Free Bachelor of Health Science Anatomy and Physiology Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of the following does the term 'mental' refer to?

Chin (Correct answer)
Nose
Skull
Navel

Correct answer: Chin

In anatomical terminology, the term 'mental' specifically refers to the chin or the mentum region of the face. This term is derived from the Latin word 'mentum,' meaning chin. For example, the mental protuberance is a feature of the mandible (jawbone) located at the chin.

Question 2: Which group of leg muscles allows a person to stand on his or her toes?

Inverters
Abductors
Evertors
Plantar flexors (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Plantar flexors

Plantar flexion is the movement that increases the angle between the foot and the leg, essentially pointing the toes downwards. The muscles responsible for this action, such as the gastrocnemius and soleus, are called plantar flexors. Standing on one's toes requires strong plantar flexion to lift the heel off the ground.

Question 3: What blood protein is responsible for regulating the blood's osmotic pressure?

Fibrinogen
Immunoglobulin
Hemoglobin
Albumin (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Albumin

Albumin is the most abundant protein in human blood plasma and plays a crucial role in maintaining osmotic pressure. It helps to keep fluid within the blood vessels, preventing it from leaking into surrounding tissues. This function is vital for regulating blood volume and blood pressure.

Question 4: Which of these does not have apocrine sweat glands?

Axilla
Ear canal
Perianal region
Fingers (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Fingers

Apocrine sweat glands are a type of sweat gland primarily found in specific areas of the body, including the axilla (armpits), perianal region, and ear canal (ceruminous glands are modified apocrine glands). They are not typically found on the fingers, which primarily contain eccrine sweat glands responsible for thermoregulation.

Question 5: Which damaged nerve results in "winging" of the scapula?

Subscapular nerve
Median nerve
Long thoracic nerve (Correct answer)
Thoracodorsal nerve

Correct answer: Long thoracic nerve

The long thoracic nerve innervates the serratus anterior muscle, which is responsible for protracting the scapula and holding it against the thoracic wall. Damage to the long thoracic nerve weakens or paralyzes the serratus anterior, leading to a condition known as 'winging of the scapula,' where the medial border of the scapula protrudes posteriorly.

Question 6: Which one of these is not a branch or division of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)?

Maxillary (Correct answer)
Mandibular
Zygomatic
Buccal

Correct answer: Maxillary

The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) has several branches that control facial expressions, including the temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular, and cervical branches. The maxillary nerve, however, is a branch of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V), which is primarily responsible for sensory innervation of the face and motor innervation of the muscles of mastication.

Question 7: Which action potential phase causes the cell to depolarize?

Closing of voltage-gated sodium channels
Closing of voltage-gated potassium channels
Opening of voltage-gated sodium channels (Correct answer)
Opening of voltage-gated potassium channels

Correct answer: Opening of voltage-gated sodium channels

The depolarization phase of an action potential is characterized by a rapid increase in the cell's membrane potential, making the inside more positive. This occurs due to the rapid influx of positively charged sodium ions into the cell, which is triggered by the opening of voltage-gated sodium channels in response to a threshold stimulus.

Question 8: Of the following, which one does not carry out an endocrine function?

Medulla oblongata (Correct answer)
Kidney
Liver
Pancreas

Correct answer: Medulla oblongata

The medulla oblongata is a part of the brainstem primarily involved in regulating vital autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. While it plays a role in nervous system control, it does not have a direct endocrine function of producing and secreting hormones. The kidney, liver, and pancreas all have significant endocrine roles.

Question 9: Which of the following does not contribute to the rib's attachment to the sternum?

Sternoclavicular joint (Correct answer)
Sternocostal joint
Synovial joint
Hyaline cartilage

Correct answer: Sternoclavicular joint

The sternoclavicular joint is the articulation between the sternum and the clavicle (collarbone), not directly with the ribs. Ribs attach to the sternum via sternocostal joints, which involve hyaline cartilage (costal cartilages) forming synovial or cartilaginous connections. Therefore, the sternoclavicular joint does not contribute to the rib's attachment to the sternum.

Question 10: Identify the suture that joins the occipital and parietal bones.

Squamous suture
Metopic suture
Lambdoid suture (Correct answer)
Coronal suture

Correct answer: Lambdoid suture

The lambdoid suture is a major cranial suture that joins the occipital bone posteriorly with the two parietal bones superiorly. It forms a distinctive lambda-like shape on the posterior aspect of the skull. This suture is crucial for connecting these cranial bones and allowing for skull growth and flexibility during development.

Question 11: The scapula does not have which of the following?

Coracoid process
Supraspinous fossa
Coronoid process (Correct answer)
Glenoid fossa

Correct answer: Coronoid process

The scapula (shoulder blade) has several prominent features, including the coracoid process, supraspinous fossa, and glenoid fossa, which are important for muscle attachments and joint articulation. The coronoid process, however, is a feature found on the ulna (one of the forearm bones) and also on the mandible (jawbone), but not on the scapula.

Question 12: What bone in the face creates the lateral wall of the orbits?

Palatine bones
Zygomatic bones (Correct answer)
Nasal bones
Maxillary bones

Correct answer: Zygomatic bones

The zygomatic bones, also known as the cheekbones, create the lateral walls of the orbits (eye sockets). These bones articulate with the frontal bone, maxillary bones, and temporal bones, contributing to the overall structure of the face and protecting the eyes within the orbits.

Question 13: Choose the bone that lies next to the hamate.

Cuboid
First metacarpal
Capitate (Correct answer)
Navicular

Correct answer: Capitate

The capitate bone lies adjacent to the hamate bone in the human hand. These two bones are part of the carpal bones in the wrist, and they are important for providing stability and flexibility to the wrist joint.

Question 14: Which of the following best characterizes the main bending points of the spinal column?

Thoracic and sacral curvatures (Correct answer)
Only the thoracic curvature
Cervical and lumbar curvatures
Cervical and thoracic curvatures

Correct answer: Thoracic and sacral curvatures

The main bending points of the spinal column, also known as the primary curvatures, are the thoracic curvature, which is present in the upper back, and the sacral curvature, located in the lower back. These curvatures are formed during fetal development and are the natural anterior concave curves of the spine, contributing to the overall balance and shock absorption of the vertebral column. The cervical and lumbar curvatures develop later, postnatally, as secondary curvatures when a baby starts to hold its head up and walk, respectively.

Question 15: Shoulder rotator cuff muscles include all except which one?

Infraspinatus
Supraspinatus
Teres minor
Teres major (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Teres major

The shoulder rotator cuff muscles include the teres minor, infraspinatus, and supraspinatus, but not the teres major. The teres major is a different muscle that is not part of the rotator cuff, though it also plays a role in shoulder movement and stability. The rotator cuff muscles are essential for stabilizing and controlling the shoulder joint during various arm movements.

Question 16: Besides the quadriceps, which of the following muscle groups does not belong to the thigh?

Vastus medialis
Vastus lateralis
Biceps femoris (Correct answer)
Vastus intermedius

Correct answer: Biceps femoris

Besides the quadriceps, the biceps femoris does not belong to the thigh; it is a muscle of the posterior (back) compartment of the thigh. The quadriceps muscle group consists of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and vastus intermedius, all of which are located in the anterior (front) compartment of the thigh and play a significant role in extending the knee joint.

Free Bachelor of Health Science Anatomy and Physiology Questions and Answers

Which of the following does the term 'mental' refer to?