Anatomy and Physiology MCQs

Anatomy and Physiology Multiple Choice Questions

• What is anatomy?

  • Study of the structure of the human body

• Which branch of anatomy is NOT a branch of anatomy?

  • Pharmacology

• Clinical Scenario: A radiologist observes a chest X-ray.

  • Radiological anatomy is primarily applied

• Which plane divides the body into anterior and posterior sections?

  • Frontal plane

• Which movement occurs in the sagittal plane?

  • Flexion

• Which type of cartilage is found in the external ear?

  • Elastic cartilage

• Hyaline cartilage location EXCEPT:

  • Epiglottis

• Clinical Scenario: A patient presents with damage to the intervertebral disc.

  • Fibrocartilage is involved

• Which of the following is a flat bone?

  • Sternum

• Endochondral ossification primarily occurs in:

  • Long bones

• Clinical Scenario: A child sustains a fracture in the growth plate of a long bone.

  • Metaphysis is affected

• Skeletal muscles differ from smooth muscles because they are:

  • Striated

• Which connective tissue surrounds a muscle fiber:

  • Endomysium

• Clinical Scenario: A surgeon observes a strap muscle.

  • This muscle is classified as pennate

• Which joint is a synovial joint?

  • Knee joint

• The functional classification of joints includes all EXCEPT:

  • Diarthroses

• Clinical Scenario: A patient has a dislocated shoulder.

  • Ball and socket joint affected

• Which vessel primarily regulates blood pressure?

  • Arterioles

• Pulmonary circulation involves blood flow between:

  • Heart and lungs

• Which branch of anatomy studies structures visible to the naked eye?

  • Gross anatomy

• Which imaging technique is useful to study soft tissues?

  • MRI

• Clinical Scenario: A surgeon plans an operation using 3D imaging to locate a tumor.

  • Topographical anatomy aids understanding of spatial relationships

• Which of the following terms refers to movement away from the midline of the body?

  • Abduction

• What is the anatomical term for lying on the back with face upwards?

  • Supine position

• Clinical Scenario: A patient describes difficulty in dorsiflexion of the foot.

  • Sagittal plane is affected

• Which type of cartilage lacks perichondrium?

  • Fibrocartilage

• The primary function of fibrocartilage is:

  • Shock absorption

• Clinical Scenario: A patient with a damaged epiglottis may experience difficulty in which functions?

  • Swallowing

• Which bone is classified as an irregular bone?

  • Vertebra

• Intramembranous ossification occurs in which bone?

  • Clavicle

• Clinical Scenario: A newborn with a defective anterior fontanelle demonstrates abnormal cranial development

  • Intramembranous ossification is likely affected

• Which muscle has intercalated discs?

  • Cardiac muscle

• The gastrocnemius muscle is an example of which architectural type?

  • Pennate

• Clinical Scenario: A surgeon identifies the orbicularis oris muscle.

  • This muscle is classified as circular

• Which joint allows for most movement?

  • Synovial joint

• Which of the following is an example of a pivot joint?

  • Atlantoaxial joint

• Clinical Scenario: A patient presents with pain in the knee joint after a traumatic injury.

  • Articular cartilage is likely damaged

• Which vessel type has the thickest muscular wall?

  • Arteries

• Which of the following describes systemic circulation?

  • Blood flow from the heart to the body and back

• Clinical Scenario: A patient has a blocked coronary artery.

  • Arterial anastomosis can potentially bypass the blockage

• Which large lymphatic duct drains the majority of the body?

  • Thoracic duct

• Clinical Scenario: A patient with breast cancer has enlarged axillary lymph nodes.

  • Spread of cancer cells via lymphatics is indicated

• Which layer of skin contains melanocytes?

  • Epidermis

• Which type of fascia provides a framework for muscles, vessels, and nerves?

  • Deep fascia

• Clinical Scenario: A surgeon observes difficulty in closing an incision.

  • Deep fascia is likely involved

• Which of the following is NOT a function of the lymphatic system?

