YMCA Anatomy & Physiology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of muscle tissue is found in the walls of the heart?
- Smooth muscle
- Skeletal muscle
- Cardiac muscle (Correct answer)
- Connective tissue
Correct answer: Cardiac muscle
Cardiac muscle is a unique striated involuntary muscle found exclusively in the heart walls.
Question 2: The thoracic spine consists of how many vertebrae?
- 5
- 7
- 12 (Correct answer)
- 9
Correct answer: 12
The thoracic spine has 12 vertebrae (T1–T12), each articulating with a pair of ribs.
Question 3: During a seated forward fold, which muscle group is primarily lengthened?
- Hip flexors
- Hamstrings (Correct answer)
- Quadriceps
- Gastrocnemius
Correct answer: Hamstrings
The hamstrings (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus) are stretched as the hip flexes while the knee remains extended.
Question 4: What is the primary role of synovial fluid in joint health?
- Transmit nerve signals
- Lubricate and nourish articular cartilage (Correct answer)
- Connect bone to muscle
- Stabilize ligaments
Correct answer: Lubricate and nourish articular cartilage
Synovial fluid reduces friction between articular surfaces and delivers nutrients to avascular cartilage.
Question 5: Which nerve plexus innervates the lower limbs and is most relevant when teaching standing yoga poses?
- Brachial plexus
- Cervical plexus
- Lumbosacral plexus (Correct answer)
- Thoracic plexus
Correct answer: Lumbosacral plexus
The lumbosacral plexus (lumbar + sacral) provides motor and sensory innervation to the entire lower extremity.
Question 6: What does the term 'agonist' refer to in muscle action?
- The muscle opposing the movement
- The muscle primarily responsible for producing the movement (Correct answer)
- A muscle that stabilizes a joint
- A muscle that assists a synergist
Correct answer: The muscle primarily responsible for producing the movement
The agonist (prime mover) is the muscle that contracts most to create the desired movement.
Question 7: Which bone forms the posterior portion of the hard palate and is sometimes relevant when discussing skull anatomy in yoga philosophy classes?
- Vomer
- Palatine bone (Correct answer)
- Maxilla
- Sphenoid
Correct answer: Palatine bone
The palatine bones form the posterior one-third of the hard palate and part of the nasal cavity floor.
YMCA Anatomy & Physiology 2
Which type of muscle tissue is found in the walls of the heart?