Texas Cosmetology License Exam — All Questions

Which bone forms the forehead and the upper part of the eye sockets?

• a.The frontal bone✓
• b.The mandible
• c.The zygomatic bone
• d.The occipital bone

The frontal bone forms the forehead and the upper portion of the eye sockets. The mandible is the lower jaw (the only movable bone of the skull), the zygomatic bones are the cheekbones, and the occipital bone forms the back and lower part of the skull. Knowing head and facial bones helps cosmetologists understand facial shape and the underlying structure during facials and massage.

Trichology is the scientific study of:

• a.The nails and their disorders
• b.The bones of the face and skull
• c.The hair and its diseases and care✓
• d.The muscles of the neck and shoulders

Trichology is the branch of science that deals with the hair, its structure, functions, and diseases (from the Greek 'trichos,' meaning hair). Understanding trichology helps cosmetologists analyze scalp and hair conditions, recognize when a condition should be referred to a physician, and choose appropriate services. The study of the nails is onychology, and the study of the skin is dermatology.

During a scalp or facial massage the cosmetologist stimulates muscles and nerves. Which muscle covers the back of the neck and upper back and moves the head and shoulders?

• a.The orbicularis oculi
• b.The trapezius✓
• c.The frontalis
• d.The masseter

The trapezius is a large muscle covering the back of the neck and upper/middle back; it moves the shoulders and helps move the head. The orbicularis oculi is the ring muscle that closes the eye, the frontalis is the front portion of the epicranius that raises the eyebrows, and the masseter is a chewing muscle of the jaw. Awareness of these muscles guides safe, effective massage movements during scalp and facial services.

The seventh cranial nerve, which is the chief motor nerve of the face and is important during facial massage, is the:

• a.Trifacial (trigeminal) nerve
• b.Ulnar nerve
• c.Cervical nerve
• d.Facial nerve✓

The facial nerve is the seventh (7th) cranial nerve and is the chief motor nerve of the face; it controls the muscles of facial expression. The trifacial (trigeminal), the fifth cranial nerve, is the chief sensory nerve of the face and also serves the chewing muscles. The ulnar and cervical nerves serve the arm/hand and neck region respectively. Understanding facial nerves helps a cosmetologist locate motor points and perform beneficial massage.

Which structure inside a cell holds its genetic material and directs cell reproduction?

• a.The cell membrane, which encloses the cell and controls what enters and leaves
• b.The cytoplasm, the watery protoplasm surrounding the nucleus that holds food materials
• c.The nucleus, the dense protoplasm holding DNA that directs cell reproduction✓
• d.The mitochondria, the structures that convert nutrients into usable energy for the cell

A cell is made of protoplasm, and within it the nucleus holds the DNA and controls cell reproduction. The cytoplasm is the watery protoplasm outside the nucleus that stores the food materials the cell needs for growth and repair. The cell membrane encloses the cell and regulates what passes in and out, while mitochondria release energy from nutrients. Cells reproduce by mitosis, dividing into two identical daughter cells, which is how the skin, hair, and nails renew themselves.

In cell metabolism, anabolism is the phase in which the body:

• a.Builds larger complex molecules from smaller ones and stores food and oxygen✓
• b.Breaks down complex compounds into simpler ones, releasing energy for work and heat
• c.Removes carbon dioxide and other wastes from the blood by way of the lungs
• d.Carries oxygen from the lungs out to the tissues by way of the red blood cells

Metabolism has two opposite phases. Anabolism (constructive metabolism) builds up larger, more complex molecules from smaller ones and is how the body stores water, food, and oxygen for later use. Catabolism (destructive metabolism) breaks larger molecules down into simpler ones and releases the energy used for muscular work, secretion, and heat. Removing carbon dioxide and transporting oxygen are functions of the respiratory and circulatory systems, not phases of metabolism.

Which description matches epithelial tissue?

