BHK Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) responds primarily to:
- Rapid changes in muscle length
- Muscle tension/force and inhibits excessive contraction via autogenic inhibition (Correct answer)
- Joint angle position sense
- Temperature changes in the tendon
Correct answer: Muscle tension/force and inhibits excessive contraction via autogenic inhibition
GTOs are located at the muscle-tendon junction and detect tension; when activated, they trigger autogenic inhibition to protect against muscle and tendon damage.
Question 2: Which type of cartilage is found on the articulating surfaces of synovial joints?
- Fibrocartilage
- Elastic cartilage
- Hyaline (articular) cartilage (Correct answer)
- Fibrous connective tissue
Correct answer: Hyaline (articular) cartilage
Hyaline cartilage covers joint surfaces, providing a smooth, low-friction surface for movement and distributing compressive loads across the joint.
Question 3: The iliotibial (IT) band is a thickened fascial band running along the lateral thigh from the iliac crest to:
- The greater trochanter of the femur
- Gerdy's tubercle on the lateral tibia (Correct answer)
- The fibular head
- The lateral femoral condyle only
Correct answer: Gerdy's tubercle on the lateral tibia
The IT band inserts at Gerdy's tubercle on the anterolateral tibia and can become a source of lateral knee pain (IT band syndrome) in runners.
Question 4: The sarcomere is the basic contractile unit of skeletal muscle, and its boundaries are marked by:
- The H zone on each side
- Two Z discs (or Z lines) (Correct answer)
- The M line and the Z line
- Two A bands
Correct answer: Two Z discs (or Z lines)
Sarcomeres span from Z disc to Z disc; actin filaments attach to the Z discs, and myosin filaments occupy the central A band region.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the function of the erector spinae muscle group?
- Spinal flexion and rotation to the opposite side
- Spinal extension, lateral flexion, and maintenance of upright posture (Correct answer)
- Pelvic tilting anteriorly without affecting the spine
- Diaphragmatic support for respiration only
Correct answer: Spinal extension, lateral flexion, and maintenance of upright posture
The erector spinae runs bilaterally along the spine and is the primary muscle group for extending, laterally flexing, and stabilizing the vertebral column.
Question 6: The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist that contains tendons and which important nerve?
- Ulnar nerve
- Radial nerve
- Median nerve (Correct answer)
- Musculocutaneous nerve
Correct answer: Median nerve
The carpal tunnel contains nine flexor tendons and the median nerve; compression of the median nerve causes carpal tunnel syndrome.
BHK Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System 2
The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) responds primarily to: