Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

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Prepare for the COMLEX-USA with quizzes featuring flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Gear up for your osteopathic medicine exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What does the Thompson test assess?

IT band tightness
Fracture of the talus
Achilles tendon integrity
Patella tracking

The correct answer is: Achilles tendon integrity

The Thompson test is specifically designed to assess the integrity of the Achilles tendon. This clinical examination involves the patient lying face down with their feet hanging off the edge of an examination table. The examiner then squeezes the calf muscle. In a healthy individual with an intact Achilles tendon, squeezing the calf will cause the foot to plantarflex (point downward) due to the action of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. If the Achilles tendon is ruptured, this plantarflexion response would be absent, indicating a loss of function. The other options reference different assessments that are not related to the Thompson test. IT band tightness involves mechanisms related to hip and knee motion and is typically assessed using other specific clinical tests. Fracture of the talus and patella tracking pertain to issues involving specific bones and their movement rather than tendon integrity and are evaluated using separate diagnostic methods. Thus, the Thompson test is specifically linked to the condition and functionality of the Achilles tendon.