Question 1

Which of the following bones is considered part of the axial skeleton?
A) femur
B) sternum
C) radius
D) metatarsals
E) scapula

Accepted Answer

The sternum is a flat bone located in the center of the chest, and is considered part of the axial skeleton. The femur, radius, metatarsals, and scapula are all bones of the appendicular skeleton.

Question 2

What type of bone cell is primarily active when bone growth occurs?
A) osteocyte
B) erythrocyte
C) chondrocyte
D) osteoblast
E) osteoclast

Accepted Answer

Osteoblasts are the bone cells primarily responsible for bone growth and synthesis of new bone tissue. They secrete collagen and other proteins that form the organic matrix of bone and provide the framework for mineralization by calcium and other minerals. As the mineralization proceeds, the calcium and phosphate crystals precipitate inside the organic matrix, forming the hard, mineralized bone tissue. Osteoblasts are highly active during bone formation and remodeling, but become osteocytes once the bone tissue reaches maturity.

Question 3

The hyoid bone is unique because it ________.
A) is the only bone of the body that does not directly articulate with any other bone
B) is an irregular bone
C) belongs to both the axial and appendicular skeletons
D) has no specific function
E) largely consists of cartilage

Accepted Answer

The hyoid bone is the only bone that does not articulate with any other bone directly.

Question 4

Bone growth in width that occurs due to weight lifting at age 40 is most likely ________.
A) due to rickets
B) none since bones do not grow after adolescence
C) appositional growth
D) occurring at the epiphyseal lines
E) occurring at the epiphyseal plates

Accepted Answer

Appositional growth is bone growth in width that occurs throughout life in response to mechanical stressors such as weight lifting. Rickets (A) is a condition that results in softening of the bones due to vitamin D deficiency and does not apply to this scenario. Bones do not grow in length after adolescence, so growth at epiphyseal lines (D) or plates (E) are incorrect.

Question 5

Which bones are commonly referred to as the cheekbones?
A) lacrimal bones
B) zygomatic bones
C) parietal bones
D) temporal bones
E) palatine bones

Accepted Answer

The zygomatic bones are commonly referred to as the cheekbones, as they form the prominence of the cheeks.

Question 6

What kind of tissue is the forerunner of long bones in the embryo?
A) elastic connective tissue
B) dense fibrous connective tissue
C) fibrocartilage
D) hyaline cartilage
E) loose fibrous connective tissue

Accepted Answer

Hyaline cartilage serves as the precursor to long bones in the embryo. This cartilage template is gradually replaced by bone tissue during fetal development, leading to the formation of the long bones of the arms and legs.

Question 7

The fibrous connections between the bones of a fetal skull are ________.
A) alveolar margins
B) sinuses
C) palates
D) crista galli
E) fontanels

Accepted Answer

Fontanels are the fibrous connections between the bones of a fetal skull, which allow for some flexibility during birth and for growth of the skull in the first year of life. Alveolar margins are a feature of the maxilla and mandible bones that support the teeth. Sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull bone. Palates are the roof of the mouth, formed by parts of the maxilla and palatine bones. The crista galli is a projection in the ethmoid bone that serves as an attachment point for the dura mater of the brain.

Question 8

Which of the following could create an open, or compound, fracture?
A) when the bone is crushed
B) when the broken bone ends are forced into each other
C) when the broken bone penetrates through the skin
D) when the bone is broken into many fragments
E) when adjacent bones fracture simultaneously

Accepted Answer

An open or compound fracture occurs when the broken bone penetrates through the skin, creating an external wound that increases the risk of infection. This can happen due to external trauma or severe twisting forces on the bone. A crushed bone (A), forced into each other (B), breaking into many fragments (D), or adjacent bones fracturing simultaneously (E) can cause a closed fracture, where the bone remains under the skin.

Question 9

Which of these bone markings is a projection that serves as a site for muscle or ligament attachment?
A) meatus
B) fossa
C) foramen
D) fissure
E) tubercle

Accepted Answer

A tubercle is a small, rounded projection that serves as a site for muscle or ligament attachment, making it the best choice for this question. Meatus, fossa, foramen, and fissure are all different types of bone markings, but they do not specifically serve as sites for muscle or ligament attachment.

Question 10

The axial skeleton contains ________.
1) skull
2) scapula
3) True and false ribs
4) vertebrae
5) phalanges
A) 1, 3, 4, 5
B) 1, 3, 4
C) 2, 5
D) 2, 3, 4, 5
E) 1, 2, 3, 5

Accepted Answer

The axial skeleton includes the skull, true and false ribs, and the vertebrae. The scapula and phalanges are part of the appendicular skeleton.

Question 11

The canal that runs through the core of each osteon (Haversian system) contains ________.
A) cartilage and lamellae
B) osteoclasts and osteoblasts
C) yellow marrow and perforating, or Sharpey's, fibers
D) blood vessels and nerve fibers
E) red marrow

Accepted Answer

The canal that runs through the core of each osteon or Haversian system contains blood vessels and nerve fibers. This canal is called the Haversian canal and it is surrounded by concentric rings of bone tissue called lamellae. Option A is incorrect because cartilage is not found in the osteon. Option B is incorrect because osteoclasts and osteoblasts are bone cells and are not found in the canal, but instead in the surrounding bone tissue. Option C is incorrect because yellow marrow and Sharpey's fibers are not found in the Haversian canal, but instead in the periosteum (outer layer of bone) and at the attachment of tendons and ligaments, respectively. Option E is incorrect because red marrow is not found in the Haversian canal, but instead in bones with spongy (cancellous) bone tissue.

