Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

What does the Chapman reflex at the 3rd and 4th anterior intercostal space correspond to?

1. Kidney

2. Stomach

3. Cardiac function

4. Colon

The correct answer is: Cardiac function

The Chapman reflex points are specific areas on the body that correlate with various organ systems. The reflex at the 3rd and 4th anterior intercostal spaces is most commonly associated with the heart. These points reflect the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system innervations relevant to cardiac function and can indicate disruptions or dysfunctions in the heart, including conditions such as arrhythmias or ischemic heart disease. The Chapman points act as diagnostic tools in osteopathic medicine and reflect viscerosomatic connections—where dysfunction or maladaptation in the visceral organ may produce somatic discomfort at specific anatomical locations. In this scenario, the emphasis on cardiac function connects to how the heart's status affects surrounding tissues and can lead to palpable changes indicating disease or dysfunction. Other options pertain to different reflex points: for example, the kidney correlates to the lower back region, the stomach is associated with points around the 5th and 6th intercostal spaces, and the colon connects with various points in lower abdominal regions. Thus, the 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces are unique to cardiac function, solidifying why this is the correct association.