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NPTAE Practice Tests & Test Prep - Free Test


Our free National Physical Therapy Assistants Examinations (NPTAE) Practice Test was created by experienced educators who designed them to align with the official Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy content guidelines. They were built to accurately mirror the real exam's structure, coverage of topics, difficulty, and types of questions.

Upon completing your free practice test, it will be instantly reviewed to give you an idea of your score and potential performance on the actual test. Carefully study your feedback to each question to assess whether your responses were correct or incorrect. This is an effective way to highlight your strengths and weaknesses across different content areas, guiding you on where to concentrate your study efforts for improvement on future tests. Our detailed explanations will provide the information you need to enhance your understanding of the exam content and help you build your knowledge base leading you to better test results.

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National Physical Therapy Assistants Examinations - Free Test Sample Questions

A patient who you have been seeing for post-cardiac surgery rehabilitation for the past three weeks has recently started wearing a heart rate monitor because he is concerned his heart rate is being affected by his daily activities. Which area of the body is responsible for autonomic nervous system regulation of the HEART RATE?





Correct Answer:
medulla oblongata.


the correct answer to the question regarding the regulation of heart rate in the context of the autonomic nervous system is the medulla oblongata. this area of the brainstem is crucial for the autonomic control of various involuntary functions, including heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.

the medulla oblongata houses the cardiovascular center, a specialized region instrumental in managing heart functions. this center works by receiving sensory information from various parts of the body. sensory receptors, such as baroreceptors and chemoreceptors, provide real-time feedback on factors like blood pressure and blood chemistry. these receptors send signals to the cardiovascular center concerning the body's current physiological status.

in addition to sensory input, the cardiovascular center also receives inputs from higher brain centers, such as the limbic system, which can influence heart rate based on emotional states. upon integrating these signals, the cardiovascular center adjusts the heart rate by either increasing or decreasing the frequency of nerve impulses sent through the autonomic nervous system. these impulses are directed towards either the sympathetic division (which generally increases heart rate and cardiac output) or the parasympathetic division (which generally decreases heart rate).

thus, the medulla oblongata, through the cardiovascular center, plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis by modulating heart rate according to the body's immediate needs and external demands. this regulation helps ensure that adequate blood flow and oxygen supply are maintained across different physical activities and stress levels.