Question 12

What determines where bone matrix will be remodeled?
A) sex hormones
B) osteoblasts and osteoclasts
C) the pull of gravity and muscles on the skeleton and calcium ion levels in the blood
D) parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin
E) sodium ion levels in the blood

Accepted Answer

The pull of gravity and muscles on the skeleton and calcium ion levels in the blood determine where bone matrix will be remodeled. This is known as Wolff's law, which states that bone tissue adapts to the loads under which it is placed. Additionally, calcium ion levels in the blood play a role in bone remodeling because osteoclasts will dissolve bone matrix to release calcium ions into the bloodstream when calcium levels are low, while osteoblasts will build new bone matrix when calcium levels are high. The other options, such as sex hormones, PTH and calcitonin, and sodium ion levels, may affect bone health and metabolism but do not determine where bone matrix is remodeled.

Question 13

A fracture in the ________ can impair the lengthwise growth of bones in a child.
A) epiphyseal plate
B) osteoblasts
C) periosteum
D) medullary cavity
E) articular cartilage

Accepted Answer

The epiphyseal plate, also known as the growth plate, is a layer of cartilage that allows for lengthwise bone growth in children. A fracture in this area can disrupt the growth process and potentially lead to bone deformities or unequal limb length.

Question 14

Which of these bones is associated with the hand?
A) talus
B) calcaneus
C) metatarsals
D) tarsals
E) metacarpals

Accepted Answer

Metacarpals are the five long bones in the hand that connect the wrist bones to the bones of the fingers. The talus, calcaneus, metatarsals, and tarsals are all bones associated with the foot.

Question 15

A fracture that is common in osteoporotic bones is a(n) ________.
A) impacted fracture
B) compression fracture
C) spiral fracture
D) depressed fracture
E) simple fracture

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle due to the loss of bone density. This makes them more susceptible to compression fractures, which occur when bones collapse under pressure. Therefore, the most common fracture in osteoporotic bones is a compression fracture.

Question 16

There are four stages in the healing of a bone fracture. Which of the following best illustrates the sequence of these stages?
1) bony callus formation
2) bone remodeling
3) fibrocartilage callus formation
4) hematoma formation
A) 4, 3, 2, 1
B) 4, 3, 1, 2
C) 1, 2, 3, 4
D) 1, 3, 4, 2
E) 1, 3, 2, 4

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence for the healing of a bone fracture is: hematoma formation (4), fibrocartilage callus formation (3), bony callus formation (1), and finally bone remodeling (2).

Question 17

Which spinal curvature is associated with the lower back and appears when a baby begins to walk?
A) cervical
B) primary
C) lumbar
D) thoracic
E) sacral

Accepted Answer

The lumbar curvature is associated with the lower back and appears when a baby begins to walk, as it helps to maintain balance and support the weight of the body in an upright position. The cervical curvature is associated with the neck, the thoracic curvature is associated with the upper back, and the sacral curvature is associated with the pelvic region. The term "primary" is not specific to a particular curvature.

Question 18

Identify the bones that do NOT house a paranasal sinus.
A) frontal bones
B) maxillary bones
C) ethmoid bones
D) sphenoid bones
E) zygomatic bones

Accepted Answer

The zygomatic bones do not house a paranasal sinus.

Question 19

The physician knew her patient was most likely a child before she walked into the examination room because the X-ray revealed a(n) ________.
A) impacted fracture
B) compression fracture
C) comminuted fracture
D) greenstick fracture
E) open fracture

Accepted Answer

Greenstick fractures are common in children whose bones are still developing and are not as brittle as adult bones. Greenstick fractures occur when the bone bends and partially breaks, similar to a green stick breaking. Therefore, the physician would suspect the patient to be a child if an X-ray showed a greenstick fracture.

Question 20

A bone fracture that results in the bone being broken into many fragments is a ________.
A) compound fracture
B) simple fracture
C) comminuted fracture
D) compression fracture
E) greenstick fracture

Accepted Answer

A comminuted fracture is a type of bone fracture where the bone is broken into many fragments. This is in contrast to a simple fracture, where the bone is broken but still in one piece, or a compound fracture where the bone breaks through the skin. Compression fractures are typically seen in the vertebrae due to trauma or osteoporosis, and greenstick fractures are incomplete fractures seen in children's bones where one side of the bone bends but does not break.

Quiz 5: The Skeletal System

Which of the following bones is considered part of the axial skeleton?

What type of bone cell is primarily active when bone growth occurs?

The hyoid bone is unique because it ________.

Bone growth in width that occurs due to weight lifting at age 40 is most likely ________.

Which bones are commonly referred to as the cheekbones?

What kind of tissue is the forerunner of long bones in the embryo?

The fibrous connections between the bones of a fetal skull are ________.

Which of the following could create an open, or compound, fracture?

Which of these bone markings is a projection that serves as a site for muscle or ligament attachment?

The axial skeleton contains ________. 1) skull 2) scapula 3) True and false ribs 4) vertebrae 5) phalanges

The canal that runs through the core of each osteon (Haversian system) contains ________.

What determines where bone matrix will be remodeled?

A fracture in the ________ can impair the lengthwise growth of bones in a child.

Which of these bones is associated with the hand?

A fracture that is common in osteoporotic bones is a(n) ________.

There are four stages in the healing of a bone fracture. Which of the following best illustrates the sequence of these stages? 1) bony callus formation 2) bone remodeling 3) fibrocartilage callus formation 4) hematoma formation

Which spinal curvature is associated with the lower back and appears when a baby begins to walk?

Identify the bones that do NOT house a paranasal sinus.

The physician knew her patient was most likely a child before she walked into the examination room because the X-ray revealed a(n) ________.

A bone fracture that results in the bone being broken into many fragments is a ________.