Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology
Domain focus
This section tests applied anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology as they appear in clinical physiotherapy, not isolated recall. The examiner expects you to explain how a lesion, disease process or developmental change produces the observed impairment, and to use that explanation to choose safe assessment and treatment. Candidates should link biomedical science to red flags, referral decisions and physiotherapy scope.
Core rules and concepts
- Healing follows overlapping haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling phases; progression is guided by tissue irritability and load tolerance, not calendar days alone.
- Peripheral nerve injury: neurapraxia recovers fastest; axonotmesis involves Wallerian degeneration and slower regeneration; neurotmesis often needs surgical repair. Map motor, sensory and autonomic loss to the lesion.
- Dermatomes and myotomes are screening tools, not diagnoses. Overlap means one sensory spot cannot confirm a single level.
- Oxygen delivery depends on cardiac output, haemoglobin, arterial saturation and tissue extraction; exercise testing provokes integrated cardiorespiratory responses.
- Pathophysiology explains clinical clusters: inflammation, ischaemia, oedema, fibrosis, demyelination and degeneration produce different irritability and loading tolerance.
- Movement analysis links joint range, muscle length and strength, motor control and environmental demands.
Worked example
A 34-year-old falls and fractures the midshaft humerus. After casting, wrist extension is absent, grip is weak and sensation is reduced over the dorsum of the first web space. Reasoning: the radial nerve runs in the spiral groove against the humeral shaft, so a midshaft fracture can injure it. Wrist drop, weak elbow extension and first-web sensory loss fit a radial nerve lesion; triceps weakness suggests a lesion higher than the spiral groove. Check for open injury, expanding haematoma and compartment signs, document baseline neurovascular status, protect the limb and refer promptly. Do not prescribe aggressive stretching before irritability settles.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing radicular and peripheral nerve patterns; attributing all weakness to pain; ignoring systemic features such as fever, weight loss or night pain; and treating imaging findings as the diagnosis. Missing progressive neurological deficit or vascular compromise is unsafe.
Key points
- Link structure to function.
- Use irritability and healing phase.
- Screen for red flags.
- Document baseline neurovascular status.
- Refer when deficit is progressive or unexplained.