Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

Which Chapman reflex is located at the 2nd anterior intercostal space?

1. Rectum

2. Pancreas

3. Heart

4. Lungs

The correct answer is: Heart

The correct answer is related to the Chapman reflex points, which are specific areas on the body that correspond to visceral organs and can be used in osteopathic practice to assess and treat various conditions. The Chapman reflex for the heart is located at the 2nd anterior intercostal space. This location is important because it reflects the underlying neural connections and the corresponding visceral innervation of the heart. In terms of anatomy and physiology, the heart is associated with the sympathetic nervous system through the T1-T5 spinal segments, and these segments correspond closely with the areas where the Chapman points are located. The 2nd intercostal space is in line with these segments, thus making it the correct location for the heart's reflex point. Other options, such as the rectum, pancreas, and lungs, have their own specific Chapman reflex points located elsewhere on the body. For instance, the rectum is found at the level of the sacrum, the pancreas is typically noted around the 7th to 8th intercostal spaces, and the lungs are associated more with the 3rd to 4th intercostal spaces. Understanding the precise locations of these reflex points aids in clinical assessments and treatments in osteopathic medicine.