Biology 58 Solved Past Papers 2014 to 2024 Archives

Support & Movement Past Papers

Solved past paper MCQs for Support & Movement from official UHS, NUMS, SZABMU, DUHS, and KMU examinations. Includes verified distractor autopsies and step-by-step cognitive explanations.

Boards Included: AJK BUMHS DUHS ETEA MDCAT NUMS PMC SZABMU UHS
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Official printable A4 booklet containing all 58 verified past paper MCQs with unbroken options, 5-column rapid answer key, and Propolis cognitive error autopsies.

Interactive Mode:
#1 of 58 SZABMU 2024 Reconduct
Permalink
Cartilage cells contain small cavities distributed in the matrix and are called:
A
Shaft
B
Periosteum
C
Perichondrium
D
Lacunae
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Microscopic anatomy of cartilage.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Because the extracellular matrix of cartilage is extremely dense and rubbery, the resident cells (chondrocytes) cannot freely float.


  • Instead, they are permanently trapped within tiny, fluid-filled hollow spaces or 'little lakes' distributed throughout the matrix. These specific cavities are called Lacunae.


Why other options are incorrect:

The perichondrium is the outer fibrous membrane wrapping the whole cartilage. The periosteum wraps bone. The shaft refers to the diaphysis of a long bone.
#2 of 58 SZABMU 2024 Reconduct
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Which of the following type of cartilage is most abundant in human body?
A
Fibrous
B
Hyaline
C
Elastic
D
Flexible
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Distribution of cartilage types.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Hyaline cartilage is universally the most widespread and abundant type of cartilage in the human body.


  • It forms the entire embryonic skeleton, lines the respiratory tract (nose, trachea, larynx), and coats the articulating surfaces of nearly all movable joints.


Why other options are incorrect:

Elastic and fibrous cartilages are highly localized to specific regions (ears/epiglottis and intervertebral discs, respectively). 'Flexible' is an adjective, not a scientific class of cartilage.
#3 of 58 SZABMU 2024 Reconduct
Permalink
Bone resorption is performed by:
A
Osteoblasts
B
Osteocytes
C
Osteoclasts
D
Osteopores
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Calcium regulation and bone dissolution.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • To release stored calcium into the blood or reshape bone structures, the hardened matrix must be actively broken down (resorption).


  • This destructive task is performed by Osteoclasts, which are massive, multi-nucleated cells that secrete highly concentrated acids and proteolytic enzymes directly onto the bone surface.


Why other options are incorrect:

Osteoblasts perform the exact opposite function (bone deposition). Osteocytes simply maintain existing bone. 'Osteopores' is a fabricated term.
#4 of 58 SZABMU 2024 Reconduct
Permalink
Contractile unit between two Z lines is absent in:
A
Skeletal muscles
B
Skeletal and cardiac muscles
C
Smooth muscles
D
Skeletal and smooth muscles
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

The presence of sarcomeres in muscle types.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The precise repeating contractile unit bounded by two Z-lines is scientifically defined as a sarcomere.


  • Sarcomeres naturally align to form visible light and dark bands (striations) under a microscope.


  • Because Smooth muscles completely lack this highly ordered, rigid sarcomere structure (their actin and myosin are arranged diagonally across the cell), they exhibit no striations and therefore lack Z-lines entirely.


Why other options are incorrect:

Both skeletal and cardiac muscles rely heavily on perfectly aligned sarcomeres (Z-line to Z-line) to generate force, which is why both appear heavily striated.
#5 of 58 SZABMU 2024 Reconduct
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Which one of the following muscles are considered as 'Voluntary Muscles'?
A
Smooth muscles
B
Cardiac muscles
C
Skeletal muscles
D
Glandular muscles
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Nervous control systems over muscle tissues.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Voluntary muscles are directly innervated by the somatic nervous system, meaning their contraction requires conscious thought and deliberate nerve firing.


  • Because they are attached to bones and facilitate all conscious body movements (walking, lifting, talking), Skeletal muscles are strictly classified as voluntary muscles.


Why other options are incorrect:

Smooth and cardiac muscles are governed by the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. You cannot consciously command your heart to stop beating or your intestines to stop digesting.
#6 of 58 SZABMU 2024 Reconduct
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What do we call the cell surface membrane of a muscle fiber?
A
Sarcolemma
B
Plasma membrane
C
Sarcoplasm
D
Myofibrils
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Nomenclature of the muscle cell membrane.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • While chemically it is indeed a lipid bilayer plasma membrane, standard physiological terminology demands extreme specificity.


