MCQs – Chapter: Skeleton

General Concepts

1. How many bones constitute the adult human skeleton?

A. 200
B. 206
C. 210
D. 215
Answer: B. 206
2. Which of the following is NOT part of the axial skeleton?
A. Skull
B. Vertebral column
C. Ribs
D. Limbs
Answer: D. Limbs
3. What are the two major divisions of the human skeleton?
A. Head and trunk
B. Axial and appendicular
C. Superior and inferior
D. Cranial and postcranial
Answer: B. Axial and appendicular
4. Which part of the skeleton includes the shoulder and pelvic girdles?
A. Axial skeleton
B. Appendicular skeleton
C. Central skeleton
D. Girdle skeleton
Answer: B. Appendicular skeleton
5. Which bones form the vertebral column?
A. Irregular bones
B. Long bones
C. Flat bones
D. Short bones
Answer: A. Irregular bones

Classification of Bones

6. Long bones are mostly found in:

A. Skull
B. Vertebral column
C. Limbs
D. Ribs
Answer: C. Limbs
7. Which bone is a flat bone?
A. Femur
B. Tibia
C. Sternum
 D. Vertebra
Answer: C. Sternum
8. Which is an example of a sesamoid bone?
A. Scapula
B. Patella
C. Mandible
D. Ulna
Answer: B. Patella
9. The bones of the wrist are classified as:
A. Long bones
B. Short bones
C. Irregular bones
D. Flat bones
Answer: B. Short bones
10. Which bone type primarily provides protection to vital organs?
A. Long
B. Short
C. Flat
D. Irregular
Answer: C. Flat

Axial Skeleton

11. How many bones form the skull?

A. 20
B. 22
C. 24
D. 26
Answer: B. 22
12. The hyoid bone is located in the:
A. Chest
B. Neck
C. Skull
D. Pelvis
Answer: B. Neck
13. The vertebral column has how many vertebrae in total?
A. 30
B. 33
C. 35
D. 38
Answer: B. 33
14. The thoracic cage includes all of the following except:
A. Sternum
B. Ribs
C. Thoracic vertebrae
D. Clavicle
Answer: D. Clavicle
15. How many pairs of ribs are found in the human body?
A. 10
 B. 12
C. 14
D. 16
Answer: B. 12

Appendicular Skeleton

16. Which of the following bones is part of the upper limb?

A. Femur
B. Radius
C. Tibia
D. Fibula
Answer: B. Radius
17. Which bones form the pectoral girdle?
A. Ilium and ischium
B. Scapula and clavicle
C. Radius and ulna
D. Humerus and scapula
Answer: B. Scapula and clavicle
18. The hip bone is also known as:
A. Femur
B. Pelvic bone
C. Ischium
D. Sacrum
Answer: B. Pelvic bone
19. The lower limb includes all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Femur
B. Patella
C. Fibula
D. Clavicle
Answer: D. Clavicle
20. Which is the longest bone in the human body?
A. Tibia
B. Radius
C. Femur
D. Ulna
Answer: C. Femur

Functions of the Skeleton

21. Which of the following is NOT a function of the skeleton?

A. Support
B. Hormone secretion
C. Protection
D. Movement
Answer: B. Hormone secretion
 22. Red bone marrow is involved in:
A. Fat storage
B. Hormone production
C. Blood cell formation
D. Joint lubrication
Answer: C. Blood cell formation
23. Calcium is stored in:
A. Muscles
B. Skin
C. Bones
D. Blood
Answer: C. Bones
24. The skeleton helps in movement by acting as:
A. Levers for muscles
B. Receptors for stimuli
C. Pumps for blood
D. Filters for waste
Answer: A. Levers for muscles
25. Yellow bone marrow primarily stores:
A. Glucose
B. Fat
C. Proteins
D. Calcium
Answer: B. Fat

Bone Development and Growth

26. Bone formation is called:

A. Osteolysis
B. Osteogenesis
C. Hematopoiesis
D. Calcinosis
Answer: B. Osteogenesis
27. Which type of bone formation occurs in flat bones?
A. Intramembranous ossification
B. Endochondral ossification
C. Secondary ossification
D. Diaphyseal calcification
Answer: A. Intramembranous ossification
28. The growth plate of a long bone is called:
A. Metaphysis
B. Diaphysis
C. Epiphyseal plate
D. Periosteum
Answer: C. Epiphyseal plate
29. The shaft of a long bone is known as the:
A. Epiphysis
B. Diaphysis
C. Metaphysis
 D. Endosteum
Answer: B. Diaphysis
30. Which hormone is important for bone growth in children?
A. Insulin
B. Estrogen
C. Growth hormone
D. Oxytocin
Answer: C. Growth hormone

Skull and Facial Bones

31. How many cranial bones are there?

A. 6
B. 8
C. 10
D. 12
Answer: B. 8
32. How many facial bones form the face?
A. 10
B. 12
C. 14
D. 16
Answer: C. 14
33. The only movable bone of the skull is the:
A. Maxilla
B. Zygomatic
C. Mandible
D. Nasal
Answer: C. Mandible
34. Which bone houses the pituitary gland?
A. Frontal
B. Sphenoid
C. Temporal
D. Ethmoid
Answer: B. Sphenoid
35. The orbit is formed by how many bones?
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8
Answer: C. 7

Miscellaneous

36. Which vertebra is known as the atlas?

A. C1
B. C2
 C. T1
D. L1
Answer: A. C1
37. The coccyx is made of how many fused bones?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
Answer: B. 4
38. Which bone does not articulate with any other bone?
A. Mandible
B. Vomer
C. Hyoid
D. Temporal
Answer: C. Hyoid
39. The largest foramen in the body is the:
A. Mental foramen
B. Jugular foramen
C. Foramen ovale
D. Obturator foramen
Answer: D. Obturator foramen
40. Which bone is part of both axial and appendicular skeleton?
A. Scapula
B. Clavicle
C. Sternum
D. Sacrum
Answer: D. Sacrum

