Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

What motion is tested by assessing knee flexion?

1. Extending the leg

2. Flexing the spine

3. Coordination in the hip

4. Movement in the heel

The correct answer is: Movement in the heel

Assessing knee flexion primarily evaluates the ability of the knee joint to bend, which is a fundamental movement in various activities such as walking, running, and squatting. The correct answer reflects an understanding of knee mechanics and the muscles involved in facilitating this motion. When the knee flexes, it means that the lower leg is moving closer to the thigh, primarily through the action of muscles such as the hamstrings, which are located at the back of the thigh. This movement is pivotal in many functional and athletic tasks and directly relates to the mobility of the entire lower limb. While the other options involve different types of movement, they don't specifically relate to the action or function of flexing the knee. Extending the leg relates more to knee extension, flexing the spine is about trunk movement, and coordination in the hip refers to the hip joint motions rather than the knee. Hence, they do not accurately describe what is being assessed through the specific test of knee flexion.