• a.The tissue that carries messages to and from the brain and the spinal cord
• b.The protective covering of body surfaces such as skin, mucous membranes, and glands✓
• c.The tissue that contracts and moves the various parts of the body on command
• d.The fatty tissue that gives smoothness and contour to the body and cushions it

The body is generally taught as having five types of tissue: connective, epithelial, muscular, nerve, and liquid. Epithelial tissue is the protective covering of body surfaces, including the skin, the mucous membranes, the lining of the heart and digestive organs, and the glands. Nerve tissue carries messages to and from the brain and spinal cord, muscular tissue contracts to move body parts, and adipose (fatty) tissue is a connective tissue that gives contour and cushioning. Liquid tissue includes the blood and the lymph.

Which two bones of the cranium join at the top of the head?

• a.The temporal bones, one on each side of the head in the ear region
• b.The frontal and ethmoid bones, which lie at the front of the cranium
• c.The occipital and sphenoid bones, which help form the base of the cranium
• d.The parietal bones, which meet at the crown and form the upper sides✓

The cranium has eight bones, and the two parietal bones join at the top to form the crown and the upper sides of the head. The frontal bone forms the forehead, the occipital forms the back of the skull, and the two temporal bones form the sides in the ear region. The ethmoid lies between the eye sockets and forms part of the nasal cavity, and the sphenoid joins all the bones of the cranium together. Cosmetologists work over these bones constantly during shampooing, cutting, and scalp massage.

At the shampoo bowl a cosmetologist supports the client's head just above the nape. Which cranial bone lies directly under that area?

• a.The occipital bone, the hindmost bone of the skull above the nape✓
• b.The parietal bone, which forms the crown and the upper side of the head
• c.The sphenoid bone, which joins together all of the bones of the cranium
• d.The temporal bone, which forms the side of the head in the ear region

The occipital bone is the hindmost bone of the skull, forming the back of the head just above the nape, so it is the bone under the hand that supports a reclining client. The parietal bones sit higher, forming the crown and upper sides. The temporal bones form the sides of the head around the ears, and the sphenoid is a deeper bone that unites the bones of the cranium. Knowing this landmark helps a cosmetologist support the head comfortably and work the occipital area during scalp massage.

Which cranial bone forms the side of the head in the area of the ear?

• a.The ethmoid bone, which forms part of the nasal cavity between the eye sockets
• b.The sphenoid bone, the bone that joins together all the bones of the cranium
• c.The temporal bone, which forms the side of the head in the ear area✓
• d.The lacrimal bone, one of the small bones in the front wall of each eye socket

The two temporal bones form the sides of the head in and around the ear region. The ethmoid is a light spongy bone between the eye sockets that forms part of the nasal cavity, and the sphenoid unites all the bones of the cranium. The lacrimal bones are facial bones, not cranial bones; they are the small, thin bones in the front inner wall of each eye socket. The superficial temporal artery and the temporalis chewing muscle both take their names from this region.

Which is the largest and strongest bone of the face?

• a.The maxillae, the pair of bones that unite to form the upper jaw
• b.The mandible, the lower jawbone and the only movable bone of the skull✓
• c.The zygomatic bones, which form the prominence of the cheeks
• d.The nasal bones, the pair that joins to form the bridge of the nose

The mandible is the lower jawbone; it is the largest and strongest bone of the face and the only bone of the skull that moves. The two maxillae unite to form the upper jaw, the zygomatic (malar) bones form the cheekbones, and the paired nasal bones form the bridge of the nose. Because the mandible moves, the muscles that raise and lower it are the ones a cosmetologist feels working during a facial when the client speaks or clenches.

The bones that form the prominence of the cheeks are the:

• a.Lacrimal bones, the small bones in the front inner wall of the eye sockets
• b.Maxillae, the two bones that unite to form the whole of the upper jaw
• c.Nasal bones, the two bones that join to form the bridge of the nose
• d.Zygomatic bones, also called the malar bones or cheekbones✓

The zygomatic bones, also called the malar bones, form the prominence of the cheeks and part of the outer wall of the eye sockets. The lacrimal bones are the smallest bones of the face, set in the front inner wall of each eye socket. The maxillae form the upper jaw and the nasal bones form the bridge of the nose. Facial-shape analysis during a haircut or makeup consultation is largely a reading of where the cheekbones and the jaw sit.

Which structure in the neck supports the tongue and the muscles attached to it?

