MCQ Quiz: Integumentary System

The integumentary system, primarily the skin, is the body’s first line of defense and a critical topic for B.Pharm students. Understanding its complex structure and diverse functions, from protection and temperature regulation to its role in sensation and vitamin D synthesis, is essential. This knowledge provides a vital foundation for comprehending transdermal drug delivery, topical medication effects, and various dermatological conditions you will encounter in your pharmaceutical studies.


  1. What is the outermost layer of the skin?
    • Dermis
    • Hypodermis
    • Epidermis
    • Subcutaneous layer
    Answer: Epidermis
  2. Which of the following is the primary function of the skin?
    • Production of blood cells
    • Protection from environmental hazards
    • Digestion of nutrients
    • Regulation of heart rate
    Answer: Protection from environmental hazards
  3. The epidermis is composed of which type of epithelial tissue?
    • Simple cuboidal epithelium
    • Stratified squamous epithelium
    • Transitional epithelium
    • Simple columnar epithelium
    Answer: Stratified squamous epithelium
  4. Which layer of the epidermis is responsible for the continuous production of new cells?
    • Stratum corneum
    • Stratum granulosum
    • Stratum basale
    • Stratum lucidum
    Answer: Stratum basale
  5. The pigment responsible for skin and hair color is:
    • Hemoglobin
    • Keratin
    • Melanin
    • Collagen
    Answer: Melanin
  6. Which cells in the epidermis produce melanin?
    • Keratinocytes
    • Melanocytes
    • Langerhans cells
    • Merkel cells
    Answer: Melanocytes
  7. The dermis is primarily composed of which tissue type?
    • Epithelial tissue
    • Muscle tissue
    • Nervous tissue
    • Connective tissue
    Answer: Connective tissue
  8. Which structures are responsible for fingerprints?
    • Dermal papillae
    • Hair follicles
    • Sebaceous glands
    • Sweat glands
    Answer: Dermal papillae
  9. What is the main protein found in skin, hair, and nails?
    • Elastin
    • Collagen
    • Keratin
    • Melanin
    Answer: Keratin
  10. Which glands are associated with hair follicles and produce sebum?
    • Sudoriferous glands
    • Apocrine glands
    • Sebaceous glands
    • Eccrine glands
    Answer: Sebaceous glands
  11. What is the primary function of sebum?
    • To cool the skin
    • To lubricate the skin and hair
    • To produce pigment
    • To detect sensory information
    Answer: To lubricate the skin and hair
  12. The sweat glands that are widely distributed over the body and function in temperature regulation are called:
    • Sebaceous glands
    • Apocrine glands
    • Eccrine glands
    • Mammary glands
    Answer: Eccrine glands
  13. Which layer of the skin contains blood vessels, nerves, and glands?
    • Epidermis
    • Dermis
    • Stratum corneum
    • Hypodermis
    Answer: Dermis
  14. The subcutaneous layer or hypodermis primarily consists of:
    • Epithelial tissue
    • Adipose tissue
    • Dense regular connective tissue
    • Reticular tissue
    Answer: Adipose tissue
  15. What is the function of the arrector pili muscle?
    • To produce sweat
    • To secrete sebum
    • To make hair stand on end
    • To detect touch
    Answer: To make hair stand on end
  16. Nails are modifications of which epidermal layer?
    • Stratum basale
    • Stratum spinosum
    • Stratum lucidum
    • Stratum corneum
    Answer: Stratum corneum
  17. The synthesis of which vitamin begins in the skin upon exposure to UV radiation?
    • Vitamin A
    • Vitamin C
    • Vitamin D
    • Vitamin K
    Answer: Vitamin D
  18. Which layer of the epidermis is present only in the thick skin of the palms and soles?
    • Stratum basale
    • Stratum granulosum
    • Stratum lucidum
    • Stratum spinosum
    Answer: Stratum lucidum
  19. The cells in the epidermis that play a role in the immune response are:
    • Melanocytes
    • Keratinocytes
    • Merkel cells
    • Langerhans cells
    Answer: Langerhans cells
  20. Which of the following is NOT a function of the integumentary system?
    • Thermoregulation
    • Protection
    • Vitamin B synthesis
    • Sensation
    Answer: Vitamin B synthesis
  21. The visible part of the hair that projects above the skin surface is the:
    • Root
    • Shaft
    • Follicle
    • Bulb
    Answer: Shaft
  22. What is the most numerous cell type in the epidermis?
    • Melanocytes
    • Keratinocytes
    • Langerhans cells
    • Merkel cells
    Answer: Keratinocytes
  23. Body temperature regulation is primarily managed by:
    • Sebaceous glands
    • Sudoriferous glands
    • Arrector pili muscles
    • Hair follicles
    Answer: Sudoriferous glands
  24. The “true skin” that contains the accessory structures is the:
    • Epidermis
    • Hypodermis
    • Dermis
    • Subcutaneous layer
    Answer: Dermis
  25. Which sensory receptors in the skin are responsible for detecting deep pressure?
    • Meissner’s corpuscles
    • Pacinian corpuscles
    • Merkel discs
    • Free nerve endings
    Answer: Pacinian corpuscles