  • The highly specialized cell surface membrane of a skeletal muscle fiber, which is heavily modified to contain deep T-tubule invaginations for rapid action potential propagation, is definitively termed the Sarcolemma.


Why other options are incorrect:

Sarcoplasm is the interior fluid. Myofibrils are the protein filaments. 'Plasma membrane' is too generic and not the preferred specific anatomical term.
#7 of 58 SZABMU 2024
Permalink
When the skeletal muscle contracts, the two Z lines gets ____ and I band gets ____
A
Closer, distant
B
Closer, shorten
C
Enlarged, distant
D
Enlarged, shorten
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Geometric changes in the sarcomere during sliding.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • During the power stroke, thick myosin filaments act like ratchets, dragging the thin actin filaments inward toward the M-line.


  • Because the thin filaments are physically anchored to the Z-lines, pulling them inward forces the two Z-lines to move closer together, shortening the entire sarcomere.


  • Simultaneously, the region containing only isolated thin filaments (the I-band) is pulled into the overlap zone, causing it to visually shorten and nearly disappear.


Why other options are incorrect:

Z-lines never move further apart (distant/enlarged) during an active concentric contraction. The I-band physically must shorten as it slides into the A-band.
#8 of 58 NUMS 2024
Permalink
Choose the correct, for muscle in relaxed position:
A
Exposed binding sites on actin
B
Broad H-zone in sarcomere
C
Formation of cross bridges
D
\(Ca^{2+}\) released in cytosol
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Sarcomere state prior to nervous stimulation.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • In a completely relaxed muscle, no calcium is present in the cytosol, and tropomyosin is actively blocking the actin binding sites, meaning zero cross-bridges can form.


  • Because the thin filaments have slid back out and are resting far apart from the center line, the central gap containing only thick filaments (the H-zone) is extremely wide and broad.


Why other options are incorrect:

Options A, C, and D are all definitive physiological markers of a muscle that is actively contracting, not relaxing.
#9 of 58 SZABMU 2024 Reconduct
Permalink
Sequence of nerve impulse initiation leading to muscle contraction:

  1. Nerve impulse travels through sarcolemma to the T-tubules
  2. Nerve impulse travels to sarcoplasmic reticulum
  3. Arrival of nerve impulse at neural muscular junction
  4. Opening of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca++ gates
A
3,1,2,4
B
3,4,2,1
C
4,2,3,1
D
2,3,4,1
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Chronological sequence of Excitation-Contraction Coupling.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Step 3: The action potential from the motor neuron first arrives at the neuromuscular junction, releasing acetylcholine.


  • Step 1: This depolarizes the muscle cell, sending the electrical wave sweeping across the sarcolemma and diving deep into the cell via the T-tubules.


  • Step 2: The deep T-tubules physically contact the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, passing the shockwave to it.


  • Step 4: This final shock forces the voltage-gated Ca\(^{2+}\) channels in the SR to blast open, flooding the cell with calcium to trigger contraction.


Why other options are incorrect:

Any other sequence breaks the laws of physical causality. The signal must hit the outside of the cell (junction) before it can dive inside (T-tubules) to unlock the internal calcium vault (SR).
#10 of 58 SZABMU 2024
Permalink
By the fusion of ilium, ischium and pubis in the pelvic girdle, ____ joint is formed.
A
Ball and socket joint
B
Cartilaginous joint
C
Fibrous joint
D
Synovial joint
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept: Bony fusion of the pelvic girdle.

Solution: The ilium, ischium, and pubis ossify and fuse into a single immovable pelvic bone (os coxae). This completely fused articulation is classified as a fibrous joint (synostosis).
#11 of 58 UHS 2024
Permalink
Which of the following skeletal disorder is an example of autoimmune disorder?
A
Sciatica
B
Spondylosis
C
Rheumatoid arthritis
D
Rickets
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Etiology of skeletal pathologies.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's own white blood cells tragically misidentify healthy host tissue as a foreign invader and attack it.


  • Rheumatoid arthritis is a classic systemic autoimmune disease where the immune system violently attacks the synovial membranes of joints, leading to massive inflammation, pain, and eventual joint destruction.


Why other options are incorrect:

Sciatica is mechanical nerve compression. Spondylosis is age-related wear-and-tear degeneration of the spine. Rickets is a severe nutritional deficiency (Vitamin D/Calcium) in children.
#12 of 58 SZABMU 2024
Permalink
Which of the following is not a part of human eye orbit?
A
Sphenoid
B
Ethmoid
C
Zygomatic
D
Lacrimal
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept: Bones forming the cranial eye socket.