• a.The first cervical vertebra, which supports the skull and lets the head nod
• b.The hyoid bone, a U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue✓
• c.The mandible, the movable lower jaw to which chewing muscles attach
• d.The sphenoid bone, which forms part of the base of the cranium

The hyoid is a U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue that supports the tongue and its muscles; it is unusual because it does not join directly to another bone. The other bones of the neck are the seven cervical vertebrae, which form the top of the spinal column and support the skull. The mandible is a facial bone rather than a bone of the neck, and the sphenoid is part of the cranium. Neck bones matter to cosmetologists because head position at the shampoo bowl and the chair affects client comfort and safety.

In the forearm, which bone lies on the same side as the thumb?

• a.The radius, the smaller bone on the thumb side of the forearm✓
• b.The ulna, the larger bone on the little-finger side of the forearm
• c.The humerus, the uppermost and largest bone of the arm above the elbow
• d.The carpus, the group of eight small bones that make up the wrist

The forearm has two bones: the radius, the smaller one on the thumb side, and the ulna, the larger one on the little-finger side. The humerus is the single large bone of the upper arm above the elbow. Beyond the forearm are the carpus (eight small wrist bones), the five metacarpals of the palm, and the fourteen phalanges of the fingers. Manicurists and massage-trained cosmetologists use these landmarks to work the hand and arm without pressing on joints.

Which pair of bones makes up the lower leg, below the knee?

• a.The talus and the calcaneus, two of the seven bones that form the ankle
• b.The femur and the patella, the long thigh bone and the kneecap
• c.The tibia and the fibula, the larger inner and smaller outer leg bones✓
• d.The metatarsals and the phalanges, the long bones of the foot and toes

The lower leg contains the tibia, the larger bone on the inner side, and the fibula, the smaller bone on the outer side. The talus is an ankle bone that joins the tibia and fibula to the foot; the seven tarsal bones together form the ankle. The femur and patella belong to the thigh and knee, above the lower leg, while the five metatarsals and fourteen phalanges form the foot and toes. Pedicure massage follows these bones and works the soft tissue between them.

The frontalis and the occipitalis are the two ends of one scalp muscle. What structure joins them?

• a.The masseter, a muscle that raises the lower jaw during chewing
• b.The platysma, the broad muscle running from the chest up to the chin
• c.The temporalis, a chewing muscle lying above and in front of the ear
• d.The epicranial aponeurosis, the tendon connecting the two ends of the muscle✓

The epicranius, also called the occipitofrontalis, is the broad muscle covering the top of the skull. Its front portion is the frontalis, which raises the eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead, and its back portion is the occipitalis, which draws the scalp backward. The two are connected by the epicranial aponeurosis, a broad tendon across the top of the head. The masseter and temporalis are chewing muscles and the platysma is a neck muscle, so none of them link the scalp muscle's two bellies.

Which facial muscle is the flat band that encircles the mouth and puckers the lips?

• a.The buccinator, the thin flat muscle of the cheek between the upper and lower jaws
• b.The mentalis, the chin muscle that wrinkles the chin and pushes the lower lip up
• c.The orbicularis oris, the flat band of muscle that encircles the lips✓
• d.The risorius, which draws the corner of the mouth out and back as in a grin

The orbicularis oris is the flat band of muscle that surrounds the mouth; it contracts, puckers, and wrinkles the lips. The buccinator is the thin flat muscle of the cheek that compresses the cheeks, the mentalis lifts and wrinkles the chin, and the risorius pulls the corner of the mouth outward and back. The matching ring muscle around the eye is the orbicularis oculi, which closes the eyelid. Facial massage movements follow the direction of these muscles rather than cutting across them.

Which muscle compresses the cheeks so that air is blown out through pursed lips?

• a.The buccinator, the thin flat muscle between the jaws that compresses the cheek✓
• b.The zygomaticus, which draws the corner of the mouth upward and back when smiling
• c.The corrugator, which draws the eyebrow down and in to make vertical frown lines
• d.The procerus, which covers the bridge of the nose and pulls the eyebrows down

The buccinator is the thin, flat muscle lying between the upper and lower jaws inside the cheek; contracting it compresses the cheeks and expels air. The zygomaticus major and minor lift the corners of the mouth in a smile. The corrugator draws the brow downward and inward, producing the vertical lines between the brows, and the procerus covers the bridge of the nose and lowers the eyebrows. These are the expression muscles a cosmetologist addresses when working on lines around the mouth, brow, and nose.

