41. In the warrior I pose, which one of the following muscles lengthens eccentrically as you come into the posture?
a) quadriceps femoris muscles
b) deep back muscles
c) extensor muscles of the neck
d) muscles of the arm that face to your rear
e) muscles of the arm that face to your front

The answer is a. In the cases of b, c, and d, the muscles all shorten concentrically. E is a special case. The muscles on the front of the arm resist lengthening as you pull the arms to the rear, but because the phrase eccentric lengthening is reserved for resistance to gravity, and since gravity is not being resisted in the case of these muscles, that designation would be incorrect here.

42. Traumatic injury to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) at which one of the following sites would leave the chest and abdominal muscles of respiration paralyzed but would permit the diaphragm to function and life to be sustained?
a) Cerebrum (for corticopontine and corticomedullary influences)
b) brain stem between pons and medulla
c) junction of brain stem and C1 level of spinal cord
d) C6 level of spinal cord
e) L1 level of spinal cord

The answer is d, since the nerves for the diaphragm emerge from spinal cord segments C3-C5, which is above the level of the injury. A and b would cause problems in breathing but not the specific paralysis of the chest and abdominal muscles in combination with full function of the diaphragm. C would result in death, and e would permit normal respiration because the nerves to all the respiratory muscles are spared.

43. Which two (out of five) of the following pairs of muscles are isometrically active during classic supine double leglifts?
a) rectus abdominis muscles
b) iliacus muscles
c) psoas muscles
d) rectus femoris muscles
e) deep back (paraspinal) muscles

The answers are a and e. The rectus abdominis muscles (a) brace the front of the torso isometrically. They do not shorten concentrically because neither their origins from the front of the chest or their insertions on the pubic bones are substantially shifted during supine double leglifts. The deep back muscles (e) likewise brace the torso isometrically from the rear. The iliacus muscles flex the thighs (shorten concentrically) from their origins on the ilia, the psoas muscles flex the thighs (shorten concentrically) from their origins on the spine, and the rectus femoris muscles flex the thighs (shorten concentrically) from their origins on the front of the pelvis. (The other three heads of the quadriceps femoris muscles, had they been mentioned, also brace the knees isometrically in fully extended positions as the thighs are flexed.)

44. The anterior functional unit of the spine permits spinal twisting and bending. Which two out of five of the following are included in that unit?
a) intervertebral disks
b) spinous processes
c) spinal laminae
d) vertebral bodies
e) transverse processes

The answers are a and d. The spinous processes, spinal laminae, and transverse processes are all included in the posterior functional unit.

45. Which one of the following postures features diaphragm-restricted backbending?
a) classic cobra
b) standing backbend
c) upward-facing dog
d) expert’s supported half locust
e) diaphragmatic rear lift

The answer is b. Inhalation in the cases of a, c, and d increases the depth of the respective backbends, and inhalation in the case of e lifts the hips and thereby accentuates the lumbar bend (albeit minimally). Only in the case of the standing backbend does inhalation tend to frankly restrict the bend, which is why novices in particular are well advised to maximize their inhalation as they pull their backs into more extension.

46. During the course of which two of the following forward bends does inhalation increase tension in the torso (as contrasted to diminishing the bend)?
a) expert’s advanced posterior stretch (paschimottanasana)
b) novice’s posterior stretch hanging on tightly to the ankles with the hands
c) half plow
d) inflexible beginner’s standing forward bend
e) intermediate student’s sitting forward bend with the fists placed in the armpits

A and b are the correct answers. In both cases, the practitioner is held fully in place, and inhalation does not markedly lift one out of the pose. In the plow you will notice that each inhalation lifts the feet slightly and that each exhalation allows them to fall, indicating small but discernable shifts in the angle between the chest and the thighs (inhalations making the angle less acute). In the case of d, each inhalation lifts you up, and in the case of e, each inhalation pulls your head and shoulders slightly to the rear, in both cases slightly diminishing the bend.

47. Which one of the following is not a fundamental characteristic of twists?
a) axial compression is produced by most twists
b) torque is always needed to actuate twists
c) twists are always asymmetrical
d) twists are usually aided by gravity
e) twisting is generally stopped by structural constraints

D is the correct answer (not a fundamental characteristic of twists). This is an interesting question for skillful test-takers. A is fine, generally true. B and C are also OK, even though knowledgeable test-takers are immediately alerted by modifiers such as "always." E is OK, even though pretty dull and obvious. That leaves D. Twists are rarely aided by gravity, and they are certainly not generally aided by gravity. (Exceptions are supine twists in which gravity aids in dropping the knees to one side.)

48. Which two of the following seven muscles do not play important roles in stabilizing the scapulae?
a) trapezius
b) rhomboids
c) pectoralis minor
d) pectoralis major
e) latissimus dorsi
f) levator scapulae
g) serratus anterior

The answers are d and e. These muscles are the only two of the seven listed that insert directly on the humerus without attachment to the scapula, the pectoralis major taking origin from the front of the chest, and the latissimus dorsi taking origin from the lower back and pelvis.

49. Using the classification and terminology for inverted postures in the text Anatomy of Hatha Yoga, which two of the following poses create marked stretch and tension in the neck?
a) candle pose
b) easy inverted action pose
c) lifted plow
d) lifted shoulderstand
e) stage three (third variation) of the plow
f) viparitakarani mudra
g) stage one (first variation) of the plow

The answers are a and e. These are the only two of the seven listed that anchor and press the chin forcibly against the sternum and thus produce marked traction in the neck. In all of the other postures it is easy to twist the head and neck from side to side.

50. Which two of the following are not included in the parasympathetic nervous system (craniosacral outflow)?
a) vagus nerve (tenth cranial nerve)
b) seventh and ninth cranial nerves to the salivary glands
c) sacral plexus that empties the bladder
d) solar plexus
e) nerves that serve to dilate bronchioles
f) nerves that control accommodation for near vision
g) nerves that stimulate digestion

The correct answers are d and e. Both the solar plexus and the nerves that serve to dilate bronchioles are part of the sympathetic nervous system (thoracolumbar outflow). A, b, f, and g belong to the cranial portion of the parasympathetic nervous system, and c belongs to the sacral component of the parasympathetic nervous system.