MBLEx Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination Question and Answers

Stratum lucidum is a translucent buildup of two to three layers of dead skin cells typically found on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. Stratum lucidum is located between the deeper stratum granulosum and the more superficial stratum corneum layers of skin. The thickness of stratum layers of cells is governed by the rate of mitosis (cellular division.)

Boundaries are integral to maintaining a healthy physical and emotional space within the therapeutic relationship.

Tantra is a Sanskrit word meaning expanding liberation and has a place amongst certain spiritual practices. However, tantric massage is often associated with massage that focuses on various levels of “sexual healing“ and, therefore, an establishment seeking a tantric massage practitioner is outside the code of ethics of the massage profession.

Communication is a very important component of the client/therapist relationship. A therapist who prefers the feedback and open communication from a client is justified to decline work if the client cannot communicate with the massage therapist.

A joint that feels restricted and lacking in movement is hypomobile. A joint that is lax and loose would be hypermobile.

The diaphragm muscle which extends across the bottom of the rib cage is the muscle responsible for initiating inhalation.

The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland that produces seratonin, the hormone that regulates sleep patterns.

The brain stem which provides the sensory and motor innervations of the face and neck consists of three parts: the medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain.

The radial nerve innervates all muscles of the posterior arm and this includes the triceps muscle.

A sulcus is the anatomical term for a furrow, fissure, crevice or a groove in the human body. Two examples are the central sulcus of the cerebellum which divides the frontal and parietal lobes, and the radial sulcus along the lateral border of the humerus which houses the radial nerve and the deep brachial artery.

When a therapist applies force against an active movement during an assessment, they are providing resistive ROM. This is used to test for muscle strength and weakness.

Massage is contraindicated for fever and/or inflamed, swollen tissue. Osteomyelitis is a very serious infection that can result in amputation or possible death. Canceling the appointment and advising the client to seek immediate medical attention is the best course of action.

The acromion process is located at the top of the shoulder and articulates with the lateral end of the clavicle. It is the fibers of the middle trapezius that insert into the medial margin of the acromion process.

Lateral epicondylitis is the technical term for tennis elbow.

The ossicles are the three smallest bones in the human body and help transmit sound to the cochlea. The term ossicles literally means “tiny bones” and are named the incus, the malleus and the stapes. An absence of these bones causes a severe hearing loss.

The AC joint is the acromioclavicular joint located at the junction of the acromion process and the clavicle. The AC joint is assessed to indicate the symmetry of the shoulder.

The ulnar nerve runs along the ulna and into the pinky finger and medial half of the ring finger.

The obturator foramen is the gap created by the ischium and pubis bones of the pelvis which allows passage for the nerves and blood vessels that supply the leg. The shape of the obturator foramen differ between the sexes with the gap in men being round and in women being oval.

A reflex arc is a neural pathway that allows for the activation of spinal motor neurons to trigger without involving the brain for a response.

Meiosis is a specific type of cellular division which is necessary for sexual reproduction.

The S is for subjective, which is a description of the client’s experience.

All directional terms use the anatomical position as the standard point of reference. The term “distal” refers to a structure that is located away from a base structure - for example, the hand is distal to the elbow.

Malpractice insurance is not required by Federal law. Regulations on massage vary from state to state. However, to adhere to sound business practices and for the protection of yourself and your clients, malpractice insurance is considered a necessity within the massage community.

According to the American Orthopeadic Society for Sports Medicine, dry weather has an effect on non-contact ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries of football players. Extrinsic factors for injury are forces that act from outside the human body. In this case, the uncommonly dry weather is an extrinsic factor of injury.

During a forced exhalation, the abdominal muscles are engaged to assist the expulsion of air from the lungs.

The deep groove between the greater and lesser tubercules of the humerus is the home of the bicipital tendon which lies in the intertubercular groove, also known as the bicipital groove.

A hernia occurs when an organ, or the surrounding fascial tissue of the organ, protrudes through the wall or membrane that contains it. Hernias can occur at various points within the body and are often named by their location. This question deals with an inguinal hernia. Hernias are classified as either reducible hernias or irreducible hernias. Reducible hernias can be manually reversed by applying direct pressure whereas irreducible hernias need surgery to reverse the condition.

A nerve impulse is also known as an action potential, which is an electrical current that runs along a nerve pathway that can trigger a response in other cells.

Epinephrine or adrenalin activates arousal mechanisms which are triggers for the fight-or-flight response and posturing. Physical queues of attack posturing are elevated shoulders, clenched jaw and fists, flexed arms and aggressive behavior.

The synergist or assisting muscle to the biceps brachii is the brachialis muscle.

The time to collect information about a physical complaint or injury is during the intake process.

When the body is exposed to prolonged heat, more blood is shunted to superficial veins in order to lower body temperature. This results in decreased venous return to the heart. The resulting lowered cardiac output causes less oxygenated blood to reach the brain, causing dizziness and fainting.

The question describes the fundamentals of framework. A framework is all encompassing within the massage field and includes the values and visions, conception, design and desires of a massage therapist as they apply to a business model. Developing a solid framework is essential to creating a healthy and successful practice.

The splenius capitis muscle originates along the lower half of the nuchal ligament, spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebrae and the upper third or fourth thoracic vertebrae which insert into the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The action of the splenius capitis is to extend the neck posteriorly as well as assisting with lateral rotation and lateral flexion of the cervical spine.

