Human Skeleton

Human Skeleton MDCAT MCQs with answers

35 past paper MCQs on Human Skeleton, from the Support and Movement unit of MDCAT Biology. The year each question appeared is shown where known; tap “Show answer” for the correct option and a short solution.

Read the notes first Practise the unit as a quiz

1.What is FALSE about cartilage? (MDCAT 2022)

  1. there are many blood vessels in cartilage
  2. it is a form of connective tissue
  3. it covers the ends of the bones at joints
  4. it is much softer than bone
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Correct answer: (a) there are many blood vessels in cartilage

Cartilage has no blood vessels of its own, which is why it heals so slowly.

2.Cartilage is a type of which tissue? (MDCAT 2023)

  1. connective tissue
  2. epithelial tissue
  3. muscular tissue
  4. nervous tissue
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Correct answer: (a) connective tissue

Cells in a matrix they have secreted themselves is the pattern of connective tissue.

3.Which of the following is included in the paired cranial bones? (MDCAT 2024)

  1. temporal
  2. occipital
  3. frontal
  4. vomer
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Correct answer: (a) temporal

There is a temporal bone on each side; the occipital and the vomer are single.

4.Which of the following is NOT a bone of the upper limb? (MDCAT 2024)

  1. humerus
  2. ulna
  3. femur
  4. radius
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Correct answer: (c) femur

The femur is the thigh bone of the lower limb.

5.Bone forming cells are: (MDCAT 2024)

  1. osteoblasts
  2. osteocytes
  3. osteoclasts
  4. osteons
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Correct answer: (a) osteoblasts

Osteoblasts lay down bone matrix; osteoclasts break it down again.

6.In which of the following combination, both components have Hyaline cartilage? (UHS MDCAT 2025)

  1. Epiglottis & intervertebral disc
  2. Trachea & intervertebral disc
  3. Nose & pinna
  4. Nose & trachea
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Correct answer: (d) Nose & trachea

Hyaline cartilage supports the nose and the rings of the trachea.

7.What is FALSE about cartilages? (KMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. Cells are called chondrocytes
  2. Consist of Type II collagen
  3. Heal very slowly
  4. Have an extensive blood supply
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Correct answer: (d) Have an extensive blood supply

Cartilage has no blood vessels of its own, which is exactly why it heals so slowly.

8.Bones provide a rigid framework with an inorganic matrix of: (KMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. 35%
  2. 45%
  3. 55%
  4. 65%
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Correct answer: (d) 65%

About two thirds of the mass of dry bone is the inorganic salt that makes it rigid.

9.An important feature of bone remodeling is bone breakdown. Which cell carries out this function? (KMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. Chondrocyte
  2. Osteocyte
  3. Osteoclast
  4. Osteoblast
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Correct answer: (c) Osteoclast

Osteoclasts dissolve the matrix; osteoblasts lay it down again.

10.The reason behind the slow healing of cartilage is: (NUMS MDCAT 2025)

  1. Absence of minerals in matrix
  2. Absence of nervous supply
  3. Absence of blood supply
  4. Loose arrangement of cells
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Correct answer: (c) Absence of blood supply

Cartilage has no blood vessels, so repair materials reach it only by slow diffusion.

11.Which cell is most important to cause bone resorption? (NUMS MDCAT 2025)

  1. Osteoblast
  2. Osteoclast
  3. Osteocyte
  4. Fibroblast
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Correct answer: (b) Osteoclast

Osteoclasts dissolve the bone matrix and release its calcium.

12.Living cells of cartilage are called as: (SIBA MDCAT 2025)

  1. Osteocytes
  2. Thrombocytes
  3. Chondrocytes
  4. Osteoblasts
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Correct answer: (c) Chondrocytes

Chondrocytes are the living cells of cartilage, each in its own lacuna.

13.Which of the following connective tissue is completely avascular and heals slowly? (SZABMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. Bone
  2. Cartilage
  3. Adipose tissue
  4. Areolar tissue
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Correct answer: (b) Cartilage

Cartilage carries no blood vessels, so its cells are fed only by diffusion and repair is slow.

14.The end of skeletal muscle attached with moveable bone is: (SZABMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. Insertion
  2. Origin
  3. Tendons
  4. Belly
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Correct answer: (a) Insertion

The insertion is the attachment to the bone that moves; the origin is the fixed end.

15.Fibrocartilage is found in: (SZABMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. Trachea
  2. Nose
  3. Knee joint
  4. Ear flaps
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Correct answer: (c) Knee joint

Fibrocartilage makes the menisci of the knee and the intervertebral discs.

16.What is the percentage of H2O in bone cells? (UHS MDCAT 2024)

  1. 70 %
  2. 20 %
  3. 99 %
  4. 60 %
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Correct answer: (b) 20 %

Bone cells hold about a fifth of their mass as water, far less than soft tissue.

17.Which of the following is included in paired cranial bones? (UHS MDCAT 2024)

  1. Temporal
  2. Occipital
  3. Frontal
  4. Vomer
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Correct answer: (a) Temporal

The temporal and parietal bones come in pairs; the frontal and occipital are single.