Solution: The orbital cavity is formed by the sphenoid, ethmoid, lacrimal, frontal, palatine, maxilla, and zygomatic bones. (Select Zygomatic based on standard test classification).
#13 of 58 NUMS 2024
Permalink
You must have often heard about the hamstring injury of players. Which of the following is correct about hamstring muscles?
A
It is an extensive muscle
B
Its insertion is on tibia
C
Originate from pelvic girdle and top of femur
D
Originate from ilium and femur
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Anatomy and attachments of the posterior thigh compartment.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The hamstrings are a massive, powerful group of three muscles (semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris) located on the back of the thigh.


  • They originate high up on the ischial tuberosity of the pelvis.


  • To fulfill their primary function of forcefully bending the knee during running, their long tendons must cross the knee joint and firmly anchor downward. Their insertion is primarily on the tibia (with biceps femoris inserting on the adjacent fibula).


Why other options are incorrect:

They do not originate from the ilium or the top of the femur. 'Extensive muscle' is vague and non-anatomical. The specific, biomechanically defining feature listed is their tibial insertion point across the knee.
#14 of 58 UHS 2023
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Cartilage is a type of which tissue?
A
Connective tissues
B
Epithelial tissues
C
Muscular tissues
D
Nervous tissues
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Basic tissue classifications.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Tissues are grouped into four main categories.


  • Because cartilage consists of widely spaced cells (chondrocytes) suspended within a dense, structural extracellular matrix (collagen and proteoglycans), it perfectly fits the definition of a connective tissue.


Why other options are incorrect:

Epithelial tissue lines surfaces. Muscular tissue is contractile. Nervous tissue conducts electrical impulses. None of these describe a structural, matrix-heavy support tissue.
#15 of 58 ETEA 2023
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Which of the following connective tissues consists of cells known as chondrocytes:
A
Myocardium
B
Cartilage
C
Bone
D
Periosteum
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Cell nomenclature based on tissue type.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The biological prefix chondro- universally refers to cartilage.


  • Therefore, chondrocytes are specifically the mature, maintaining cells embedded in the lacunae of cartilage tissue.


Why other options are incorrect:

Bone cells are called osteocytes/osteoblasts. Myocardium cells are cardiomyocytes. The periosteum is a fibrous membrane.
#16 of 58 ETEA 2023 Retake
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Hip joint and shoulder joint are example of:
A
Cartilaginous joint
B
Synovial joint
C
Hinge joint
D
Ball and socket joint
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Functional classifications of highly mobile synovial joints.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The hip and shoulder require extreme mobility, allowing for flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and full circumduction.


  • This 360-degree, multi-axial freedom is strictly facilitated by a spherical bone head fitting into a cup-like depression, mechanically defining a ball and socket joint.


Why other options are incorrect:

While they are technically synovial joints, 'ball and socket' is the highly specific and exact answer required for this joint class. Hinge joints (elbow) restrict movement to one plane.
#17 of 58 NUMS 2023
Permalink
Cartilage is more difficult to heal than bone because cartilage:
A
Lacks vascular supply
B
Lacks minerals deposits in matrix
C
Has less number of cells deep down
D
Lacks protein in matrix
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Tissue regeneration dependencies.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Tissue healing relies strictly on the rapid delivery of immune cells, oxygen, and nutrients to the site of damage.


  • Unlike highly vascularized bone, cartilage is essentially avascular (lacks direct blood vessels).


  • Consequently, repair materials must slowly percolate through the dense matrix via diffusion, making cartilage healing notoriously sluggish or completely ineffective.


Why other options are incorrect:

Cartilage contains abundant proteins (collagen/elastin). While it lacks mineral deposits (calcium), that factor contributes to its flexibility, not its inability to heal.
#18 of 58 SZABMU 2023
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Mature bone cells are called:
A
Osteoblasts
B
Osteocytes
C
Osteoclasts
D
Chondrocytes
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Bone cell life cycle nomenclature.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The prefix osteo- signifies bone.


  • Osteoblasts actively secrete new matrix. Once they become permanently trapped within the hardened lacunae of their own making, they mature into resting osteocytes, which simply maintain the surrounding matrix.


Why other options are incorrect:

Osteoclasts are massive, multi-nucleated macrophage derivatives that dissolve bone. Chondrocytes are cartilage cells.
#19 of 58 UHS 2023
Permalink
Irregular striations and involuntary control is related to?
A
Cardiac muscle cells
B
Fibroelastic cartilage cell
C
Skeletal muscle cells
D
Smooth muscle cells
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Identifying muscle types by their microscopic appearance and nervous control.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • We must satisfy two constraints: It must be striated, and it must be involuntary.


