MBLEx Flashcards
Anatomy & Physiology
The Anatomy and Physiology content area of the MBLEx tests the applicant’s knowledge of systems of the body. Massage exam candidates should have a good understanding of the basic anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) of each system, and how the systems interact with each other. MBLEx applicants should also be familiar with the process of tissue repair, relative positions of anatomical structures, and the basics of energetic anatomy. Flashcards are a great addition to any massage student’s MBLEx test prep plan.
Circulatory System
What main artery carries blood away from the heart and toward the body?
Aorta
What kind of blood vessel enables respiration (gas exchange)?
capillary
Which type of blood cell transports oxygen and carbon dioxide gasses?
red blood cells
(erythrocytes)
Digestive System
What is the process of taking up substances into body, as in passing through a membrane into fluids or tissues of the body?
absorption
What is another name for the alimentary canal?
gastrointestinal tract
What system of metabolism creates energy for the body by burning fats, proteins and carbohydrates in the presence of oxygen?
aerobic metabolism
Endocrine System
Name an endocrine gland in the abdomen.
adrenal gland (also pancreas)
What hormone does the pineal gland produce?
melatonin
This "master gland" controls the function of other glands including the adrenals and thyroid:
pituitary gland
Integumentary System
Which layer of the skin contains specialized structures like hair follicles, capillaries, and sebaceous glands?
dermis
What is the area of skin that is supplied with the sensory nerves from a single spinal root?
dermatome
Cutaneous nerve receptors that sense stimuli like touch, pressure and vibration are called:
mechanoreceptors
Lymphatic System
What is a primary function of the lymphatic system?
to drain excess fluid from body tissues (also immunity, and fat absorption)
What is the lymphoid organ located behind the sternum, where T cells mature?
thymus
What is 1 thing that causes lymph to circulate throughout the body?
body movement (also: deep breathing and massage)
Muscular System
Skeletal muscles are made up of bundles of muscle cells. What are these bundles called?
fascicles
Muscle tissue is supported by sheets of fibrous connective tissue called ______ .
fascia
What are the sensory receptors located in a muscle belly that detect changes in muscle length?
muscle spindles
Nervous System
What part of the nervous system stimulates digestive functions including salivation, peristalsis and gastric acid production?
parasympathetic nervous system
A client with numbness and weakness at the right deltoid muscle may have suffered damage to which peripheral nerve?
axillary nerve
An afferent nerve in the PNS carries what kind of information?
sensory information (towards the spinal cord)
Reproduction System
During which trimester is massage and bodywork the most risky?
first trimester
What hormone is produced by the ovary and placenta, and prepares a woman for childbirth by relaxing ligaments?
relaxin
What is the process of cell division in which the nucleus divides and results in two identical sets of chromosomes?
mitosis
Respiratory System
That is at the end of the respiratory tree, where external respiration occurs?
alveoli
What kind of metabolism (energy production) occurs in the presence of oxygen?
aerobic
Name two accessory muscles of respiration that may be recruited during intense exercise.
scalene, sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis minor, abdominals, and others
Skeletal System
What is the term for the division of the skeletal system that contains the upper and lower extremities?
appendicular
What is outer layer of the intervertebral discs of the spine called?
annulus fibrosus
Where is articular cartilage found in the body?
synovial joints
Special Senses System
What are the photoreceptor cells in the retina that enable color vision?
cones, or cone cells
Cranial nerve II is an afferent (sensory) nerve that carries information from the retina to the brain. It is also called _______ .
optic nerve
What is the sensory system that provides the brain with information about spatial orientation, balance, and direction of movement?
vestibular system
Urinary System
What are the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder?
ureters
In what cup-like structure in the nephron is fluid first extracted from the blood to begin filtration?
Bowman's capsule
What are the "functional units" of the kidney called?
nephrons
Tissue Injury and Repair
The initial period after an injury, also called the _________ phase.
inflammatory phase
Blood clotting (hemostasis) normally begins within minutes of an injury, and involves what component of blood to stick together?
platelets
About how long does it take a large broken bone (simple fracture) to completely heal in a healthy adult?
12 weeks
Concepts of Energetic Anatomy
Asian bodywork theory, which is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), states that the _________ is the center of the body's energy.
dantian
What are the "energy highways" of the human body where Qi flows?
meridians
What is the force in Chinese cosmology associated with feminine, darkness, cold and wetness?
yin