18.Which of the following is NOT a bone of upper limb? (UHS MDCAT 2024)

  1. Humerus
  2. Ulna
  3. Femur
  4. Radius
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Correct answer: (c) Femur

The femur is the thigh bone; humerus, radius and ulna are all in the arm.

19.The cells contained in the lacunae of the bone are called (KMU MDCAT 2024)

  1. Chondrocytes
  2. Osteoblast
  3. Osteocytes
  4. Osteoclast
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Correct answer: (c) Osteocytes

Osteocytes are the mature bone cells, each shut in its own lacuna.

20.Which of the following is correct about hamstring muscles? (NUMS MDCAT 2024)

  1. It is an extensor muscle
  2. Its insertion is on tibia
  3. Originate from pelvic girdle and top of femur
  4. Originate from ilium and femur
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Correct answer: (b) Its insertion is on tibia

The hamstrings run from the pelvis down behind the thigh and are inserted on the tibia.

21.Human Bone cells contain. ........% of water? (UHS MDCAT 2023)

  1. 20
  2. 40
  3. 85
  4. 90
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Correct answer: (a) 20

Bone cells hold about a fifth of their mass as water.

22.Cartilage is more difficult to heal than bone because cartilage: (NUMS MDCAT 2023)

  1. Lacks vascular supply
  2. Lacks mineral deposits in matrix
  3. Has less number of cells deep down
  4. Lacks protein in matrix
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Correct answer: (a) Lacks vascular supply

Cartilage has no blood vessels, so repair materials reach it only by slow diffusion.

23.The skeletal system consists of: (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. All bones in body
  2. All muscles and tendons
  3. All body organs both soft and hard tissues
  4. All the bones in the body and tissues that connect them
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Correct answer: (d) All the bones in the body and tissues that connect them

The skeletal system is the bones with the cartilage and ligaments that join them.

24.Which of the following is most abundant in human body: (NUMS MDCAT 2022)

  1. Fibrous
  2. Hyaline
  3. Elastic
  4. Flexible
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Correct answer: (b) Hyaline

Hyaline cartilage covers the joint surfaces and supports the nose and trachea, and is much the commonest.

25.Which cells secrete flexible, elastic, non-living matrix collagen that surrounds the chondrocytes? (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. Osteocytes
  2. Osteoclasts
  3. Chondrocytes
  4. Osteoblasts
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Correct answer: (c) Chondrocytes

Chondrocytes are the cells of cartilage and they lay down its matrix.

26.Scapula is a: (UHS MDCAT 2018)

  1. Tail bone
  2. Hip bone
  3. Skull bone
  4. Shoulder bone
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Correct answer: (d) Shoulder bone

The scapula is the shoulder blade.

27.Skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum forms: (UHS MDCAT 2018)

  1. Appendicular skeleton
  2. Hydrostatic skeleton
  3. Exoskeleton
  4. Axial skeleton
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Correct answer: (d) Axial skeleton

The skull, vertebral column, ribs and sternum make the axial skeleton.

28.Coccyx vertebrae are located in: (UHS MDCAT 2018)

  1. Cervical region
  2. Lumbar region
  3. Pelvic region
  4. Thoracic region
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Correct answer: (c) Pelvic region

The coccyx is the tail bone at the base of the vertebral column, in the pelvis.

29.Clavicle is present in: (UHS MDCAT 2017)

  1. Back bone
  2. Skull
  3. Pelvic girdle
  4. Pectoral girdle
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Correct answer: (d) Pectoral girdle

The clavicle, or collar bone, is part of the pectoral girdle.

30.Name of second vertebrae in the neck region is: (UHS MDCAT 2017)

  1. Atlas
  2. Axis
  3. Neck vertebra
  4. Floating rib
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Correct answer: (b) Axis

The first cervical vertebra is the atlas and the second the axis.

31.The structure which joins a muscle to a bone: (UHS MDCAT 2017)

  1. Tendon
  2. Ligament
  3. Clavicle
  4. Sternum
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Correct answer: (a) Tendon

A tendon joins muscle to bone; a ligament joins bone to bone.

32.Longest bone in the human skeleton is: (UHS MDCAT 2016)

  1. Ulna
  2. Fibula
  3. Tibia
  4. Femur
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Correct answer: (d) Femur

The femur, the thigh bone, is the longest bone in the body.

33.In pelvic region of human body, sacrum is formed by the fusion of: (UHS MDCAT 2016)

  1. 4 Vertebrae
  2. 5 Vertebrae
  3. 6 Vertebrae
  4. 3 Vertebrae
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Correct answer: (b) 5 Vertebrae

Five sacral vertebrae fuse into the sacrum.

34.Brain is protected and enclosed in: (UHS MDCAT 2016)

  1. Lumbar vertebrae
  2. Coccyx
  3. Vertebral column
  4. Cranium
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Correct answer: (d) Cranium

The cranium of the skull encloses the brain.

35.The total number of cervical and thoracic vertebrate in human vertebral column is: (UHS MDCAT 2015)

  1. 7
  2. 19
  3. 14
  4. 33
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Correct answer: (b) 19

Seven cervical and twelve thoracic vertebrae make nineteen.

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