Which two muscles are the chief muscles of chewing?

• a.The orbicularis oculi and the corrugator, which close the eye and draw the brows in
• b.The platysma and the sternocleidomastoid, which lower the jaw and rotate the head
• c.The frontalis and the occipitalis, the front and back portions of the scalp muscle
• d.The masseter and the temporalis, which raise the jaw and close the mouth✓

The masseter and the temporalis are the chief muscles of mastication; both raise the lower jaw and close the mouth, and they are easy to feel by placing the fingers on the jaw angle and the temple while the client clenches. The orbicularis oculi and corrugator move the eye and brow, the platysma and sternocleidomastoid act on the jaw and head but are not chewing muscles, and the frontalis and occipitalis move the scalp. Clients who clench often carry tension in the masseter and temporalis, which is why those areas respond well to facial massage.

Which muscle runs along the side of the neck and rotates and lowers the head?

• a.The trapezius, the broad muscle covering the back of the neck and the upper back
• b.The sternocleidomastoid, which rotates the head and bows it from side to side✓
• c.The latissimus dorsi, the large flat muscle covering the lower part of the back
• d.The platysma, the broad muscle that depresses the lower jaw and the lower lip

The sternocleidomastoid runs from behind the ear down the side of the neck to the collarbone and breastbone; it rotates the head and bows it from side to side. The trapezius covers the back of the neck and the upper and middle back and moves the shoulders and head. The latissimus dorsi is the broad flat muscle across the lower back, and the platysma extends from the chest and shoulder to the chin, depressing the lower jaw and lip. These are the muscles that tighten in a client who has been seated with the head forward.

Which muscles of the hand spread the fingers apart from one another?

• a.The pronators, which turn the hand inward so that the palm faces downward
• b.The supinators, which turn the hand outward so that the palm faces upward
• c.The abductors, which separate the fingers and draw them away from each other✓
• d.The flexors, which bend the wrist and draw the hand up toward the forearm

Abductor muscles separate the fingers, and adductor muscles draw them back together; both sit at the base of the thumb and between the fingers. Pronators turn the hand so the palm faces down and supinators turn it so the palm faces up. Flexors bend the wrist and hand while extensors straighten them. In the upper arm, the deltoid caps the shoulder, the biceps bends the forearm, and the triceps straightens it, all of which are worked during an arm massage.

As a general rule, in what direction should massage movements over a muscle be directed?

• a.From the origin toward the insertion, following the direction of hair growth
• b.From the insertion toward the origin, from the movable end to the fixed end✓
• c.Always upward and against the direction of the muscle fibers, wherever they attach
• d.Always in a circular pattern centered on the motor point of the muscle

The origin of a muscle is the fixed attachment to an immovable section such as a bone, and the insertion is the movable attachment that does the work. Massage movements are generally directed from the insertion toward the origin so that pressure works with the muscle's structure rather than against it. Direction is not set by hair growth, and working steadily against the fibers can be uncomfortable. A motor point is where pressure causes a contraction, but it defines a location, not the direction of the stroke.

Which division of the nervous system regulates involuntary activity such as the heartbeat and glandular secretion?

• a.The autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary muscles and glands✓
• b.The central nervous system, which is built around the brain and the spinal cord
• c.The peripheral nervous system, the nerve network reaching the body's extremities
• d.The circulatory system, the network of vessels that carries blood around the body

The autonomic nervous system works automatically, regulating the involuntary muscles and the glands, including the heartbeat, breathing, and secretion. The central nervous system is built around the brain and spinal cord and controls conscious activity, while the peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves connecting the central system to the extremities. The circulatory system is a separate system that moves blood, not nerve impulses. Massage stimulates nerve endings, which is part of why it feels relaxing.