  • Production of red blood cells

• The thoracic duct drains lymph from all of the following regions EXCEPT:

  • Right upper limb

• Clinical Scenario: A patient with lymphedema of the right arm.

  • Right lymphatic duct is likely blocked

• Elastic cartilage is found in all of the following locations EXCEPT:

  • Epiglottis

• Which is the most abundant type of cartilage?

  • Hyaline cartilage

• Clinical Scenario: A patient suffers from degeneration of articular cartilage in the knee joint.

  • Osteoarthritis

• Which of the following bones is classified as a sesamoid bone?

  • Patella

• The hollow center of a long bone is called:

  • Medullary cavity

• Clinical Scenario: An elderly patient presents with decreased bone density and frequent fractures.

  • Osteoporosis

• Which muscle type is under voluntary control?

  • Skeletal muscle

• Fast muscle fibers differ from slow muscle fibers in that they:

  • Fatigue more quickly

• Clinical Scenario: A patient has difficulty chewing due to weakness in the masseter muscle.

  • This muscle is a parallel muscle

• Which structure serves as the communication link between the brain and the peripheral body?

  • Spinal cord

• The autonomic nervous system controls all of the following EXCEPT:

  • Voluntary muscle movements

• Clinical Scenario: A patient complains of loss of sensation in the lateral forearm and thumb.

  • C6 spinal nerve root is likely involved

• In the CNS, which cells form the blood-brain barrier?

  • Astrocytes

• Clinical Scenario: A patient suffers a complete spinal cord injury at the T10 level.

  • Arm and respiratory movements, and pelvic organ control and lower limb motor function

• The knee joint is classified as which type of joint?

  • Hinge joint

• Which of the following joints allows for the greatest range of motion?

  • Shoulder joint

• Clinical Scenario: A patient with rheumatoid arthritis shows erosion of articular cartilage.

  • Articular cartilage is directly affected

• A gomphosis joint is found between:

  • Tooth and socket

• Clinical Scenario: An athlete experiences shoulder dislocation.

  • Glenohumeral joint is most likely involved

• Which part of a long bone is responsible for growth in length?

  • Epiphyseal plate

• Endochondral ossification primarily occurs in which type of bones?

  • Long bones

• Clinical Scenario: A child presents with bowed legs due to defective mineralization of osteoid.

  • Rickets

• Which bone does NOT develop via intramembranous ossification?

  • Femur

• The cisterna chyli is associated with which structure?

  • Thoracic duct

• Large lymphatic vessels are similar in structure to:

  • Veins

• Clinical Scenario: A surgeon removes lymph nodes from the axilla of a patient with breast cancer.

  • Check for metastatic spread

• Which of the following is a parallel muscle?

  • Rectus abdominis

• Which connective tissue covering surrounds a muscle fiber?

  • Endomysium

• Clinical Scenario: A patient is unable to flex their forearm.

  • Brachialis muscle is likely damaged

• Which of the following is classified as an elastic artery?

  • Carotid artery

• The pulmonary circulation is responsible for:

  • Oxygenation of blood

• Clinical Scenario: A patient suffers from deep vein thrombosis.

  • Formation of a blood clot in a vein

• Tension lines in the skin are primarily determined by:

  • Collagen fibers in the dermis

• The hypodermis is primarily composed of:

  • Loose connective tissue and fat

• Clinical Scenario: A deep wound in the anterior thigh extends into the deep fascia.

  • Muscle is likely injured

• Which branch of anatomy studies structures visible without a microscope?

  • Gross anatomy

• Applied anatomy focuses on:

  • The functional significance of anatomical structures

• Clinical Scenario: A surgeon must navigate around the facial artery during surgery.

  • Surface anatomy aids in identifying its location

• Which term describes a movement that decreases the angle between two bones?

  • Flexion

• Which plane divides the body into anterior and posterior parts?

  • Coronal plane

• Clinical Scenario: During an examination, a patient is asked to rotate their head.