  • Skeletal muscle is striated but completely voluntary. Smooth muscle is involuntary but entirely lacks striations.


  • Cardiac muscle perfectly fits both criteria: it possesses irregular branching striations and operates autonomously via involuntary autonomic control.


Why other options are incorrect:

Smooth muscle lacks striations entirely. Skeletal muscle is voluntary. Cartilage is not a contractile muscle tissue.
#20 of 58 NUMS 2023
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Which feature is absent in cardiac muscles?
A
Intercalated discs
B
Multinucleated cells
C
Light and dark bands
D
Contractile sarcomeres
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Differentiating cardiac vs. skeletal muscle.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Cardiac muscles are highly specialized, branching cells linked by intercalated discs. They contain sarcomeres resulting in light and dark bands (striations).


  • However, unlike skeletal muscles which fuse into massive fibers with hundreds of nuclei, cardiac muscle cells are almost always distinctly uninucleate (or occasionally binucleate). Thus, the classic multinucleated state is considered absent.


Why other options are incorrect:

Intercalated discs, sarcomeres, and distinct banding patterns are all hallmark, highly visible features of cardiac tissue.
#21 of 58 UHS 2023
Permalink
The cell membrane of muscle cell is:
A
Sarcoplasm
B
Sarcolemma
C
Sarcomere
D
Myofibrils
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Muscle cell anatomy and prefixes.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • In muscle histology, the prefix sarco- (flesh) replaces standard cell prefixes.


  • The suffix -lemma means husk or sheath. Therefore, the specialized excitable plasma membrane wrapping the muscle cell is universally known as the sarcolemma.


Why other options are incorrect:

Sarcoplasm is the interior cytoplasm. A sarcomere is the internal contractile unit. Myofibrils are the long protein cords inside the cell.
#22 of 58 SZABMU 2023
Permalink
What do we call the cell surface membrane of a muscle fibre?
A
Sarcolemma
B
Plasma membrane
C
Sarcoplasm
D
Myofibrils
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Specific muscle terminology.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • While it functions fundamentally as a phospholipid bilayer plasma membrane, the strict anatomical term dedicated to muscle fibers is the sarcolemma.


  • It is highly specialized to plunge into the cell via T-tubules to quickly conduct electrical action potentials.


Why other options are incorrect:

Sarcoplasm refers to the fluid interior. 'Plasma membrane' is a generic term lacking the required muscle-specific specificity.
#23 of 58 ETEA 2023
Permalink
A sarcomere is the region of a myofibril between two successive:
A
I-lines
B
A-lines
C
Z-line
D
M-lines
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Anatomical boundaries of the contractile unit.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • A myofibril consists of repeating sub-units called sarcomeres.


  • The distinct, zig-zag structural proteins that physically anchor the thin actin filaments mark the outer boundaries of these units.


  • The space situated strictly between two adjacent Z-lines (or Z-discs) defines exactly one functional sarcomere.


Why other options are incorrect:

M-lines anchor myosin in the exact center of the sarcomere. A-bands and I-bands represent wide regions of overlapping or isolated proteins, not boundary lines.
#24 of 58 UHS 2023
Permalink
During sliding of actin filaments, ATP is used for?
A
Cross bridge formation
B
Cross bridge breaking
C
Dragging filaments
D
Shortening of filaments
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

The role of ATP in the cross-bridge cycle.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Counterintuitively, myosin physically binds to actin spontaneously when calcium exposes the binding sites; this initial attachment does not require new ATP.


  • The 'power stroke' (dragging) is powered by the release of stored ADP and Phosphate.


  • However, for the myosin head to physically detach and let go of the actin filament, a fresh molecule of ATP must physically bind to it. Thus, ATP is strictly required for cross bridge breaking.


Why other options are incorrect:

Without ATP, cross bridges lock permanently (causing Rigor Mortis). Filaments themselves never shorten; they only slide.
#25 of 58 ETEA 2023
Permalink
According to sliding filament hypothesis, the release of ____ ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum causes the reorientation of certain components in thin filament, permitting them to bind with extensions from the thick myosin filaments:
A
Sodium
B
Calcium
C
Magnesium
D
Potassium
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Excitation-contraction chemical triggers.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The sarcoplasmic reticulum is a specialized organelle designed to aggressively pump and store large quantities of Calcium ions (Ca\(^{2+}\)).


  • When an action potential arrives, gated channels open, flooding the sarcoplasm with Calcium.


  • This Calcium physically binds to troponin, causing a massive structural shift that moves tropomyosin out of the way, exposing actin to myosin.


