75 multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations
Test yourself on the human skeleton: what bones do, bone tissue and cells, how bones grow, heal and remodel, the axial and appendicular skeleton, and joints.
Read a question, pick an option, then open the answer to check yourself and read why it is correct.
Question 1
Answer: C. Calcium
Bones primarily store calcium, which is essential for maintaining strong and healthy bone structure, allowing bones to support the body effectively.
Question 2
Answer: C. 206
An adult human skeleton typically consists of 206 bones, which provide support, protection, and facilitate movement.
Question 3
Answer: D. Muscles pull on bones to create movement
The muscular system pulls on bones to create movement, with tendons transferring muscle forces to skeletons for joint motion and posture maintenance.
Question 4
Answer: C. Fat storage
Yellow bone marrow primarily stores fat, which can serve as an energy reserve.
Question 5
Answer: C. Hematopoiesis
Red bone marrow is responsible for hematopoiesis, the production of blood cells, including red and white blood cells and platelets.
Question 6
Answer: B. Cancellous bone
The epiphysis consists of cancellous, or spongy bone, which contains red marrow vital for producing blood cells.
Question 7
Answer: D. Provide nutrients to the bone tissue
The periosteum is a dense layer of vascular connective tissue enveloping the bones except at the surfaces of the joints, providing nutrients and facilitating bone repair and growth.
Question 8
Answer: C. Break down bone tissue
Osteoclasts are responsible for bone resorption, breaking down bone tissue, critical for maintenance, repair, and remodeling of bones.
Question 9
Answer: D. Osteoblasts
Osteoblasts are specialized cells responsible for bone formation, secreting the matrix that becomes mineralized to form hard bone.
Question 10
Answer: B. Flat bones are thin and often protect organs; long bones are longer than wide and act as levers
Flat bones are thin, often curved bones that protect organs and provide muscle attachment sites. Long bones are longer than they are wide and act as levers when muscles contract.
Question 11
Answer: B. Calcium phosphate
Calcium phosphate forms the mineral component of bone, providing hardness and strength, which is essential for support and movement.
Question 12
Answer: A. Contain osteocytes
Lacunae are small cavities within bone tissue that contain osteocytes, helping maintain the bone matrix.
Question 13
Answer: C. Compact bone
Compact bone contains Haversian canals, part of the osteon system, which provide passageways for blood vessels and nerves.
Question 14
Answer: A. Red marrow
Red marrow occupies the spaces between trabeculae in blood-cell-producing regions of spongy bone.
Question 15
Answer: B. Collagen fibers
Collagen fibers provide tensile strength and flexibility to bone tissue.
Question 16
Answer: D. Bone is mineralized and rigid; cartilage is flexible and less dense
Bone is dense and mineralized, providing support and structure, while cartilage is flexible and cushions joints.
Question 17
Answer: C. Provide structure and channel blood vessels
Osteons are structural units in compact bone, providing strength and channels for blood vessels and nerves.
Question 18
Answer: B. Longer than they are wide
Long bones, like the femur, are characterized by an elongated shape, being longer than they are wide.
Question 19
Answer: D. Yellow marrow
In adults, the medullary cavity of long bones usually contains yellow marrow, primarily a fat storage site.
Question 20
Answer: C. Both are long bones with similar structural features
The femur and humerus are both long bones, each with a shaft called the diaphysis and expanded ends called epiphyses.
Question 21
Answer: C. Support weight distribution and protect marrow
Trabeculae are supporting struts arranged along lines of stress. They help distribute loads and surround spaces that can contain red marrow.
Question 22
Answer: C. Osteoporosis; weight-bearing exercise
Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone density and increased fracture risk. Weight-bearing exercise can help increase bone strength by stimulating bone formation.
Question 23
Answer: D. Stunted growth or asymmetry
Premature closure of an epiphyseal plate can stop growth in length, producing a shortened limb or uneven growth.
Question 24
Answer: A. The bony remnant of a former growth plate
The epiphyseal line is the bony remnant left when an epiphyseal plate closes and growth in length ends.
Question 25
Answer: A. It adapts bone to stress; involves osteoblasts and osteoclasts
Bone remodeling is a dynamic process involving osteoclasts (resorption) and osteoblasts (formation), allowing bones to adapt to stress and maintain strength.
