1. Describe the nervous system and explain its divisions.
Answer:
The nervous system is a control and communication system of the body that coordinates body
activities by transmitting electrical signals.
Neuron
A neuron is the basic functional unit of the nervous system. It transmits information to other
neurons, muscles, or glands.
Divisions of the Nervous System
The nervous system is divided into:
1. Central Nervous System (CNS)
Composed of brain and spinal cord
Processes information and controls responses
Clusters of cell bodies are called nuclei
2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Composed of neurons extending from the CNS
Cell bodies are called ganglia
PNS is further divided into:
a. Afferent (Sensory) neurons
Carry information from receptors to CNS
b. Efferent (Motor) neurons
Carry impulses from CNS to muscles or glands
Motor neurons are divided into:
Somatic nervous system → voluntary control (skeletal muscles)
Autonomic nervous system → involuntary control (smooth & cardiac
muscles)
2. Describe the structure of a neuron with functions of its
parts.
Answer:
Neurons are structurally and functionally unique cells.
Main parts of a neuron
1. Dendrites
Branch-like structures
Receive signals from other neurons
2. Cell body (Soma)
Contains nucleus and organelles
Maintains neuron metabolism
3. Axon
Long fiber that carries impulses away from the cell body
Often covered with myelin, which increases signal speed
Schwann cells support development, maintenance, and regeneration of neurons.
3. Explain types of neurons with examples.
Answer:
1. Sensory Neurons
Activated by sensory stimuli
Carry impulses from receptors to CNS
Example: touching a hot object
2. Interneurons
Found only in CNS
Connect sensory and motor neurons
3. Motor Neurons
Transmit impulses from CNS to muscles or glands
Two types:
o Upper motor neurons → brain to spinal cord
o Lower motor neurons → spinal cord to muscles
4. Describe muscle tissue and its characteristics.
Answer:
Muscle tissue is one of the four basic tissues of the body and is essential for movement, posture,
and heat production.
Functions of muscles
Produce movement
Maintain posture
Generate heat
Help in breathing, circulation, digestion
Characteristics of muscles
1. Excitability – respond to nerve stimulus
2. Contractility – ability to shorten
3. Stretchability – ability to stretch
4. Elasticity – ability to return to original shape
Muscles cannot contract without nerve stimulation.
5. Describe skeletal muscles and their functions.
Answer:
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles attached to bones.
Functions
Produce body movements
Maintain posture against gravity
Stabilize joints
Generate heat
Tendons connect muscle to bone
Ligaments connect bone to bone
6. Explain the structure of a skeletal muscle and
connective tissue layers.
Answer:
A skeletal muscle is composed of:
Muscle → Fascicle → Muscle fiber → Myofibril
Connective tissue layers (Mysia)
1. Epimysium
Outer dense connective tissue
Maintains muscle integrity
2. Perimysium
Surrounds fascicles
Allows selective muscle activation
3. Endomysium
Surrounds each muscle fiber
Transfers force to tendons
All three layers are continuous and contain nerves and blood vessels.
7. Describe the structure of a muscle fiber (myocyte).
Answer:
A muscle fiber is a long, cylindrical, multinucleated cell.
Parts
Sarcolemma – cell membrane
T-tubules – invaginations of sarcolemma
Sarcoplasm – cytoplasm
Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) – stores Ca²⁺
Large size allows production of proteins needed for contraction.
8. Explain the structure of myofibril and sarcomere.
Answer:
Myofibrils are rod-like organelles inside muscle fibers.
Sarcomere
Smallest functional unit of muscle
Extends between two Z-lines
Bands
A band – dark, myosin
I band – light, actin
H zone – myosin only
M line – center of sarcomere
During contraction:
Sarcomere shortens
I band & H zone decrease
A band remains same
9. Describe thin and thick myofilaments.
Answer:
Thin Filament (Actin)
Made of G-actin forming F-actin
Contains:
o Troponin
TnT – binds tropomyosin
TnI – binds actin
TnC – binds calcium
o Tropomyosin – blocks binding sites
Thick Filament (Myosin)
Made of myosin proteins
Has head with ATP & actin-binding sites
Generates force
Titin provides elasticity
Nebulin stabilizes actin filaments
10. Explain the neuromuscular junction (NMJ).
Answer:
NMJ is the synapse between a motor neuron and skeletal muscle fiber.
Synapse area on muscle = Motor end plate
Neurotransmitter = Acetylcholine (ACh)
One motor neuron can stimulate hundreds of muscle fibers.