Why other options are incorrect:

Sodium and Potassium are strictly responsible for conducting the electrical action potential along the membrane, but they do not interact directly with the internal contractile proteins.
#26 of 58 NUMS 2023
Permalink
Pubic symphysis and intervertebral disc are example of:
A
Fibrous joints
B
Synovial joints
C
Cartilaginous joints
D
Gliding joints
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Joint classification by tissue structure.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Joints that allow slight, highly restricted movement to absorb shock are typically united by massive pads of tough fibrocartilage.


  • Both the pubic symphysis (connecting the pelvic halves) and the intervertebral discs (stacking the spine) fit this description perfectly, classifying them strictly as Cartilaginous joints.


Why other options are incorrect:

Synovial joints contain fluid and are freely movable. Fibrous joints (like skull sutures) are completely immobile.
#27 of 58 SZABMU 2023
Permalink
A condition in which a joint becomes swollen painful and immoveable is called:
A
Spondylosis
B
Arthritis
C
Sciatica
D
Rickets
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Pathologies of the articulation system.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The universal medical term for the acute or chronic inflammation of a joint—resulting in severe swelling, deep pain, and eventual loss of mobility—is Arthritis.


  • This includes various sub-forms like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gouty arthritis.


Why other options are incorrect:

Spondylosis is spinal degeneration. Sciatica is the compression/inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Rickets is a bone-softening disease caused by extreme Vitamin D deficiency in children.
#28 of 58 ETEA 2023
Permalink
The joint present between wrist bones is:
A
Fibrous joint
B
Cartilaginous joint
C
Synovial joint
D
Ball and socket joint
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Structural classification of wrist joints.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The wrist joint (radiocarpal joint) and the articulations between the individual carpal bones themselves are highly mobile.


  • To facilitate this friction-free movement in multiple planes, they are enclosed in a fluid-filled articular capsule, definitively classifying them as Synovial joints.


  • Note: While structurally synovial, functionally the main wrist joint acts as a condyloid joint, allowing limited rotation and movement in two planes.


Why other options are incorrect:

Fibrous joints are completely immovable (like skull sutures). Cartilaginous joints have very limited mobility (like intervertebral discs). Ball and socket joints strictly require a spherical bone head, which carpals lack.
#29 of 58 NUMS 2022
Permalink
Which of the following type of cartilage is most abundant in human body?
A
Fibrous
B
Hyaline
C
Elastic
D
Flexible
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Types of cartilage and their distribution in the human body.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Hyaline cartilage is the most abundant type of cartilage in the human body.


  • It provides strong, flexible support and is found in the respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi), lines the articular joints, and caps the ends of long bones.


Why other options are incorrect:

Fibrous cartilage (found in intervertebral discs) and Elastic cartilage (found in the ear pinna and epiglottis) are much less widely distributed than Hyaline cartilage. 'Flexible' is a property, not a distinct biological class of cartilage.
#30 of 58 BUMHS 2022
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Which of the following is a connective tissue?
A
Cartilage
B
Epithelium
C
Muscle
D
Nerve
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Primary tissue types in human anatomy.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The human body is composed of four primary tissue types: Epithelial, Connective, Muscular, and Nervous tissue.


  • Cartilage, along with bone and blood, is a specialized form of connective tissue that provides structural framework and support.


Why other options are incorrect:

Epithelium (lining tissue), Muscle (contractile tissue), and Nerve (conductive tissue) represent the other three distinct primary tissue categories.
#31 of 58 UHS 2022
Permalink
Hinge joint is present between which of the following bones?
A
Humerus and radio-ulna
B
Femur and pectoral girdle
C
Femur and acetabulum
D
Humerus and pectoral girdle
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Classification of synovial joints based on movement.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • A hinge joint allows movement in only one plane (flexion and extension), similar to the hinge of a door.


  • The joint between the humerus (upper arm) and the radio-ulna (forearm) forms the elbow joint, which is a classic example of a hinge joint.


Why other options are incorrect:

Femur and acetabulum (hip joint) and Humerus and pectoral girdle (shoulder joint) are both examples of ball-and-socket joints, which allow multi-directional movement.
#32 of 58 NUMS 2022
Permalink
Which of the following is an example of joint called 'suture'?
A
Intervertebral discs
B
Skull bones
C
Costal cartilage
D
Pubic symphysis
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Fibrous joints and their locations.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Sutures are incredibly strong, immovable fibrous joints.


  • They are specifically found connecting the various flat skull bones together, protecting the brain.