Question 26
Answer: A. Impaired bone mineralization; restore adequate vitamin D intake
Vitamin D supports calcium absorption, and deficiency can cause rickets in children or osteomalacia in adults. Adequate intake can come from vitamin D-rich or fortified foods and supplements when needed.
Question 27
Answer: A. Reduced blood supply and impaired healing
Damage to blood vessels at a shaft fracture can reduce the supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing bone-cell death and impairing repair.
Question 28
Answer: C. Its collateral connections may provide insufficient blood flow, impairing healing
Functional end arteries have connections to other arteries, but these may not maintain adequate blood flow when the main supply is interrupted. Inadequate blood flow can impair fracture repair.
Question 29
Answer: C. Reduced bone density and balance; suggest calcium, vitamin D, and balance exercises
Elderly people often face reduced bone density and balance, making hip fractures more likely. Calcium, vitamin D, and exercise, improving balance, can help prevent these injuries.
Question 30
Answer: A. Hematoma, soft callus, bony callus, remodeling
A fracture hematoma forms first, followed by a soft callus that is replaced by a bony callus. Remodeling then reshapes the repaired bone.
Question 31
Answer: B. Osteopetrosis
Osteopetrosis results from impaired bone resorption by osteoclasts. Bone becomes abnormally dense but fragile, and marrow space may be reduced.
Question 32
Answer: A. Reduces bone mass and strength
Prolonged immobilization can lead to bone degradation, as mechanical stress is vital for maintaining bone mass and strength.
Question 33
Answer: B. Causes bone brittleness due to collagen defects
Most cases of osteogenesis imperfecta involve reduced production or abnormal structure of type I collagen. These defects weaken bone and increase its susceptibility to fractures.
Question 34
Answer: A. Maintains bone structure through diet and hormonal regulation
Calcium homeostasis is vital for bone structure and function, maintained by dietary intake and hormones like parathyroid hormone and calcitonin.
Question 35
Answer: A. Restore strength and mobility through prescribed exercises
Rehabilitation uses prescribed exercises to rebuild muscle strength and restore mobility after a hip fracture.
Question 36
Answer: D. Imbalance in calcium and phosphate, leading to osteodystrophy
Chronic kidney disease can disrupt calcium and phosphate balance, leading to renal osteodystrophy, affecting bone mineralization and strength.
Question 37
Answer: C. Causes abnormal bone remodeling; treatments include bisphosphonates
Paget's disease causes abnormal bone remodeling, leading to weakened, misshapen bones; treated with medications like bisphosphonates to regulate bone metabolism.
Question 38
Answer: C. Restores blood cell production; potential immune reaction
Bone marrow transplantation can restore blood cell production in diseases like leukemia, but carries risks like immune rejection and graft-versus-host disease.
Question 39
Answer: A. Weight-bearing exercise and adequate calcium and vitamin D intake
Weight-bearing exercise and adequate calcium and vitamin D support bone maintenance and can help reduce bone loss after menopause. Supplements can address an intake shortfall when needed.
Question 40
Answer: B. Facilitates lengthwise bone growth
The epiphyseal plate, or growth plate, allows for lengthwise growth of long bones during development, eventually closing to form the epiphyseal line.
Question 41
Answer: B. Adequate intake is vital for bone density and strength
Adequate dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D is essential for maintaining bone density and preventing disorders like osteoporosis.
Question 42
Answer: D. They stimulate bone formation and maintenance
Estrogen and testosterone are crucial in promoting bone formation and maintaining bone density; their decline with age can reduce bone mass.
Question 43
Answer: C. It helps assess fracture risk and informs treatment alongside other clinical factors
Lower bone mineral density is associated with greater fracture risk. Clinicians consider the result together with age and other fracture risk factors when making treatment decisions.
Question 44
Answer: B. It helps in calcium binding; deficiency may weaken bones
Vitamin K aids in synthesizing proteins for bone metabolism, facilitating calcium binding; deficiency can weaken bone structure.
Question 45
Answer: C. Children's periosteum has greater bone-forming capacity
The periosteum in children has greater bone-forming capacity, supporting faster fracture repair. Healing time also varies with age, fracture type, and location.
Question 46
Answer: B. Helps maintain bone density
Hormone replacement therapy can help maintain bone density in postmenopausal women, counteracting the effects of declining estrogen.
