPRINGS
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Hyaline cartilage - CORRECT ANSWER Most common type of cartilage; it is found on the
ends of long bones, ribs, and nose
Elastic cartilage - CORRECT ANSWER cartilage with abundant elastic fibers; more flexible
than hyaline cartilage. EARS
Fibro cartilage - CORRECT ANSWER JOINTS/LIGAMENTS
Ligaments - CORRECT ANSWER Connect bone to bone
Tendon - CORRECT ANSWER Connects muscle to bone
Fascia - CORRECT ANSWER a band or sheet of fibrous connective tissue that covers,
supports, and separates muscle. CONNECTIVE TISSUE HOLDING ORGANS, BLOOD VESSEL,
NERVE FIBER, MUSCLES IN PLACE
Muscle functions - CORRECT ANSWER producing movement, maintaining posture,
stabilizing joints, generating heat
MUSCLE FUNCTION AGAINST - CORRECT ANSWER MUSCLE DOING WORK
MUSCLE FUNCTION ANTAGONISTS - CORRECT ANSWER DOES OPPOSITE ACTION.
EX: GLUE MAX AGAINST FLEXORS
SYNERGIST - CORRECT ANSWER MUSCLES THAT WORK TOGETHER
Muscle contraction - CORRECT ANSWER the tensioning of the muscle during shortening
(concentric), lengthening (eccentric), or no motion (isometric)
, CONCENTRIC - CORRECT ANSWER BICEP CURL - MUSCLE SHORTENED
ESSENTRIC - CORRECT ANSWER LOWERING BICEP CURL. MUSCLE LENGTHENED
Lordosis - CORRECT ANSWER abnormal anterior curvature of the lumbar spine (sway-back
condition)
Kyphosis - CORRECT ANSWER excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing hunching
of the back. HUNCHBACK
Swayback - CORRECT ANSWER common term for lordosis
Hyperlordosis - CORRECT ANSWER exaggerated anterior lumbar curvature (swayback)
Scolisis - CORRECT ANSWER abnormal lateral curvature of the spine
Cobb angle - CORRECT ANSWER Measured to define scoliosis. > 10° is needed for dx.
Vargus deformity - CORRECT ANSWER BOWLEGGED
Vulgus and varus - CORRECT ANSWER a deformity involving oblique displacement of part of
a limb away from the midline.
Valgus - CORRECT ANSWER Outward angulation of the distal segment of a bone or joint, as
in knock-knees (TIP: VALGUM)
Anterior cruciate ligament - CORRECT ANSWER A ligament in the knee that attaches to the
anterior aspect of the tibial plateau. Restricting anterior movement of the tibia on the femur
ACL INJURY - CORRECT ANSWER 10 WEEK PT, NO FEET IN STRAPS OR LEG
SPRINGS