The nucleus comprised of the nucleolus, chromatin and chromosomes is the command center of a cell. Lysosomes act as the cells digestive system.

The anatomical term “condyle” refers to a rounded articular process as in the medial or lateral condyles of the femur which articulate with the condyles of the tibia.

An active trigger point is a muscle knot that causes pain at all times.

Guyon’s canal syndrome is a compression of the ulnar nerve between the hook of the hamate and the pisiform bones located in the palm of the hand.

Federal and state law form the legal boundaries of the massage profession.

Costoclavicular test is often used to determine a brachial plexus compression syndrome. The costoclavicular test is also known as the military position test since the client rotates shoulders back and thrusts chest forward much like standing at attention. The practitioner feels for changes in the radial pulse to indicate a compression syndrome.

Any client who routinely requests to explore beyond the professional environment is testing the boundaries and professionalism of the therapist. Remember, the therapist is always at fault for allowing a breach of professional boundaries. The repercussions can lead to a hefty fine and/or loss of a massage license.

The mitral valve is also known as the bicuspid, which controls blood flow between the opening of the left atrium into the left ventricle.

The suffix -crine refers to secretions. Endocrine gland is an example of the suffix -crine, which means an internal gland that secretes.

The collection of specialized heart muscle cells which regulate the heart beat was discovered by the Swiss cardiologist Wilhelm His in 1893 and this given the name, Bundle of His.

Hacking, tapping and pounding are techniques of tapotement.

The occipital muscles act to anchor the head during mastication but add stress and strain to the temporalis and masseter when the occipitals are hypertonic.

The cell is the basic building block of all living things. Cells are organized into tissues having specialized properties and functions. Tissues are further organized into organs (and organ systems).

The temporalis muscle has one action and that is to clench the jaw during mastication. The best way to locate and palpate the temporalis muscle is to instruct the client to clench and release their jaw while the therapist feels for the origin and insertion of muscle fibers along the temporal bone.

The vastus lateralis is the largest quadriceps muscle with its origin starting superiorly to the intertrochanteric line and inserting into the lateral border of the patella.

The action of petrissage is best suited for moving stagnant blood and lymph away from an injury site and replacing it with nutrient rich blood and fresh lymph.

Client confidentiality is an aspect of professional ethics and should be adhered to out of respect for the client. Also, not protecting a client’s information is a violation of HIPAA.

A stroma refers to the connective framework that supports the cellular structure of tissue and organs.

Inert tissues are those that are not contractile such as bone, bursa, blood vessels, cartilage, fat, ligaments, nerves and nerve coverings.

Hard end feel is the natural sensation at the end range of motion where bone meets bone such as elbow or knee extension. Since a hard end feel would indicate that the client’s joints are functioning normally, there would typically be no pain experienced.

Client autonomy is when the practitioner keeps the client up to date about any possible changes or adjustments that can affect the client. This gives the client a chance to choose their course of action with the practitioner.

A sulcus is a general term to describe a narrow groove. There are many places on the body where a sulcus can be found. A few examples are the gluteal sulcus, radial sulcus or the gingival sulcus between the gums and teeth.

The outside layer of the myelin sheath is called the neurilemma.

A condyle is a large rounded area on a bone, usually at a joint articulation. A trochanter is a large projection from a bone. A spine or spinous process is a flat ridge-like flange protruding from a bone, typically a vertebra.

Thyroxine, produced by the thyroid gland, is a hormone that affects nearly every cell in the body by regulating metabolic processes.

A person who has been in an auto accident could have any number of injuries including shock. For the safety of the client and your protection as a therapist, the best recommendation is to refer the client for a medical evaluation before any treatment is considered.

Nerves that send messages to the central nervous system (CNS) are called afferent nerves. Sensory receptors are examples of afferent nerves. The nerves that send messages from the CNS to the body are called efferent nerves. Somatic nerves are an example of efferent nerves.

The talus is also known as the ankle bone to which the tibia and fibula connect. The other bone of the hindfoot region is the calcaneus also known as the heel.

Serum is the blood plasma that is separated from white and red blood cells as well as the fibrinogens. Serum contains the antibodies, antigens, electrolytes, hormones and any exogenous substances (drugs, pathogens, etc)

The A is for assessment, which is a summary of our findings.

Cubital refers to the elbow and will indicate that region when used with anatomical terms as cubital fossa, cubital tunnel and median cubital vein.

Before starting treatment with a client, a massage therapist must first understand what the nature of the client’s complaint is, whether the condition is indicated or contraindicated or if a referral is necessary. Once the therapy session is complete, an assessment is necessary to determine the benefit of the treatment to the client.

There are two types: myelinating and nonmyelating. Myelinating Schwann cells wrap around axons of motor and sensory neurons to form the myelin sheath, which acts to protect and support nerve functioning. Non-myelinating Schwann cells are involved with maintaining the health and vitality of the axon or nerve fiber.

Assisting a client through an active movement is active-assisted ROM. This is used to test for muscle adhesions, muscle strengths and muscle weakness.

Albumins, globulins and fibrinogens are proteins found in the blood plasma. They serve many different functions, including transport of lipids, hormones, vitamins and metals in the circulatory system. They also regulate acellular (single cell) activity and the functioning of the immune system.