Why other options are incorrect:

Intervertebral discs, costal cartilage, and the pubic symphysis are all examples of cartilaginous joints, which allow limited flexibility and movement.
#33 of 58 SZABMU 2022
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A joint in which ends of bones are covered with hyaline cartilage and held together by surrounding tube like capsule of dense fibrous tissue:
A
Cartilaginous joint
B
Synovial joint
C
Fibrous joints
D
Immoveable joints
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Structural anatomy of synovial joints.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • A synovial joint is uniquely characterized by the presence of an articular capsule surrounding a fluid-filled joint cavity.


  • The ends of the articulating bones are covered in hyaline (articular) cartilage, and the entire structure is enclosed by a dense fibrous capsule that secretes lubricating synovial fluid.


Why other options are incorrect:

Fibrous joints lack a capsule and are firmly bound by collagen. Cartilaginous joints are connected entirely by cartilage without a fluid-filled cavity.
#34 of 58 ETEA 2022
Permalink
The joints present in the elbow and knee are the example of which type of joint:
A
Immovable joint
B
Slightly movable joint
C
Hinge joint
D
Ball and socket joint
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Movement axes of synovial joints.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The elbow and knee allow movement strictly in two directions along a single plane (flexion and extension).


  • Because their articulating surfaces are molded to permit motion in only one axis, they are classified as hinge joints.


Why other options are incorrect:

Ball and socket joints (like the hip) allow multi-directional, rotational movement. Immovable and slightly movable joints do not allow the wide range of motion seen in the knee and elbow.
#35 of 58 BUMHS 2022
Permalink
What is the study of joints:
A
Arthralgia
B
Arthrology
C
Mycology
D
Cytology
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Biological terminology.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The root word arthro- means 'joint', and the suffix -logy means 'the study of'.


  • Therefore, Arthrology is the scientific study of joints and articulations.


Why other options are incorrect:

Arthralgia refers strictly to joint pain. Mycology is the study of fungi. Cytology is the study of cells.
#36 of 58 SZABMU 2022
Permalink
____ is the inflammation of joints.
A
Osteoarthritis
B
Osteoporosis
C
Arteriosclerosis
D
Osteosclerosis
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Pathologies of the skeletal system.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The suffix -itis denotes inflammation. Arthritis broadly means joint inflammation.


  • Osteoarthritis is a specific, progressive degenerative disease where articular cartilage softens and disintegrates, leading to severe joint inflammation.


Why other options are incorrect:

Osteoporosis is a loss of bone density due to calcium/estrogen depletion. Arteriosclerosis affects blood vessels (hardening of arteries). Osteosclerosis is abnormal hardening of bone tissue.
#37 of 58 ETEA 2022
Permalink
Which one of the following is not related to arthritis?
A
Inflammation of joint
B
An autoimmune disease
C
The leading cause of disability in patients over the age of 65
D
Inflammation of nerve
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Characteristics of Arthritis.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Arthritis strictly refers to pathological conditions affecting the joints.


  • It encompasses joint inflammation (Option A), autoimmune conditions like Rheumatoid arthritis (Option B), and is a primary driver of disability in the elderly (Option C).


  • Inflammation of a nerve is called neuritis, which is completely unrelated to the direct definition of arthritis.


Why other options are incorrect:

Options A, B, and C are all highly accurate medical descriptors and consequences associated with various forms of arthritis.
#38 of 58 NUMS 2022
Permalink
Smooth muscles are long and spindle shaped with ____ nucleus per cell.
A
One
B
Two
C
Three
D
Many
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Histological structure of smooth muscle cells.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Smooth muscle cells are involuntary, non-striated, and characteristically spindle-shaped.


  • Unlike skeletal muscle, each individual smooth muscle cell contains only a single, centrally located nucleus (they are uninucleate).


Why other options are incorrect:

Skeletal muscle cells form from the fusion of many myoblasts, resulting in long, multinucleated syncytia. Smooth muscles do not undergo this fusion.
#39 of 58 UHS 2022
Permalink
Which of the following is not found in skeletal muscle fibers in human?
A
Multiple nuclei
B
Multiple mitochondria
C
Large amount of myoglobin
D
Large amount of hemoglobin
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Cellular contents of skeletal muscle.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Skeletal muscle fibers are highly metabolically active syncytia. They naturally contain multiple nuclei, dense arrays of mitochondria (for ATP production), and myoglobin, a local oxygen-storing protein.


  • Hemoglobin, however, is strictly confined within Red Blood Cells circulating in the vascular system. It is not found inside the actual cytoplasm of skeletal muscle cells.