The fifth cranial nerve, the chief sensory nerve of the face, divides into three branches. They are the:

• a.Cervical, facial, and accessory branches, which serve the neck and the shoulders
• b.Ulnar, radial, and median branches, which serve the arm and the hand
• c.Temporal, zygomatic, and buccal branches, which serve the expression muscles
• d.Ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular branches, which serve the face and jaw✓

The fifth cranial nerve is the trifacial or trigeminal nerve, the chief sensory nerve of the face, and its three branches are the ophthalmic, the maxillary, and the mandibular. It also supplies the muscles used in chewing. The temporal, zygomatic, and buccal branches belong to the seventh cranial nerve, the facial nerve, which is the chief motor nerve of the face. The ulnar, radial, and median nerves serve the arm and hand and have nothing to do with the face.

Which cranial nerve is a motor nerve controlling the muscles of the neck and the upper back?

• a.The fifth cranial nerve, the chief sensory nerve of the face and the head
• b.The seventh cranial nerve, the chief motor nerve of the expression muscles
• c.The eleventh cranial nerve, known as the accessory nerve✓
• d.The first cranial nerve, which carries the sense of smell from the nose

The eleventh cranial nerve is the accessory nerve, a motor nerve that controls the muscles of the neck and upper back, including the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid. The fifth is the trifacial or trigeminal nerve, the chief sensory nerve of the face, and the seventh is the facial nerve, the chief motor nerve of the muscles of expression. The first cranial nerve carries the sense of smell. Neck and shoulder massage during a shampoo works muscles served by the eleventh cranial nerve.

A client reports tingling along the little-finger edge of the hand during a manicure. Which nerve serves that area?

• a.The ulnar nerve, which supplies the small-finger side of the arm and the palm✓
• b.The radial nerve, which supplies the thumb side of the arm and the back of the hand
• c.The median nerve, the smaller nerve that runs down the middle of the forearm
• d.The digital nerve, whose branches supply the fingers themselves with sensation

The ulnar nerve and its branches supply the small-finger side of the arm and the palm of the hand, which is the area described. The radial nerve and its branches supply the thumb side of the arm and the back of the hand, and the median nerve is the smaller nerve running down the middle of the forearm into the hand. The digital nerve supplies the fingers but is itself a branch of these larger nerves. A manicurist who understands the nerve map can adjust pressure instead of continuing over a sensitive area.

During a pedicure massage, which nerve supplies the sole of the foot?

• a.The peroneal nerve, which extends down the leg to supply the top of the foot
• b.The tibial nerve, a division of the sciatic that reaches the sole of the foot✓
• c.The saphenous nerve, which supplies the skin on the inner side of the leg and foot
• d.The sural nerve, which supplies the skin on the outer side and back of the foot

The tibial nerve is a division of the sciatic nerve; it passes behind the knee, subdivides, and supplies the ankle and the sole of the foot. The peroneal nerve also branches from the sciatic but travels down toward the top of the foot and the toes. The saphenous nerve supplies the skin on the inner side of the leg and foot, and the sural nerve supplies skin on the outer and back side of the foot and lower leg. Knowing these regions helps a nail technician massage comfortably and notice when a client's sensation seems unusual.

A mixed nerve is one that:

• a.Carries impulses only from the sense organs to the brain, producing sensation
• b.Carries both sensory and motor impulses, so it can both feel and move✓
• c.Carries impulses only from the brain out to the muscles, producing movement
• d.Carries impulses between two organs without ever reaching the brain at all

Sensory (afferent) nerves carry impulses from the sense organs to the brain, producing sensations such as touch, heat, and pressure. Motor (efferent) nerves carry impulses from the brain to the muscles, producing movement. A mixed nerve contains both kinds of fibers and therefore both feels and moves; the fifth cranial nerve is a familiar example because it gives the face sensation and also serves the chewing muscles. No nerve links two organs while bypassing the nervous system entirely.

The heart has four chambers. Which pair receives blood arriving back at the heart?

