1. Which region of the spine has the greatest range of rotation?
(A) Cervical
(B) Thoracic
(C) Lumbar
(D) Sacral
2. The primary function of the intervertebral discs is to:
(A) Protect spinal cord
(B) Provide nutrition to vertebrae
(C) Absorb shock and allow movement
(D) Strengthen ligaments
3. Which ligament limits hyperflexion of the spine?
(A) Anterior longitudinal ligament
(B) Posterior longitudinal ligament
(C) Ligamentum flavum
(D) Supraspinous ligament
4. The normal lumbar lordosis helps in:
(A) Decreasing shock absorption
(B) Increasing stability and flexibility
(C) Restricting trunk rotation
(D) Preventing lateral bending
5. The axis of rotation for trunk flexion and extension is located in the:
(A) Frontal plane
(B) Sagittal plane
(C) Transverse plane
(D) Oblique plane
6. Which spinal region bears the highest compressive loads during lifting?
(A) Cervical
(B) Thoracic
(C) Lumbar
(D) Sacral
7. The facet joints of the cervical spine are oriented primarily in which plane?
(A) Sagittal
(B) Transverse
(C) Oblique
(D) Frontal
8. The sacroiliac joint is classified as a:
(A) Synovial joint
(B) Cartilaginous joint
(C) Fibrous joint
(D) Ball-and-socket joint
9. During trunk lateral flexion, which muscles are the primary movers?
(A) Rectus abdominis and iliopsoas
(B) Erector spinae and quadratus lumborum
(C) Gluteus medius and minimus
(D) Hamstrings and gastrocnemius
10. Excessive kyphosis is commonly found in which region?
(A) Cervical
(B) Thoracic
(C) Lumbar
(D) Sacral
11. The ligamentum flavum connects:
(A) Adjacent transverse processes
(B) Adjacent laminae
(C) Adjacent spinous processes
(D) Vertebral bodies
12. Which muscle group is most important for maintaining upright posture?
(A) Abdominals
(B) Erector spinae
(C) Hamstrings
(D) Gluteus maximus
13. The motion of trunk rotation occurs around which axis?
(A) Vertical
(B) Sagittal
(C) Frontal
(D) Transverse
14. Which muscle is the prime mover in trunk flexion?
(A) Rectus abdominis
(B) Erector spinae
(C) Latissimus dorsi
(D) Quadratus lumborum
15. The intervertebral foramen allows passage of:
(A) Spinal cord
(B) Spinal nerves
(C) Blood vessels only
(D) Ligaments only
16. Lumbar lordosis increases during:
(A) Sitting
(B) Standing
(C) Forward bending
(D) Supine lying
17. Which movement is most restricted in the thoracic spine?
(A) Flexion
(B) Rotation
(C) Lateral bending
(D) Extension
18. The atlanto-axial joint allows:
(A) Flexion and extension
(B) Rotation of the head
(C) Lateral bending
(D) Axial compression
19. Which spinal curve develops first in infancy?
(A) Cervical lordosis
(B) Thoracic kyphosis
(C) Lumbar lordosis
(D) Sacral curve
20. The annulus fibrosus of intervertebral disc is made up of:
(A) Hyaline cartilage
(B) Collagen fibers arranged in concentric lamellae
(C) Elastic tissue
(D) Fat cells
21. The nucleus pulposus primarily resists:
(A) Compression
(B) Tension
(C) Shear
(D) Torsion
22. Scoliosis involves abnormal curvature in which plane?
(A) Sagittal
(B) Frontal
(C) Transverse
(D) Oblique
23. Which trunk muscle contributes most to rotation to the opposite side?
(A) Rectus abdominis
(B) Internal oblique
(C) External oblique
(D) Erector spinae
24. Which ligament prevents hyperextension of the spine?
(A) Ligamentum flavum
(B) Posterior longitudinal ligament
(C) Anterior longitudinal ligament
(D) Interspinous ligament
25. Forward bending of the trunk primarily stresses which ligament?
