MCQ Quiz: Skeletal System

The skeletal system serves as the body’s essential framework, providing support, protection, and enabling movement. For B.Pharm students, understanding its structure, from the axial and appendicular divisions to the classification of bones and joints, is crucial. This knowledge underpins key pharmacological concepts, including the mechanisms of drugs used for bone disorders, the pharmacokinetics of agents that bind to bone tissue, and understanding musculoskeletal side effects. Let’s test your foundational knowledge.


  1. Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the skeletal system?
    • Support and protection
    • Blood cell production
    • Hormone secretion
    • Storage of minerals
    Answer: Hormone secretion
  2. The skeletal system is divided into which two major parts?
    • Upper and lower skeleton
    • Medial and lateral skeleton
    • Axial and appendicular skeleton
    • Superior and inferior skeleton
    Answer: Axial and appendicular skeleton
  3. Bones such as the femur and humerus are classified as which type of bone?
    • Short bones
    • Long bones
    • Flat bones
    • Irregular bones
    Answer: Long bones
  4. The axial skeleton includes which of the following groups of bones?
    • Skull, vertebral column, and rib cage
    • Upper and lower limbs
    • Pectoral and pelvic girdles
    • Arms, legs, hands, and feet
    Answer: Skull, vertebral column, and rib cage
  5. Which bone is part of the appendicular skeleton?
    • Sternum
    • Ribs
    • Vertebrae
    • Clavicle
    Answer: Clavicle
  6. The process of blood cell formation that occurs in the red bone marrow is called:
    • Osteogenesis
    • Hemopoiesis
    • Ossification
    • Myogenesis
    Answer: Hemopoiesis
  7. An immovable joint, such as the sutures of the skull, is functionally classified as a(n):
    • Diarthrosis
    • Amphiarthrosis
    • Synarthrosis
    • Syndesmosis
    Answer: Synarthrosis
  8. The shaft of a long bone is called the:
    • Epiphysis
    • Diaphysis
    • Metaphysis
    • Periosteum
    Answer: Diaphysis
  9. Which type of joint is characterized by the presence of a fluid-filled joint cavity?
    • Fibrous joint
    • Cartilaginous joint
    • Synovial joint
    • Suture
    Answer: Synovial joint
  10. The bones of the wrist (carpals) are examples of:
    • Long bones
    • Flat bones
    • Short bones
    • Irregular bones
    Answer: Short bones
  11. Which of the following is a bone of the pectoral girdle?
    • Sternum
    • Scapula
    • Humerus
    • Rib
    Answer: Scapula
  12. The movement of a limb away from the midline of the body is known as:
    • Adduction
    • Flexion
    • Extension
    • Abduction
    Answer: Abduction
  13. Which type of joint allows for the greatest range of motion?
    • Hinge joint
    • Pivot joint
    • Ball-and-socket joint
    • Saddle joint
    Answer: Ball-and-socket joint
  14. The vertebral column is part of the:
    • Appendicular skeleton
    • Axial skeleton
    • Pelvic girdle
    • Pectoral girdle
    Answer: Axial skeleton
  15. What is the function of articular cartilage in a synovial joint?
    • To produce synovial fluid
    • To connect bones to muscles
    • To reduce friction and absorb shock
    • To supply nutrients to the bone
    Answer: To reduce friction and absorb shock
  16. The shoulder and hip joints are examples of which type of synovial joint?
    • Hinge
    • Pivot
    • Plane
    • Ball-and-socket
    Answer: Ball-and-socket
  17. Decreasing the angle between two bones is called:
    • Extension
    • Abduction
    • Flexion
    • Adduction
    Answer: Flexion
  18. The ribs and sternum are examples of which type of bone?
    • Long bones
    • Flat bones
    • Short bones
    • Irregular bones
    Answer: Flat bones
  19. A slightly movable joint is functionally classified as a(n):
    • Synarthrosis
    • Diarthrosis
    • Amphiarthrosis
    • Synovial
    Answer: Amphiarthrosis
  20. Which bone is the longest and strongest bone in the human body?
    • Humerus
    • Tibia
    • Femur
    • Fibula
    Answer: Femur
  21. The joints between the vertebrae of the backbone are examples of:
    • Fibrous joints
    • Cartilaginous joints
    • Hinge joints
    • Ball-and-socket joints
    Answer: Cartilaginous joints
  22. Rotating the forearm so that the palm faces posteriorly or inferiorly is called:
    • Supination
    • Pronation
    • Inversion
    • Eversion
    Answer: Pronation
  23. The skull protects which vital organ?
    • Heart
    • Lungs
    • Brain
    • Spinal cord
    Answer: Brain
  24. The bones of the arms and legs belong to the:
    • Axial skeleton
    • Appendicular skeleton
    • Vertebral skeleton
    • Thoracic skeleton
