MSK EXAM 3 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
2026/2027
What position/motion puts the most pressure on the IV Disc? - ANS ✔✔Sitting under load with
rotation
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- Neutral spine - ANS ✔✔Side bend, rotate opposite
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- w/ spine in extension - ANS ✔✔Sidebend & rotate same side
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- during flexion - ANS ✔✔bilateral facet superior/anterior
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- during extension - ANS ✔✔bilateral facet inferior/posterior
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- right rotation - ANS ✔✔Ipsilateral posterior gapping,
contralateral anterior compression of the facets
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- side bend right - ANS ✔✔Ipsilateral posterior/inferior
compression, contralateral anterior/superior gapping
Pain with stretch - ANS ✔✔Type I collagen: Muscles, tendons, ligaments, capsule, annulus of
disc
Pain with compression - ANS ✔✔Type II collagen: facet cartilage/nucleus of disc
Facet ligament/capsule sprain - ANS ✔✔Type I collagen
,Right side painful movement pattern with end range all motions
Worst pain end range flexion, SB left
Unilateral pain
Facet cartilage pathology - ANS ✔✔Type II collagen
Right side painful movement pattern with extension, SB right, rotation left
Unilateral pain
Lateral Foraminal Stenosis - ANS ✔✔Painful with any movement that closes the intervertebral
formina (bone spur, abnormal movement pattern)
Radicular sx
Neurological sx
Central stenosis - ANS ✔✔narrowing of the spinal canal
Painful with weight bearing activities, extension
Radicular sx
Neurological sx
, Disc degeneration - ANS ✔✔Pain with extension and weight bearing activities
Improved pain with sitting/flexion
Referred symptoms are central and into buttock
Herniated nucleus pulposus - ANS ✔✔Pain with flexion and seated activities
improved pain with walking and movement due to maintaining upright posture
can be unilateral or bilateral sx
-neurological, SLR pain provocation)
Disc prolapse - ANS ✔✔Injury to the intervertebral disc in which the nucleus pulposus extrudes
into the annulus fibrosus.
Disc Extrusion - ANS ✔✔Nucleus pulposus breaks thru annulus fibrosis with tearing
Disc Sequestration - ANS ✔✔complete separation of disc material with rupture through
structures into the epidural space; free fragment herniation
Myotome L2 - ANS ✔✔hip flexion (iliopsoas)
Myotome L3 - ANS ✔✔knee extension
Myotome L4 - ANS ✔✔ankle dorsiflexion
2026/2027
What position/motion puts the most pressure on the IV Disc? - ANS ✔✔Sitting under load with
rotation
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- Neutral spine - ANS ✔✔Side bend, rotate opposite
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- w/ spine in extension - ANS ✔✔Sidebend & rotate same side
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- during flexion - ANS ✔✔bilateral facet superior/anterior
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- during extension - ANS ✔✔bilateral facet inferior/posterior
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- right rotation - ANS ✔✔Ipsilateral posterior gapping,
contralateral anterior compression of the facets
Thoracolumbar Arthrokinematics- side bend right - ANS ✔✔Ipsilateral posterior/inferior
compression, contralateral anterior/superior gapping
Pain with stretch - ANS ✔✔Type I collagen: Muscles, tendons, ligaments, capsule, annulus of
disc
Pain with compression - ANS ✔✔Type II collagen: facet cartilage/nucleus of disc
Facet ligament/capsule sprain - ANS ✔✔Type I collagen
,Right side painful movement pattern with end range all motions
Worst pain end range flexion, SB left
Unilateral pain
Facet cartilage pathology - ANS ✔✔Type II collagen
Right side painful movement pattern with extension, SB right, rotation left
Unilateral pain
Lateral Foraminal Stenosis - ANS ✔✔Painful with any movement that closes the intervertebral
formina (bone spur, abnormal movement pattern)
Radicular sx
Neurological sx
Central stenosis - ANS ✔✔narrowing of the spinal canal
Painful with weight bearing activities, extension
Radicular sx
Neurological sx
, Disc degeneration - ANS ✔✔Pain with extension and weight bearing activities
Improved pain with sitting/flexion
Referred symptoms are central and into buttock
Herniated nucleus pulposus - ANS ✔✔Pain with flexion and seated activities
improved pain with walking and movement due to maintaining upright posture
can be unilateral or bilateral sx
-neurological, SLR pain provocation)
Disc prolapse - ANS ✔✔Injury to the intervertebral disc in which the nucleus pulposus extrudes
into the annulus fibrosus.
Disc Extrusion - ANS ✔✔Nucleus pulposus breaks thru annulus fibrosis with tearing
Disc Sequestration - ANS ✔✔complete separation of disc material with rupture through
structures into the epidural space; free fragment herniation
Myotome L2 - ANS ✔✔hip flexion (iliopsoas)
Myotome L3 - ANS ✔✔knee extension
Myotome L4 - ANS ✔✔ankle dorsiflexion
