Question 1

How many bones are in the human body?
A) 203
B) 206
C) 300
D) 308

Accepted Answer

The human body has 206 bones. This is the commonly accepted number, although some sources may give slightly different totals depending on how they classify certain bones (e.g. whether they count each of the bones in the skull separately or collectively).

Question 2

You have fractured your bone and your physician is explaining the healing process to you. She tells you that after the blood clot forms, the next step is the development of the callus. Which of the following describes the structure of the callus?
A) spongy bone
B) compact bone
C) cartilage
D) osteoclasts

Accepted Answer

The callus that forms during the healing process of a bone fracture is primarily made up of cartilage. This cartilaginous callus serves as a temporary bridge for the new bone to grow across the fracture site.

Question 3

Human growth hormone (HGH) can be used to treat patients with pituitary dwarfism. Today, parents are getting HGH injections for their children to provide an advantage in sports or to enhance their appearance by making them taller. Based on what you know about the process of bone lengthening, what is the most appropriate age group to begin such injections?
A) 3- to 6-year-olds
B) 7- to 10-year-olds
C) 18- to 21-year-olds
D) 21- to 30-year-olds

Accepted Answer

The most appropriate age group to begin HGH injections for bone lengthening is between 7 to 10 years old. This is because by this age, the epiphyseal growth plates at the ends of long bones are still open, allowing for additional bone growth. Beginning HGH injections at a younger age (3 to 6 years old) may lead to overgrowth and potential health problems, while starting later in adulthood (18 to 30 years old) may have limited effectiveness, as the growth plates have already closed.

Question 4

Why do women experience the symptoms of osteoporosis more acutely than men?
A) Women have less bone mass and produce less estrogen later in life; these factors accelerate calcium loss.
B) Women have less muscle mass and don't exercise as much.
C) Men don't produce estrogen, so they don't rely on it as much as women do.
D) Men take in more calcium in their diet, so they can't get osteoporosis.

Accepted Answer

Women typically have smaller and lighter bones than men, and they produce less estrogen as they age. Estrogen helps to protect bones by inhibiting bone resorption (breakdown) and promoting bone formation. Therefore, the decrease in estrogen production after menopause can lead to a more rapid loss of bone mass, making women more vulnerable to osteoporosis.

Question 5

Which of the following cells form new bone in bone tissue?
A) osteons
B) osteoblasts
C) osteocytes
D) fibroblasts

Accepted Answer

Osteoblasts are bone-forming cells that produce the organic matrix of bone tissue. They are responsible for depositing new bone and are essential for bone growth and remodeling.

Question 6

Calcium intake is important for women during pregnancy. If a woman for whatever reason does not get enough calcium in her diet during pregnancy, what is likely to happen to her bone tissue?
A) She will experience severe bone loss due to the loss of estrogen production during pregnancy.
B) She may experience some bone loss due to the lack of calcium in her diet, but nothing significant.
C) She may experience significant bone loss due to both the lack of dietary calcium and the fact that the fetus requires extra calcium, which will be removed from her own bone tissue.
D) The fetus will be born without a skeleton.

Accepted Answer

During pregnancy, the growing fetus requires a significant amount of calcium for skeletal development. If the mother's diet is deficient in calcium, the body will retrieve calcium from the mother's bone tissue, leading to significant bone loss. This is especially true in the third trimester when the fetus requires the most calcium. Therefore, it is crucial for pregnant women to ensure they are consuming an adequate amount of calcium to support both their own bone health and the development of their growing baby's bones.

Question 7

Which hormone causes calcium to be released from bone into the bloodstream?
A) Boniva
B) estrogen
C) calcitonin
D) parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Accepted Answer

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the hormone responsible for increasing calcium levels in the bloodstream by stimulating the release of calcium from bone.

Question 8

Where would we find yellow bone marrow?
A) in the flat bones of the skull
B) surrounding the outside of the long bones
C) surrounding the outside of the flat bones
D) in the shaft of the long bones

Accepted Answer

Yellow bone marrow is found in the shaft (medullary cavity) of the long bones.

