Question 1

Which of the following best describes a sesamoid bone, and which is a classic example?

Accepted Answer

A bone that forms within tendons, such as the patella

Question 2

Which of the following is a function of sinuses in the skull?

Accepted Answer

They serve as resonance chambers in speech production

Question 3

Which bone cell type is responsible for absorbing and removing bone matrix, and what is a key feature of these cells?

Accepted Answer

Osteoclasts; they are large, multinucleated cells

Question 4

During endochondral ossification, what is the correct sequence of events after the primary ossification center forms?

Accepted Answer

Blood vessels penetrate the cartilage, osteoblasts form, and spongy bone develops

Question 5

Which hormone is released by the thyroid gland and decreases blood calcium levels by inhibiting osteoclast activity?

Accepted Answer

Calcitonin

Question 6

A patient has a compound (open) fracture of the femur. Which of the following best describes this injury?

Accepted Answer

The bone breaks and pierces the skin, increasing risk of infection

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why osteoporosis is more common in postmenopausal women than in men?

Accepted Answer

Estrogen levels decrease sharply after menopause, reducing bone mass maintenance

Question 8

Which of the following is a correct statement about the composition of bone matrix?

Accepted Answer

About one-third of bone mass is collagen fibers, providing flexibility

Question 9

Which of the following equations correctly represents the chemical formula for hydroxyapatite, the main mineral in bone matrix?

Accepted Answer

$Ca_{{10}}(PO_4)_6(OH)_2$

Question 10

A 65-year-old woman presents with a hip fracture after a minor fall. Her bone density is significantly reduced. Which process is most likely outpacing the other in her bones?

Accepted Answer

Bone resorption is faster than bone deposition

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the difference between appositional and interstitial growth in bone tissue?

Accepted Answer

Appositional growth increases bone diameter; interstitial growth increases bone length

Question 12

Which of the following is a function of osteocytes in bone tissue?

Accepted Answer

Maintain protein and mineral content of matrix

Question 13

A child is diagnosed with rickets, a disease characterized by soft, flexible bones. Which deficiency is most likely responsible, and why?

Accepted Answer

Vitamin D3 deficiency, leading to poor calcium absorption in the digestive tract

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the role of the periosteum in bone growth and repair?

Accepted Answer

It supplies blood to superficial osteons and serves as an attachment site for tendons and ligaments

Question 15

Which of the following best explains the function of canaliculi in compact bone?

Accepted Answer

They allow cytoplasmic extensions of osteocytes to pass through and communicate

Question 16

During bone repair after a fracture, which event occurs first?

Accepted Answer

A hematoma (blood clot) forms at the fracture site

Question 17

Which of the following is a correct statement about the blood supply to bone?

Accepted Answer

Nutrient arteries and veins supply the diaphysis, while metaphyseal vessels supply the epiphyseal cartilages

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the process of intramembranous ossification?

Accepted Answer

Mesenchymal cells cluster together, differentiate into osteoblasts, and secrete bone matrix

Question 19

Which of the following is a major function of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in calcium homeostasis?

Accepted Answer

It increases blood calcium levels by stimulating osteoclast activity

Question 20

Which of the following best explains the effect of aging on the skeletal system?

Accepted Answer

Osteopenia leads to a reduction in bone mass, especially after age 30

Skeletal System: Bone Structure, Function, and Physiology Study Notes

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