(A) Anterior longitudinal ligament
(B) Posterior longitudinal ligament
(C) Supraspinous ligament
(D) Ligamentum flavum
26. The normal range of lumbar flexion is approximately:
(A) 20°
(B) 40°–60°
(C) 80°
(D) 100°
27. Which muscle stabilizes the pelvis during trunk side bending?
(A) Iliopsoas
(B) Quadratus lumborum
(C) Rectus femoris
(D) Hamstrings
28. Herniation of the intervertebral disc most commonly occurs in the:
(A) Cervical region
(B) Thoracic region
(C) Lumbar region
(D) Sacral region
29. The thoracolumbar fascia provides attachment to:
(A) Abdominal muscles
(B) Gluteal muscles
(C) Erector spinae
(D) All of the above
30. Which structure bears the greatest compressive load in the spine?
(A) Vertebral body
(B) Spinous process
(C) Facet joints
(D) Laminae
31. The line of gravity in normal standing passes:
(A) Through the center of vertebral bodies
(B) Anterior to the thoracic spine, posterior to the lumbar spine
(C) Behind the sacrum
(D) Through the spinous processes
32. During lifting, bending the knees instead of the trunk reduces:
(A) Shear force on discs
(B) Compression on vertebrae
(C) Ligament tension
(D) Muscle activity
33. The sternocleidomastoid muscle assists in:
(A) Flexion of cervical spine
(B) Extension of lumbar spine
(C) Rotation of thoracic spine
(D) Stabilization of sacrum
34. Excessive lumbar lordosis may lead to:
(A) Anterior pelvic tilt
(B) Posterior pelvic tilt
(C) Reduced sacral angle
(D) Flat back
35. The functional unit of the spine is the:
(A) Vertebral body
(B) Motion segment (two adjacent vertebrae + disc)
(C) Spinal cord
(D) Facet joint
36. Which ligament is called the “yellow ligament”?
(A) Posterior longitudinal ligament
(B) Anterior longitudinal ligament
(C) Ligamentum flavum
(D) Intertransverse ligament
37. Axial compression injuries commonly affect:
(A) Cervical spine
(B) Thoracic spine
(C) Lumbar spine
(D) Sacrum
38. Lateral flexion of the trunk is coupled with:
(A) Ipsilateral rotation in cervical spine
(B) Contralateral rotation in lumbar spine
(C) Flexion of knees
(D) Extension of hips
39. Which muscle group resists trunk flexion eccentrically?
(A) Abdominals
(B) Erector spinae
(C) Hip flexors
(D) Quadratus lumborum
40. The spinal cord terminates at the level of:
(A) L1–L2
(B) L3–L4
(C) T12–L1
(D) S1–S2
41. The axis of rotation for lumbar lateral flexion lies in which plane?
(A) Sagittal
(B) Transverse
(C) Frontal
(D) Oblique
42. Kyphosis is an exaggeration of which normal spinal curve?
(A) Cervical lordosis
(B) Thoracic kyphosis
(C) Lumbar lordosis
(D) Sacral curve
43. Which movement is most limited in the lumbar spine?
(A) Flexion
(B) Extension
(C) Lateral flexion
(D) Rotation
44. The costovertebral joints are located in which region?
(A) Cervical
(B) Thoracic
(C) Lumbar
(D) Sacral
45. The most common site of spondylolisthesis is:
(A) C1–C2
(B) T5–T6
(C) L5–S1
(D) L2–L3
46. Which trunk movement requires bilateral contraction of erector spinae?
(A) Flexion
(B) Extension
(C) Rotation
(D) Lateral bending
47. The atlanto-occipital joint mainly allows:
(A) Rotation
(B) Flexion and extension (nodding)
(C) Lateral flexion
(D) Axial compression
48. The cauda equina begins at:
(A) C7
(B) T12
(C) L1–L2
(D) S1
49. The average range of thoracic spine rotation is:
(A) 5°
(B) 15°–35°
(C) 50°
(D) 70°
50. A flat back posture indicates reduction in:
(A) Cervical lordosis
(B) Thoracic kyphosis
(C) Lumbar lordosis
(D) Sacral angle