Why other options are incorrect:

Options A, B, and C describe structures specifically adapted to and found within human skeletal muscle tissue.
#40 of 58 ETEA 2022
Permalink
The hollow elongated tube formed when muscle fiber penetrates deep into the cell is known as:
A
A-tubule
B
M-tubule
C
T-tubule
D
Z-tubule
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Excitation-contraction coupling anatomy.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • For a muscle to contract simultaneously throughout its entire thickness, the nerve impulse must be delivered deep inside the cell instantly.


  • This is achieved by inward invaginations of the sarcolemma that plunge deep into the interior sarcoplasm. These transverse structures are called T-tubules (Transverse tubules).


Why other options are incorrect:

A, M, and Z refer to specific protein bands and lines within the sarcomere structure, not hollow membrane invaginations.
#41 of 58 DUHS 2022
Permalink
Each myosin is surrounded by:
A
Motor nerves
B
Myosin head
C
6-actin filaments
D
2-actin filaments
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Geometric lattice arrangement of myofilaments in skeletal muscle.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • When viewed in cross-section within the zone of overlap, the myofibril displays a highly ordered, precise hexagonal lattice.


  • In this lattice, each thick myosin filament is symmetrically surrounded by exactly six thin actin filaments, maximizing cross-bridge binding opportunities.


Why other options are incorrect:

While a thin actin filament is surrounded by 3 myosin filaments, the reverse (myosin surrounded by actin) is always a 6-to-1 hexagonal ratio.
#42 of 58 UHS 2022
Permalink
Which of the following is a muscle component that acts as store for energy?
A
ATP
B
Creatine-PO\(_4\)
C
Myoglobin
D
Creatinine-PO\(_4\)
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Phosphagen energy systems in skeletal muscle.

Formula:

$$ADP + Phosphocreatine \rightleftharpoons ATP + Creatine$$

Solution:

  • Muscles contain very little stored, readily available ATP (only enough for a few seconds of intense contraction).


  • To rapidly replenish ATP, resting muscles synthesize and store high-energy phosphate bonds in a backup molecule called Creatine Phosphate (Creatine-PO\(_4\)).


  • During sudden bursts of activity, the phosphate is instantly donated back to ADP to regenerate ATP.


Why other options are incorrect:

ATP is an immediate currency, not a long-term 'store'. Creatinine is a metabolic waste product filtered by the kidneys, not an energy molecule.
#43 of 58 NUMS 2022
Permalink
Which event does not occur during muscle contraction?
A
I-band shortens
B
A-band shorten
C
H-zone disappears
D
Z-line move closer
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

The Sliding Filament Theory constraints.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • During contraction, actin filaments are dragged inward, causing the overall sarcomere (Z to Z) to shorten.


  • Consequently, the I-band shortens and the central H-zone shrinks and disappears.


  • However, the A-band represents the physical length of the thick myosin filaments themselves. Since protein polymers do not magically shrink, the A-band's length remains absolutely constant.


Why other options are incorrect:

Options A, C, and D are all classic defining events that do occur during sliding filament contraction.
#44 of 58 SZABMU 2022
Permalink
The muscle contraction involves the breakdown of cross bridges of actin and myosin filaments due to the following process:
A
ATP is oxidized
B
ATP is reduced
C
ATP is hydrolyzed
D
ATP is synthesized
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

The cross-bridge cycle and ATP utilization.

Formula:

$$ATP + H_2O \rightarrow ADP + P_i + Energy$$

Solution:

  • In the cross-bridge cycle, the physical binding of a new ATP molecule to the myosin head causes it to detach (break) from actin.


  • Immediately following detachment, the myosin head acts as an enzyme, hydrolyzing the ATP into ADP and inorganic phosphate (\(P_i\)).


  • This hydrolysis reaction releases the energy required to cock the myosin head back into its high-energy, ready-to-fire position.


Why other options are incorrect:

ATP is not fundamentally oxidized or reduced in this mechanical step; it strictly undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis (cleaving a phosphate bond with water).
#45 of 58 SZABMU 2022
Permalink
What is the function of myoglobin?
A
Store oxygen
B
Store CO\(_2\)
C
Transport Oxygen
D
Transport CO\(_2\)
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Oxygen handling inside muscle cells.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Myoglobin is a monomeric, iron-containing heme protein highly concentrated directly within the sarcoplasm of muscle fibers.


  • Unlike hemoglobin, which transports oxygen systemically through the blood, myoglobin's extremely high affinity for oxygen allows it to effectively extract and store oxygen locally within the muscle tissue until it is desperately needed for aerobic respiration.


Why other options are incorrect:

Hemoglobin is responsible for long-distance transport. Myoglobin does not bind or store CO\(_2\) effectively.
#46 of 58 PMC 2020
Permalink
Which one of the following muscles are considered as 'voluntary muscles'?
A
Smooth muscles
B
Skeletal muscles
C
Cardiac muscles
D
Glandular muscles
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Muscle tissue classification by control mechanism.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Voluntary muscles are those that can be consciously controlled by the somatic nervous system.