Question 9

Which of the following are the bones that form the bridge of the nose?
A) occipital
B) sphenoid
C) nasal
D) temporal

Accepted Answer

The bones that form the bridge of the nose are called nasal bones.

Question 10

Astronauts returning to Earth from an extended stay in space have to be extremely careful not to break a bone. It takes several weeks to restore normal bone strength. Which would be the best regimen to rebuild the lost bone tissue?
A) Stay inactive, avoiding exercise until the lost bone tissue is rebuilt.
B) Hit the gym and get going with a few weeks of heavy weight lifting.
C) Several weeks of swimming will rebuild all lost bone mass.
D) Start with walking and build up to jogging, with an extra regimen of light weight lifting in the gym.

Accepted Answer

Gradual weight-bearing exercise, such as walking and jogging, can help rebuild lost bone tissue. Light weightlifting can also be added to promote bone growth. Swimming is a good exercise for overall fitness, but it is not effective in rebuilding lost bone mass. Remaining inactive will not do anything to rebuild lost bone tissue. Heavy weight lifting can be too intense and may increase the risk of injury.

Question 11

Too much calcium in the bloodstream, a condition called hypercalcemia, can be very dangerous. The thyroid gland releases a hormone, calcitonin, when calcium is too high. How does calcitonin lower calcium levels in the blood? A) It reduces osteoclast activity and increases osteoblast activity. B) It increases osteoclast activity and reduces osteoblast activity. C) It reduces both osteoclast and osteoblast activity. D) It increases both osteoclast and osteoblast activity.

Accepted Answer

Calcitonin reduces osteoclast activity, which are cells that break down bone tissue and release calcium into the bloodstream. At the same time, calcitonin increases osteoblast activity, which are cells that build new bone tissue and use up calcium from the bloodstream. This overall process results in a lowering of calcium levels in the bloodstream.

Question 12

Which of the following is incorrect about the human skeleton?
A) It can release phosphorous.
B) It can store fat.
C) It can produce blood cells.
D) It is composed only of a solid nonliving matrix.

Accepted Answer

The statement that the human skeleton is composed only of a solid nonliving matrix is incorrect. The human skeleton includes bones, cartilage, and connective tissue, which are all living tissues that can grow, repair, and remodel throughout life. Bones, in particular, are composed of both organic and inorganic components, including living bone cells (osteocytes), collagen fibers, and minerals such as calcium and phosphorous.

Question 13

Which of the following occurs after a calcium-rich meal?
A) Parathyroid hormone stimulates the activities of osteoblasts and removes calcium from the blood.
B) Calcitonin removes calcium from the blood and stimulates the activities of osteoclasts.
C) Parathyroid hormone is released by the thyroid gland to inhibit the activities of osteoclasts.
D) Calcitonin stimulates the activities of osteoblasts and removes calcium from the blood.

Accepted Answer

After a calcium-rich meal, the calcium levels in the blood increase. This triggers the thyroid gland to release calcitonin, which stimulates the activities of osteoblasts (cells that build new bone tissue) and removes excess calcium from the blood, depositing it in the bones. This helps to regulate calcium levels in the blood and prevent hypercalcemia.

Question 14

The number of bones in a newborn exceeds the number of bones in an adult. Why would the number of bones decrease over time?
A) Some bones are lost when they are replaced by adult versions, like the loss of baby teeth.
B) As some bones grow larger, others do not and are no longer needed.
C) The bones of a baby are more fragile than an adult, so more are needed to support the weight of the body.
D) Some of the bones of babies will eventually fuse together to become one larger bone.

Accepted Answer

Many of the bones in a baby's body are still in separate pieces, called ossification centers, and have not yet fused together. Over time, these ossification centers will fuse, resulting in the number of bones decreasing as multiple bones become one larger bone.

Question 15

Which of these cranial bones separates the cranial cavity from the nasal cavity and provides the olfactory nerves with access to the brain?
A) temporal
B) foramen magnum
C) sphenoid
D) ethmoid

Accepted Answer

The ethmoid bone is located between the two orbits and forms part of the nasal septum, separating the nasal cavity from the cranial cavity. It also contains several small perforations called cribriform plates, which allow the olfactory nerves to pass through and provide the sense of smell.