11. Explain excitation and contraction at the NMJ step by
step.
Answer:
Step 1
Nerve impulse reaches axon terminal → Ca²⁺ enters neuron → ACh released
Step 2
ACh binds nicotinic receptors → Na⁺ enters muscle → depolarization
Step 3
Ca²⁺ released from SR → Ca²⁺ binds troponin → tropomyosin shifts → myosin binds actin
Step 4
Cross-bridge formation → contraction
Relaxation
Ca²⁺ pumped back to SR → repolarization → resting membrane potential
12. Explain sliding filament theory and cross-bridge cycle.
Answer:
According to sliding filament theory:
Muscle contracts when actin slides over myosin
Sarcomere shortens, filaments do not
Cross-bridge cycle
1. Ca²⁺ exposes binding sites
2. Myosin binds actin
3. ATP causes detachment
4. Power stroke occurs
5. Cycle repeats
13. Describe types of muscle contractions.
Answer:
1. Isotonic Contraction
Muscle length changes
Concentric – muscle shortens
Eccentric – muscle lengthens
2. Isometric Contraction
Muscle length unchanged
Yielding
Overcoming
3. Twitch
Single muscle fiber contraction
4. Summation
Increase force by:
Multiple fiber summation
Frequency summation
Excessive stimulation causes tetanization
14. Explain muscle fatigue and muscle remodeling.
Answer:
Muscle Fatigue
Reduced ability to generate force
Caused by intense exercise
Muscle Remodeling
Structural adaptation of muscles
Hypertrophy
Increase in muscle size
Increase actin & myosin
Atrophy
Decrease in muscle mass
Protein breakdown via ubiquitin-proteasome pathway
MCQs: Nervous System
1. The basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system is:
A. Axon
B. Dendrite
C. Neuron
D. Synapse
✔ Answer: C
2. Clusters of neuron cell bodies in CNS are called:
A. Ganglia
B. Nodes
C. Nuclei
D. Fibers
✔ Answer: C
3. Cell bodies lining nerves in PNS are called:
A. Nuclei
B. Ganglia
C. Axons
D. Synapses
✔ Answer: B
4. CNS consists of:
A. Brain and nerves
B. Brain and spinal cord
C. Spinal cord and ganglia
D. Brain only
✔ Answer: B
5. Sensory neurons carry impulses:
A. From CNS to muscles
B. From muscles to CNS
C. From receptors to CNS
D. From CNS to glands
✔ Answer: C
6. Neurons that connect sensory and motor neurons are called:
A. Motor neurons
B. Sensory neurons
C. Interneurons
D. Schwann cells
✔ Answer: C
7. Voluntary muscle control is done by:
A. Autonomic nervous system
B. Central nervous system
C. Somatic nervous system
D. Enteric nervous system
✔ Answer: C
MCQs: Structure of Neuron
8. Which part of neuron receives signals?
A. Axon
B. Soma
C. Dendrite
D. Myelin
✔ Answer: C
9. Myelin sheath mainly helps in:
A. Nutrition
B. Protection
C. Fast impulse conduction
D. Cell division
✔ Answer: C
10. Supporting cells for neuron regeneration are:
A. Astrocytes
B. Oligodendrocytes
C. Schwann cells
D. Microglia
✔ Answer: C
MCQs: Muscles – General
11. Which tissue is responsible for movement?
A. Nervous
B. Muscle
C. Connective
D. Epithelial
✔ Answer: B
12. Muscle contraction requires stimulus from:
A. Hormone
B. Blood
C. Neuron
D. Bone
✔ Answer: C
13. Ability of muscle to return to original shape is called:
A. Excitability
B. Contractility
C. Elasticity
D. Stretchability
✔ Answer: C
14. Ability of muscle to respond to stimulus is:
A. Elasticity
B. Excitability
C. Stretchability
D. Plasticity
✔ Answer: B
MCQs: Skeletal Muscle
15. Skeletal muscle is:
A. Involuntary
B. Voluntary
C. Smooth
D. Cardiac
✔ Answer: B
16. Tendons connect:
A. Bone to bone
B. Muscle to muscle
C. Muscle to bone
D. Bone to cartilage
✔ Answer: C
17. Ligaments connect:
A. Muscle to bone
B. Bone to bone
C. Muscle to muscle
D. Bone to cartilage
✔ Answer: B
MCQs: Connective Tissue Layers
18. Outer covering of skeletal muscle is:
A. Endomysium
B. Perimysium
C. Epimysium
D. Sarcolemma
✔ Answer: C
19. Connective tissue surrounding muscle fibers is:
A. Epimysium
B. Perimysium
C. Endomysium
D. Fascia
✔ Answer: C
20. Which connective tissue surrounds fascicles?
A. Endomysium
B. Epimysium
C. Perimysium
D. Tendon
✔ Answer: C
MCQs: Muscle Fiber Structure
21. Muscle cell membrane is called:
A. Sarcoplasm
B. Sarcolemma
C. Sarcomere
D. Myofibril
✔ Answer: B
22. Cytoplasm of muscle fiber is called:
A. Sarcolemma
B. Sarcoplasm
C. Sarcomere
D. SR
✔ Answer: B
23. Sarcoplasmic reticulum stores:
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Chloride
✔ Answer: C
24. T-tubules are invaginations of:
A. Sarcoplasm
B. Sarcomere
C. Sarcolemma
D. SR
✔ Answer: C
MCQs: Sarcomere & Bands
25. Smallest functional unit of muscle is:
A. Myofibril
B. Muscle fiber
C. Sarcomere
D. Myofilament
✔ Answer: C
26. Sarcomere extends between:
A. M-lines
B. A-bands
C. Z-lines
D. H-zones
✔ Answer: C
27. Dark band of sarcomere is:
A. I band
B. H zone
C. Z line
D. A band
✔ Answer: D
28. Light band contains:
A. Myosin
B. Actin
C. Titin
D. Myomesin
✔ Answer: B
29. H-zone contains:
A. Actin only
B. Myosin only
C. Both
D. Neither
✔ Answer: B
30. M-line is located at:
A. Z-line
B. I-band
C. Center of A-band
D. End of sarcomere
✔ Answer: C
MCQs: Myofilaments
31. Thin filament is made of:
A. Myosin
B. Actin
C. Titin
D. Nebulin
✔ Answer: B
32. Thick filament is composed of:
A. Actin
B. Troponin
C. Myosin
D. Tropomyosin
✔ Answer: C
33. Troponin C binds with:
A. Actin
B. Tropomyosin
C. Calcium
D. ATP
✔ Answer: C
34. Protein that provides elasticity is:
A. Nebulin
B. Titin
C. Myosin
D. Actin
✔ Answer: B
MCQs: Neuromuscular Junction
35. Neurotransmitter at NMJ is:
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. Noradrenaline
✔ Answer: C
36. Muscle side of synapse is called:
A. Axon terminal
B. Synaptic cleft
C. Motor end plate
D. Dendrite
✔ Answer: C
37. Receptors on muscle membrane are:
A. Muscarinic
B. Nicotinic
C. GABA
D. Adrenergic
✔ Answer: B
MCQs: Sliding Filament Theory
38. During contraction, muscle shortens due to:
A. Shortening of filaments
B. Sliding of filaments
C. Breaking of filaments
D. Stretching of filaments
✔ Answer: B
39. ATP binds to:
A. Actin
B. Troponin
C. Myosin head
D. Tropomyosin
✔ Answer: C
40. Power stroke occurs due to release of:
A. ATP
B. Ca²⁺
C. ADP + Pi
D. Na⁺
✔ Answer: C
MCQs: Muscle Contractions
41. Muscle shortens during:
A. Isometric
B. Eccentric
C. Concentric
D. Twitch
✔ Answer: C
42. Muscle lengthens during:
A. Concentric
B. Eccentric
C. Isometric
D. Twitch
✔ Answer: B
43. No change in muscle length occurs in:
A. Isotonic
B. Isometric
C. Eccentric
D. Concentric
✔ Answer: B
44. Single muscle fiber contraction is called:
A. Tetanus
B. Summation
C. Twitch
D. Fatigue
✔ Answer: C
45. Sustained contraction without relaxation is:
A. Summation
B. Twitch
C. Tetanization
D. Fatigue
✔ Answer: C
MCQs: Muscle Remodeling
46. Increase in muscle size is called:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Fatigue
D. Summation
✔ Answer: B
47. Decrease in muscle mass is called:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Remodeling
D. Tetanus
✔ Answer: B
48. Protein degradation in atrophy involves:
A. Calcium pump
B. ATP synthase
C. Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway
D. Actin-myosin complex
✔ Answer: C