  26. What is the function of collagen fibers in the dermis?
    • To provide elasticity
    • To provide strength and toughness
    • To store fat
    • To produce pigment
    Answer: To provide strength and toughness
  27. Apocrine sweat glands are most concentrated in which areas?
    • Forehead and neck
    • Palms and soles
    • Axillary and genital regions
    • Back and chest
    Answer: Axillary and genital regions
  28. The nail body or plate rests on which part of the finger?
    • Nail bed
    • Lunula
    • Cuticle
    • Free edge
    Answer: Nail bed
  29. Which of the following is a protective function of the skin?
    • Preventing water loss
    • Producing hormones
    • Storing minerals
    • Filtering blood
    Answer: Preventing water loss
  30. The layer that separates the epidermis from the dermis is the:
    • Subcutaneous layer
    • Basement membrane
    • Hypodermis
    • Arrector pili
    Answer: Basement membrane
  31. What is the consequence of the epidermis being avascular?
    • It cannot protect the body.
    • It does not contain nerves.
    • It relies on the dermis for nutrients and oxygen.
    • It cannot produce new cells.
    Answer: It relies on the dermis for nutrients and oxygen.
  32. The half-moon shaped white area at the base of the nail is called the:
    • Cuticle
    • Nail root
    • Lunula
    • Eponychium
    Answer: Lunula
  33. Which glands begin to function at puberty and are involved in producing body odor?
    • Eccrine glands
    • Sebaceous glands
    • Apocrine glands
    • Salivary glands
    Answer: Apocrine glands
  34. The process of shedding the outer layer of dead skin cells is called:
    • Keratinization
    • Desquamation
    • Melanization
    • Vasodilation
    Answer: Desquamation
  35. Tactile (Merkel) cells are associated with:
    • The sense of pain
    • The sense of temperature
    • The sense of touch
    • The sense of pressure
    Answer: The sense of touch
  36. The flexibility and elasticity of the skin are provided by:
    • Keratin and melanin
    • Collagen and elastic fibers
    • Adipose and areolar tissue
    • Sebaceous and sweat glands
    Answer: Collagen and elastic fibers
  37. Which part of the hair contains the cells that undergo division and cause hair growth?
    • Shaft
    • Cortex
    • Cuticle
    • Hair matrix (in the bulb)
    Answer: Hair matrix (in the bulb)
  38. How does the skin help in cooling the body?
    • By shivering
    • By producing sebum
    • By evaporating sweat
    • By constricting blood vessels
    Answer: By evaporating sweat
  39. Which skin condition is caused by the inflammation of sebaceous glands?
    • Eczema
    • Psoriasis
    • Acne
    • Rosacea
    Answer: Acne
  40. The waterproof nature of the skin is primarily due to:
    • Melanin in the epidermis
    • Keratin and lipids in the stratum corneum
    • Collagen in the dermis
    • The abundant blood supply
    Answer: Keratin and lipids in the stratum corneum
  41. From deep to superficial, what are the main layers of the skin?
    • Dermis, Hypodermis, Epidermis
    • Hypodermis, Dermis, Epidermis
    • Epidermis, Dermis, Hypodermis
    • Dermis, Epidermis, Hypodermis
    Answer: Hypodermis, Dermis, Epidermis
  42. What is the medical term for the cuticle of a nail?
    • Lunula
    • Hyponychium
    • Eponychium
    • Nail matrix
    Answer: Eponychium
  43. The skin’s ability to perceive stimuli like touch, pressure, temperature, and pain is known as:
    • Absorption
    • Excretion
    • Cutaneous sensation
    • Thermoregulation
    Answer: Cutaneous sensation
  44. Which is the thickest layer of the epidermis?
    • Stratum basale
    • Stratum spinosum
    • Stratum granulosum
    • Stratum corneum
    Answer: Stratum corneum
  45. What is the primary role of the subcutaneous (hypodermis) layer?
    • To produce new skin cells
    • To provide insulation and anchor the skin
    • To produce melanin
    • To provide waterproofing
    Answer: To provide insulation and anchor the skin
  46. Goosebumps are caused by the action of:
    • Sudoriferous glands
    • Pacinian corpuscles
    • Arrector pili muscles
    • Sebaceous glands
    Answer: Arrector pili muscles
  47. The secretion from eccrine glands is composed mostly of:
    • Sebum and dead cells
    • Water, salts, and urea
    • Lipids and proteins
    • Melanin and keratin
    Answer: Water, salts, and urea
  48. Which of the following best describes the dermis?
    • Avascular and made of epithelial cells
    • A strong, flexible connective tissue layer
    • The deepest layer composed mainly of fat
    • The most superficial, protective layer
    Answer: A strong, flexible connective tissue layer
  49. Hair, nails, and glands are known as ______ of the skin.
    • layers
    • accessory structures
    • main components
    • sensory receptors
    Answer: accessory structures
  50. The loss of which type of fiber in the dermis contributes to wrinkling of the skin?
    • Reticular fibers
    • Keratin fibers
    • Elastic and collagen fibers
    • Fibrin fibers
    Answer: Elastic and collagen fibers

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