Question 16

Forensic scientists may have to identify an adult victim who was lost in the wilderness years ago from the remains found by a hiker. What type of evidence from the bones would they look for to determine the age of the person?
A) the size of the bones and the condition of the growth plate
B) the number of bones
C) any broken bones because the bones of the elderly break easily
D) The bones do not yield much information that can help to determine age.

Accepted Answer

Forensic scientists would look at the size of the bones and the condition of the growth plate to determine the age of the person. As a person ages, their bones become smaller and their growth plate becomes thinner, eventually disappearing altogether. By examining these factors, forensic scientists can estimate the age range of the individual.

Question 17

In the spongy bone, which of the following produces blood cells?
A) yellow marrow
B) osteons
C) osteocytes
D) red marrow

Accepted Answer

Red marrow is found in spongy bone and is responsible for producing blood cells. Yellow marrow, found in the medullary cavity of long bones, contains fat and functions in energy storage. Osteons and osteocytes are structures and cells found in both spongy and compact bone, but they are not responsible for producing blood cells.

Question 18

Which of the following covers compact bone and functions in bone repair and growth?
A) endosteum
B) periosteum
C) diaphysis
D) epiphysis

Accepted Answer

The periosteum covers the compact bone and plays a role in bone repair and growth. The endosteum lines the inside of the medullary cavity and inner surfaces of the trabeculae. The diaphysis is the shaft of a long bone, while the epiphysis is the ends of a long bone.

Question 19

Which of the following is not a function of the skeletal system?
A) protects internal organs
B) releases stored calcium and phosphorus when the body needs to use them
C) produces blood cells
D) produces muscle cells

Accepted Answer

The skeletal system does not produce muscle cells. It provides support and protection for organs, produces blood cells (in the bone marrow), and stores calcium and phosphorus for the body to use when needed.

Question 20

Membranous areas in the infant skull that join bones and function to allow for rapid growth of the brain are known as ________.
A) fibrous membrane
B) osteocytes
C) fontanels
D) lacunae

Accepted Answer

Fontanels are membranous areas in an infant's skull that allow for rapid growth of the brain and eventually ossify into bones.

Quiz 6: The Skeletal System

How many bones are in the human body?

You have fractured your bone and your physician is explaining the healing process to you. She tells you that after the blood clot forms, the next step is the development of the callus. Which of the following describes the structure of the callus?

Why do women experience the symptoms of osteoporosis more acutely than men?

Which of the following cells form new bone in bone tissue?

Calcium intake is important for women during pregnancy. If a woman for whatever reason does not get enough calcium in her diet during pregnancy, what is likely to happen to her bone tissue?

Which hormone causes calcium to be released from bone into the bloodstream?

Where would we find yellow bone marrow?

Which of the following are the bones that form the bridge of the nose?

Astronauts returning to Earth from an extended stay in space have to be extremely careful not to break a bone. It takes several weeks to restore normal bone strength. Which would be the best regimen to rebuild the lost bone tissue?

Too much calcium in the bloodstream, a condition called hypercalcemia, can be very dangerous. The thyroid gland releases a hormone, calcitonin, when calcium is too high. How does calcitonin lower calcium levels in the blood?

Which of the following is incorrect about the human skeleton?

Which of the following occurs after a calcium-rich meal?

The number of bones in a newborn exceeds the number of bones in an adult. Why would the number of bones decrease over time?

Which of these cranial bones separates the cranial cavity from the nasal cavity and provides the olfactory nerves with access to the brain?

Forensic scientists may have to identify an adult victim who was lost in the wilderness years ago from the remains found by a hiker. What type of evidence from the bones would they look for to determine the age of the person?

In the spongy bone, which of the following produces blood cells?

Which of the following covers compact bone and functions in bone repair and growth?

Which of the following is not a function of the skeletal system?

Membranous areas in the infant skull that join bones and function to allow for rapid growth of the brain are known as ________.