Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

In what year was osteopathy founded?

1. 1874

2. 1892

3. 1910

4. 2001

The correct answer is: 1874

Osteopathy was founded in 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still, a physician who sought to create a system of medicine that emphasized the body's ability to heal itself and the importance of the musculoskeletal system in a person's overall health. Still began developing his ideas in the 1860s and publicly announced the principles of osteopathy in 1874, marking the official beginning of this medical discipline. The subsequent options fall outside of this foundational year. For instance, 1892 is significant as it represents the year when the first osteopathic medical school, the American School of Osteopathy, was established in Kirksville, Missouri, but it does not denote the founding of osteopathy itself. The year 1910 is related to the Flexner Report, which evaluated medical education in North America and ultimately led to reforms across various medical schools, including those teaching osteopathy. Lastly, 2001 does not relate to the development of osteopathy but might be relevant in discussing more recent educational or regulatory changes within the field. Thus, 1874 is the correct year that marks the inception of osteopathy.