Anatomy and Physiology: Correcting Common Misconceptions

The elbow is distal to the shoulder.

Isotopes differ in neutron number.

These bones have thin plates of spongy bone covered by compact bone.

The temporal bone connects to the mandibular fossa via the zygomatic process NOT the temporal process.

The wrist joint can exhibit abduction and adduction movements, BUT NOT eversion.

Once a motor neuron has fired, all the muscle fibers in a motor unit contract.

Facial muscles insert into skin or other muscles, not bone.

Strong stimuli cause the frequency of action potentials generated to increase, NOT the amplitude.

The three basic regions of the cerebrum are the cerebral cortical gray matter, internal white matter, and the basal nuclei.

Somatic and visceral reflex arcs are similar, visceral reflex arcs lack afferent fibers (visceral sensory neurons). This is FALSE.

The glycocalyx composed of glycolipids, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans molecules displayed on the outside surface of the plasma membrane NOT cholesterol.

Merocrine glands produce their secretions by exocytosis, NOT cell rupture.

Joe's burn is a second-degree burn, as it's quite painful (implying nerve involvement) but NOT third-degree.

Muscles that help to maintain posture are best described as fixators NOT synergists.

Because many cardiac cells are innervated, the influence is antagonistic, divisions usually oppose each other to maintain balance.

Embryology concerns the structural changes that occur in an individual from conception through birth NOT old age.

A dipeptide can be broken into two amino acids by hydrolysis NOT dehydration synthesis.

DNA replication requires an enzyme called DNA polymerase and results in a semiconserved molecule of DNA NOT RNA polymerase.

When a patient is said to have "third-degree burns," this indicates that the patient has burns that cover the entire body (full thickness burn).

The hormone that is primarily involved in the control of bone remodeling is parathyroid hormone (PTH), NOT calcitonin.

The shallow socket of the shoulder joint does NOT restrict dislocation of the humerus and main contributor to the stability of the joint instead it contains tendons and ligaments of rotator cuff muscles.

The all-or-none phenomenon as applied to nerve conduction states that the whole nerve cell must be stimulated to its threshold NOT simply stimulated for conduction to take place.

All splanchnic nerves are NOT parasympathetic NOT sympathetic.

Osmosis is the passive movement of water, but it follows directly opposite laws of physics when compared to the diffusion of ions or other small particles.

Cells in the stratum corneum undergo mitosis to keep the layer thick and protective , instead they are dead NOT undergo mitosis

Microfilaments are thin strands of the protein composed of actin to form the thin filament that form of a muscle, instead of myosin.

The reason that the nail bed appears pink is the presence of a highly vascular dermis NOT melanocytes in the underlying dermis.

The periosteum is a tissue that has nerves and blood vessels that is necessary for bone function. This tissue does much more than protect the bone.

The mastoid sinuses are located at a point in the inferior skull that allows for the drainage of any infections. This is why they don't usually get infected.

ẞ-adrenergic receptors are not the only ones instead α-adrenergic receptors are also found on the heart.

Thick skin has extensive number of sweat glands and sensory receptors, instead of a more extensive dermal layer.

Lordosis affects the lumbar vertebrae due to the curvature.

All vertebrae possess a body, a spine and transverse process (not foramina).

Reciprocal inhibition means that while one sensory nerve is stimulated, another sensory neuron for an antagonistic muscle in the same area is inhibited and connot respond.

The autonomic and somatic systems are completely independent. They do overlap in areas such as temperature regulation.

The basic difference between dense irregular and dense regular connective tissue is the arrangement of collagen fibers NOT the amount.

Short, irregular and flat bones do not have medullary cavities. Only long bones have medullary cavities.

Endocrine glands are often called ductless glands, not ducted glands. Exocrine are ducted

The largest and strongest bone of the face is the mandible, not the maxilla.