• a.The two ventricles, the lower chambers that pump blood out to the body
• b.The aorta and the pulmonary artery, the large vessels leaving the top of the heart
• c.The pericardium and the myocardium, the outer covering and the muscular wall
• d.The two atria, the upper chambers that receive the blood entering the heart✓

The heart has four chambers: the right and left atria on top and the right and left ventricles below. Blood returning to the heart enters the atria, then passes into the ventricles, which pump it back out. The aorta and pulmonary artery are vessels that carry blood away from the heart rather than chambers of it, and the pericardium and myocardium are the heart's outer membrane and muscular wall. Valves between the chambers keep the blood moving in one direction only.

Which statement about blood vessels is correct?

• a.Arteries carry blood away from the heart, and veins carry blood back to it✓
• b.Veins carry blood away from the heart, and arteries return the blood to it
• c.Capillaries carry blood away from the heart under the highest pressure
• d.Arteries carry valves along their length to stop blood flowing backward

Arteries are thick-walled, muscular vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart, and veins carry blood back toward the heart. Capillaries are the tiny thin-walled vessels connecting the smallest arteries to the smallest veins; they carry blood at low pressure and are where nutrients and wastes are exchanged with the cells. Veins, not arteries, contain valves that prevent backflow because venous blood moves under low pressure and often against gravity. Massage that follows venous return supports this circulation.

Which artery supplies blood to the face, the scalp, and the side of the head?

• a.The internal carotid artery, which supplies the brain, eyes, forehead, and nose
• b.The common carotid artery, which runs at the side of the neck before it divides
• c.The external carotid artery, which supplies the face, scalp, and side of the head✓
• d.The superficial temporal artery, which supplies only the muscles of the eyelid

The common carotid artery runs up the side of the neck and divides into an internal and an external branch. The external carotid supplies the face, the scalp, and the side of the head, while the internal carotid supplies the brain, eyes, eyelids, forehead, nose, and internal ear. Two branches of the external carotid matter most in the salon: the facial artery, which supplies the lower region of the face, mouth, and nose, and the superficial temporal artery, which supplies the side and top of the head, the ear, and the forehead, not merely the eyelid.

Blood is returned from the head, face, and neck toward the heart mainly through:

• a.The common carotid arteries, one running up each side of the neck
• b.The internal and external jugular veins, the two main veins of the neck✓
• c.The facial and superficial temporal arteries of the face and the scalp
• d.The lymph vessels that run alongside the blood vessels of the neck

The internal and external jugular veins are the principal veins of the neck; they carry blood returning from the head, face, and neck back toward the heart. The common carotid arteries and the facial and superficial temporal arteries all deliver blood outward from the heart rather than returning it. Lymph vessels carry lymph, a clear fluid, not blood. Because veins sit near the surface in the neck, pressure there during a shampoo or massage should always stay gentle.

What is the primary function of the lymphatic system?

• a.To carry oxygen from the lungs to every cell of the body through the blood
• b.To secrete hormones that regulate growth, reproduction, and body metabolism
• c.To carry waste and impurities away from the cells and help fight infection✓
• d.To break food down into simpler nutrients the cells of the body can absorb

Lymph is a clear fluid that circulates through the lymph vessels and spaces between the cells. The lymphatic system carries waste products and impurities away from the cells toward the blood, and its lymph nodes help defend the body against infection. Carrying oxygen is the job of the red blood cells of the circulatory system, secreting hormones belongs to the endocrine system, and breaking food into absorbable nutrients belongs to the digestive system. Light massage strokes are often directed to support lymph movement.

The skin, hair, nails, and the oil and sweat glands together make up which body system?

• a.The integumentary system, the body's external covering and its largest organ✓
• b.The excretory system, which purges the body of waste through several organs
• c.The endocrine system, the ductless glands that release hormones into the blood
• d.The respiratory system, which supplies the body with oxygen through the lungs

The integumentary system is made up of the skin along with its accessory organs: the hair, nails, and the sebaceous (oil) and sudoriferous (sweat) glands. The skin is the body's largest organ, and this system is the one cosmetologists work on every day. The excretory system purges waste through the kidneys, liver, lungs, skin, and large intestine; the endocrine system consists of ductless glands releasing hormones into the bloodstream; and the respiratory system supplies oxygen through the lungs. The digestive system changes food into nutrients the body can use.