Bone Structure, Ossification, and Blood Supply

41. Which of the following layers covers the external surface of a bone?
A. Endosteum
B. Periosteum
C. Epiphyseal plate
D. Haversian canal
Answer: B. Periosteum
42. The nutrient artery enters a long bone through the nutrient foramen and supplies
which portion of the bone?
A. Only the outer 1/3 of the cortex
B. The medullary cavity, inner 2/3 of the cortex, and metaphysis
C. The articular cartilage exclusively
D. The epiphysis only
Answer: B. The medullary cavity, inner 2/3 of the cortex, and metaphysis
43. In the context of long bone growth, the epiphyseal plate is responsible for which
type of bone growth?
A. Appositional growth
B. Lengthwise (longitudinal) growth
C. Intramembranous ossification
D. Secondary remodeling
Answer: B. Lengthwise (longitudinal) growth
 44. The process of new bone formation on the surface of a bone is known as:
A. Endochondral ossification
B. Intramembranous ossification
C. Appositional growth
D. Remodelling
Answer: C. Appositional growth
45. Bone remodelling involves:
A. Only deposition of new bone
B. Resorption of old bone and deposition of new bone to maintain proper shape
C. Transformation of bone to cartilage
D. Conversion of red marrow to yellow marrow
Answer: B. Resorption of old bone and deposition of new bone to maintain proper
shape
46. Which of the following best describes cancellous bone?
A. Dense, compact structure found in the diaphysis
B. A porous, trabecular network found in the epiphyses
C. The fibrous tissue surrounding bone
D. A dense outer layer of bone with minimal porosity
Answer: B. A porous, trabecular network found in the epiphyses
47. According to Wolff’s law, bone remodeling is influenced by:
A. Genetic factors exclusively
B. Mechanical stresses such as tensile and compressive forces
C. Temperature changes within the body
D. Hormonal levels only
Answer: B. Mechanical stresses such as tensile and compressive forces
48. In a long bone, the zone where the epiphysis and diaphysis meet is called the:
A. Metaphysis
B. Epiphyseal plate
C. Periosteum
D. Endosteum
Answer: A. Metaphysis
49. What is the primary function of the Volkmann’s canals?
A. To house marrow cells
B. To transmit blood vessels and nerves from the periosteum to the cortex
C. To provide a storage site for calcium
D. To separate the epiphysis from the diaphysis
Answer: B. To transmit blood vessels and nerves from the periosteum to the cortex
50. Which statement correctly describes the direction of the nutrient foramen in long
bones?
A. It always faces toward the growing end of the bone
B. It is directed away from the growing end of the bone
C. It is oriented vertically in all long bones
D. Its direction is random
Answer: B. It is directed away from the growing end of the bone

Clinical and Medicolegal Aspects

51. Accessory bones may be mistaken for fractures in medicolegal examination

because they:
 A. Are identical to the main bone in structure
B. Have irregular callus formations
C. Have smooth surfaces and are often bilateral
D. Occur only in pathological conditions
Answer: C. Have smooth surfaces and are often bilateral
52. In cases of suspected osteomyelitis in children, the infection is most likely to
occur in which part of a long bone?
A. Diaphysis
B. Epiphysis
C. Metaphysis (due to hair-pin bends in vessels)
D. Periosteum
Answer: C. Metaphysis (due to hair-pin bends in vessels)
53. Ossification centers in a long bone are classified as primary or secondary. Which
part of the bone forms from the primary ossification center?
A. Epiphysis
B. Diaphysis
C. Epiphyseal plate
D. Periosteum
Answer: B. Diaphysis
54. Secondary ossification centers develop in:
A. The diaphysis of long bones
B. The epiphyses of long bones
C. The metaphysis of long bones
D. The periosteum
Answer: B. The epiphyses of long bones
55. Fusion of the epiphyses with the diaphysis typically completes by the age of:
A. 18 years
B. 21 years
C. 25 years
D. 30 years
Answer: C. 25 years
56. Which of the following best describes the role of red bone marrow after puberty?
A. It is completely replaced by yellow marrow in all bones
B. It continues to produce blood cells in certain bones (e.g., vertebrae, ribs, sternum)
C. It changes into cortical bone
D. It becomes inactive and is resorbed
Answer: B. It continues to produce blood cells in certain bones (e.g., vertebrae, ribs,
sternum)
57. In forensic analysis, which parameter is NOT typically estimated from skeletal
remains?
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Stature
D. Blood type
Answer: D. Blood type
58. The “law of ossification” indicates that:
A. Primary centers always appear before secondary centers
B. Secondary ossification centers that appear first are the last to fuse
C. Bone growth stops immediately after puberty
D. Ossification occurs only in flat bones
Answer: B. Secondary ossification centers that appear first are the last to fuse
59. The nutrient artery is most important in supplying the inner two‐thirds of the
cortex. Which branch then reinforces the outer third of the cortex?
A. Epiphyseal arteries
B. Metaphyseal arteries
C. Periosteal arteries
D. Volkmann’s canals
Answer: C. Periosteal arteries
60. Which of the following best explains the concept of bone remodeling?
A. Formation of new bone strictly during childhood
B. The balance between osteoblastic deposition of bone and osteoclastic resorption in
response to mechanical stress
C. Conversion of red marrow to yellow marrow exclusively
D. The ossification of cartilage models into bone
Answer: B. The balance between osteoblastic deposition of bone and osteoclastic
resorption in response to mechanical stress