    Answer: Appendicular skeleton
  25. The fibrous membrane that covers the outer surface of a bone is the:
    • Endosteum
    • Periosteum
    • Articular cartilage
    • Diaphysis
    Answer: Periosteum
  26. What is the function of synovial fluid?
    • To form new bone cells
    • To provide oxygen to the joint
    • To lubricate the joint and nourish cartilage
    • To connect the bones together
    Answer: To lubricate the joint and nourish cartilage
  27. The movement of turning the sole of the foot inward is called:
    • Dorsiflexion
    • Plantar flexion
    • Eversion
    • Inversion
    Answer: Inversion
  28. The vertebrae are examples of which type of bone?
    • Long bones
    • Short bones
    • Flat bones
    • Irregular bones
    Answer: Irregular bones
  29. Which of the following bones is NOT part of the axial skeleton?
    • Malleus (ear ossicle)
    • Hyoid bone
    • Patella
    • Sternum
    Answer: Patella
  30. A freely movable joint is functionally classified as a(n):
    • Synarthrosis
    • Diarthrosis
    • Amphiarthrosis
    • Suture
    Answer: Diarthrosis
  31. The ends of a long bone are known as the:
    • Diaphysis
    • Periosteum
    • Epiphyses
    • Medullary cavity
    Answer: Epiphyses
  32. Moving a part of the body superiorly, such as shrugging the shoulders, is called:
    • Depression
    • Protraction
    • Retraction
    • Elevation
    Answer: Elevation
  33. The joint between the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae allows for which movement?
    • Flexion
    • Extension
    • Rotation of the head
    • Abduction
    Answer: Rotation of the head
  34. Which of the following best describes a fibrous joint?
    • Lacks a synovial cavity, bones held by cartilage
    • Contains a synovial cavity, freely movable
    • Lacks a synovial cavity, bones held by dense fibrous connective tissue
    • Contains a fluid-filled cavity, slightly movable
    Answer: Lacks a synovial cavity, bones held by dense fibrous connective tissue
  35. The appendicular skeleton is composed of the:
    • Skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum
    • Limbs and the girdles that attach them to the axial skeleton
    • Ribs and thoracic vertebrae
    • Bones of the head and trunk
    Answer: Limbs and the girdles that attach them to the axial skeleton
  36. Straightening a joint beyond its anatomical position is called:
    • Flexion
    • Extension
    • Hyperextension
    • Abduction
    Answer: Hyperextension
  37. The pelvic girdle is formed by the:
    • Clavicle and scapula
    • Two hip bones (coxal bones)
    • Femur and tibia
    • Ribs and sternum
    Answer: Two hip bones (coxal bones)
  38. The elbow joint, which allows for flexion and extension, is an example of a:
    • Ball-and-socket joint
    • Hinge joint
    • Pivot joint
    • Gliding joint
    Answer: Hinge joint
  39. Which of the following is a structural classification of joints?
    • Synarthrosis
    • Amphiarthrosis
    • Diarthrosis
    • Synovial
    Answer: Synovial
  40. The bones that form the palms of the hands are the:
    • Carpals
    • Metacarpals
    • Tarsals
    • Phalanges
    Answer: Metacarpals
  41. Pointing the toes downward, as when standing on tiptoe, is called:
    • Inversion
    • Eversion
    • Dorsiflexion
    • Plantar flexion
    Answer: Plantar flexion
  42. The primary mineral stored by the skeletal system is:
    • Iron
    • Potassium
    • Calcium
    • Sodium
    Answer: Calcium
  43. Sutures are what type of joint?
    • Cartilaginous
    • Synovial
    • Fibrous
    • Ball-and-socket
    Answer: Fibrous
  44. The collarbone is also known as the:
    • Scapula
    • Sternum
    • Clavicle
    • Humerus
    Answer: Clavicle
  45. Which of the following is a function of the rib cage?
    • To protect the heart and lungs
    • To support the head
    • To allow for extensive rotation of the trunk
    • To produce blood cells
    Answer: To protect the heart and lungs
  46. Moving the thumb to touch the tips of the other fingers on the same hand is called:
    • Reposition
    • Opposition
    • Supination
    • Protraction
    Answer: Opposition
  47. The kneecap is an example of what type of bone?
    • Long bone
    • Flat bone
    • Irregular bone
    • Sesamoid bone
    Answer: Sesamoid bone
  48. Which of the following movements occurs at a pivot joint?
    • Flexion
    • Abduction
    • Rotation
    • Gliding
    Answer: Rotation
  49. The shin bone is the:
    • Fibula
    • Femur
    • Tibia
    • Patella
    Answer: Tibia
  50. What is the structural unit of compact bone?
    • Trabeculae
    • Osteon
    • Lamella
    • Canaliculus
    Answer: Osteon

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