  • This motion occurs in the transverse plane

• Which type of cartilage is found in the intervertebral discs?

  • Fibrocartilage

• The auricle of the ear contains which type of cartilage?

  • Elastic cartilage

• Clinical Scenario: A patient presents with damaged articular cartilage in the knee.

  • Lack of blood supply contributes to poor healing capacity

• Which bone is classified as a flat bone?

  • Scapula

• Which part of a young long bone contains the growth plate?

  • Metaphysis

• Clinical Scenario: A fracture involving the shaft of the humerus would affect which part of the bone?

  • Diaphysis

• Clinical Scenario: A pediatric patient is diagnosed with rickets.

  • The epiphyseal plate is most affected

• Which type of bone cell is responsible for bone resorption?

  • Osteoclast

• Which bone is part of the axial skeleton?

  • Sternum

• Clinical Scenario: A patient with osteoporosis experiences a compression fracture of a vertebra. - Trabecular bone structure makes it prone to this injury

• Which bone is classified as a sesamoid bone?

  • Patella

• What is the name of the process in bone healing where new bone is laid down over a fracture?

  • Callus formation

• Which of the following bones is classified as irregular?

  • Vertebra

• Clinical Scenario: A child falls and fractures their radius. The X-ray shows that the periosteum remains intact.

  • Greenstick fracture

• Which type of joint is united by fibrocartilage and permits limited movement?

  • Symphysis

• What type of joint is the first sternocostal joint?

  • Primary cartilaginous joint

• Clinical Scenario: A patient has difficulty flexing the elbow due to arthritis.

  • Hinge joint is primarily involved

• The articular cartilage in synovial joints is made up of:

  • Hyaline cartilage

• Which of the following is an example of a pivot joint?

  • Atlantoaxial joint

• Clinical Scenario: A patient presents with swelling, redness, and restricted movement in the knee joint after a traumatic injury.

  • The likely structure involved is the synovial membrane

• Which joint exhibits biaxial movement?

  • Condyloid joint

• What type of joint is the pubic symphysis?

  • Secondary cartilaginous joint

• Clinical Scenario: A 35-year-old presents with a "clicking" sound during jaw movements.

  • Temporomandibular joint is affected

• Which ligament prevents hyperextension of the knee joint?

  • Anterior cruciate ligament

• Which of the following bones is formed by intramembranous ossification?

  • Parietal bone

• Clinical Scenario: A patient has a fracture at the growth plate of the tibia. - This is called epiphyseal fracture

• Which type of bone is classified as a pneumatic bone?

  • Sternum

• Which part of a long bone is covered by articular cartilage?

  • Epiphysis

• What is the primary structural unit of compact bone?

  • Haversian system

• Clinical Scenario: A 10-year-old with vitamin D deficiency presents with bowed legs. The X-ray reveals poorly calcified bone.

  • Osteomalacia

• Which component of bone contains blood vessels and nerves?

  • Periosteum

• Which of the following is a sesamoid bone?

  • Patella

• Clinical Scenario: A patient undergoes an X-ray showing excessive osteoclastic activity and increased bone resorption

  • Osteoporosis is the likely diagnosis

• Which type of bone contains trabeculae?

  • Spongy bone

• Which of the following bones is an example of a short bone?

  • Carpal bones

• Clinical Scenario: A fracture of the clavicle is diagnosed as a greenstick fracture. In which group of patients is this type of fracture most common?

  • Adolescents

• Which of the following is a primary function of red bone marrow?

  • Hematopoiesis

• What is the name of the region where the diaphysis and epiphysis meet in a long bone?

  • Metaphysis

• Clinical Scenario: A patient with multiple fractures shows callus formation on X-ray. What is the role of the callus in fracture healing?

  • Stabilizes the fracture by forming new bone

Test your knowledge with this multiple-choice quiz on Anatomy and Physiology. Covering topics from the structure of the human body to specific types of cartilage, this quiz will challenge your understanding of human anatomy principles.