Question 47
Answer: A. Protect vital organs
The axial skeleton includes the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage, primarily functioning to protect vital organs like the brain, spinal cord, and thoracic organs.
Question 48
Answer: A. Mandible
The mandible is the lower jawbone, holding the lower set of teeth and allowing movement necessary for chewing and speaking.
Question 49
Answer: B. Sternum
The sternum is part of the thoracic cage, not the cranium, which consists of bones that encase and protect the brain.
Question 50
Answer: B. Vomer
The vomer is an unpaired bone in the human skull, forming part of the nasal septum.
Question 51
Answer: B. Protect the heart and lungs
The rib cage protects vital organs like the heart and lungs.
Question 52
Answer: C. Ethmoid
The perpendicular plate of the ethmoid forms the upper bony portion of the nasal septum.
Question 53
Answer: D. Occipital bone
The occipital bone forms the posterior skull and posterior cranial base. It contains the foramen magnum, through which the spinal cord passes.
Question 54
Answer: B. Hyoid bone
The hyoid bone, located in the neck, supports the tongue and is involved in swallowing and speech.
Question 55
Answer: D. Femur
The femur, or thigh bone, is the longest bone in the human body, providing structural support for walking and standing.
Question 56
Answer: A. Appendicular skeleton
The appendicular skeleton consists of bones in the limbs and girdles, facilitating movement and interaction with the environment.
Question 57
Answer: C. Clavicle
The clavicle, or collarbone, connects the arm to the body, playing a crucial role in shoulder mobility and stability.
Question 58
Answer: B. Tibia
The tibia is one of the two bones in the lower leg, crucial for supporting body weight.
Question 59
Answer: A. Sesamoid bone
The patella is a sesamoid bone, developed in tendons.
Question 60
Answer: A. Clavicle
The clavicle is the most commonly fractured bone due to its position.
Question 61
Answer: B. Lower arm
The ulna is one of the two bones in the forearm, located on the side opposite the thumb.
Question 62
Answer: D. Scapula
The scapula, or shoulder blade, articulates with the humerus at the shoulder joint, forming the glenohumeral joint.
Question 63
Answer: D. Patella
The patella, or kneecap, is a small sesamoid bone within the quadriceps tendon that protects the knee joint.
Question 64
Answer: D. Sternum
The sternum is part of the axial skeleton; the appendicular skeleton includes the bones of the limbs and girdles.
Question 65
Answer: B. Synovial joint
Synovial joints have a joint cavity filled with synovial fluid, allowing for a wide range of motion.
Question 66
Answer: D. Hyaline cartilage
At most synovial joints, the articular surfaces are covered by hyaline cartilage, which reduces friction between the bones.
Question 67
Answer: C. Ligaments connect bone to bone
Ligaments connect bones at joints, providing stability, whereas tendons connect muscles to bones, facilitating movement.
Question 68
Answer: A. Loss of cartilage and synovial fluid disruption
Synovial joints rely on both hyaline cartilage for smooth motion and synovial fluid for lubrication. Damage to either component can lead to pain and reduced mobility.
Question 69
Answer: A. Hinge joint
The elbow joint, formed by the articulation of the humerus with the ulna, is a hinge joint, allowing flexion and extension.
Question 70
Answer: C. They provide stability and guide joint movement
Ligaments are fibrous tissues that stabilize joints, preventing excessive movement and ensuring proper alignment during motion.
Question 71
Answer: D. Improves joint function; include physical therapy
Joint replacement can significantly improve function and reduce pain; postoperative care should include physical therapy to enhance recovery and maintain mobility.
Question 72
Answer: A. Fibrous joint
Sutures are fibrous joints that tightly unite most cranial bones and allow little or no movement.
Question 73
Answer: C. Rotation
Pivot joints allow rotational movement around a single axis, such as the articulation between the atlas and axis.
Question 74
Answer: A. Ball-and-socket joint
Ball-and-socket joints, like the shoulder and hip, allow for the greatest range of motion, including rotation, flexion, and extension.
Question 75
Answer: D. Reduce friction in joints
Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones in synovial joints, reducing friction and absorbing shock during movement.
The questions were generated with PDFStudy from anatomy study material, then checked question by question against OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, a free peer-reviewed textbook: wrong or ambiguous items were corrected or removed, and repeats were dropped. Last reviewed 2026-10-16. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.
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