  • Skeletal muscles are attached to the skeleton and are responsible for all conscious movements (walking, lifting, etc.), making them strictly voluntary.


Why other options are incorrect:

Cardiac muscle (heart) and Smooth muscle (digestive tract, blood vessels) are controlled by the autonomic nervous system and are entirely involuntary.
#47 of 58 PMC 2020
Permalink
Which one of the following are 'myogenic' type of muscles?
A
Smooth muscles
B
Skeletal muscles
C
Cardiac muscles
D
Glandular muscles
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Myogenic vs. Neurogenic muscle contraction.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Myogenic means the contraction signal originates directly from within the muscle tissue itself, rather than requiring an external nerve impulse.


  • Cardiac muscles contain specialized pacemaker cells (the SA node) that spontaneously generate their own action potentials, allowing the heart to beat autonomously. Thus, they are highly myogenic.


Why other options are incorrect:

Skeletal muscles are neurogenic; they will not contract without a direct signal from a motor neuron.
#48 of 58 PMC 2020
Permalink
What do we call the cell surface membrane of a muscle fiber?
A
Sarcolemma
B
Sarcoplasm
C
Plasma membrane
D
Myofibrils
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Muscle cell nomenclature.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • While it is technically a specialized type of plasma membrane, biological convention uses strict specific terminology for muscle cells.


  • The distinct outer boundary and excitable cell membrane of a skeletal muscle fiber is exclusively termed the sarcolemma.


Why other options are incorrect:

Sarcoplasm is the cytoplasm inside the cell. Myofibrils are the internal contractile threads. Plasma membrane is biologically accurate but generically broad; 'sarcolemma' is the specific, correct answer.
#49 of 58 AJK 2019
Permalink
Each muscle fiber contains long threads that extend along its entire length. These are called as:
A
Myosin
B
Microtubules
C
Microfilaments
D
Myofibrils
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Hierarchical organization of skeletal muscle.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Inside the sarcolemma of a single muscle fiber, the cytoplasm is packed with parallel, rod-like contractile threads extending the entire length of the cell.


  • These macroscopic longitudinal bundles of interacting protein filaments are called myofibrils.


Why other options are incorrect:

Myosin and microfilaments (actin) are the smaller, individual molecular proteins that physically make up the larger myofibril structure.
#50 of 58 MDCAT 2019
Permalink
Thin filaments of muscles contain ____ chains of actin molecules.
A
Four
B
Three
C
One
D
Two
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Molecular composition of the thin myofilament.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The core of the thin filament is composed of the protein F-actin (filamentous actin).


  • F-actin is formed by the polymerization of globular G-actin monomers into exactly two long strands that twist around each other in a double-helical configuration.


Why other options are incorrect:

While thin filaments also contain tropomyosin and the 3-subunit troponin complex, the foundational actin core strictly consists of only two intertwined chains.
#51 of 58 MDCAT 2019
Permalink
The thick filaments in a myofibril of muscles are made up of ____.
A
Haemoglobin
B
Actin
C
Myoglobin
D
Myosin
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Protein composition of muscle filaments.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • Myofibrils contain two main types of filaments: thick and thin.


  • The thick filaments are composed entirely of hundreds of intertwined molecules of the motor protein myosin, which features heavy tail regions and specialized globular heads with ATPase activity.


Why other options are incorrect:

Actin forms the thin filaments. Haemoglobin and myoglobin are entirely separate globular oxygen-binding proteins, completely unrelated to the physical filament structure.
#52 of 58 MDCAT 2019
Permalink
The function of calcium ions in muscle contraction is to:
A
Bind to troponin molecule and cause them to move
B
Polarize visible light
C
Aid in the transmission of nerve impulse
D
Bind to tropomyosin molecule and cause them to form cross bridges
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Role of Calcium in cross-bridge cycling.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • In a resting muscle, tropomyosin actively blocks the myosin-binding sites on actin.


  • When an action potential arrives, Ca\(^{2+}\) is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The Ca\(^{2+}\) physically binds to specific subunits on the troponin complex.


  • This binding induces a massive conformational change in troponin, forcing it to drag tropomyosin out of the way, thereby exposing the active sites for cross-bridge formation.


Why other options are incorrect:

Calcium binds strictly to troponin (TnC), not directly to tropomyosin. While muscles have anisotropic properties under polarized light, Ca\(^{2+}\) is a chemical trigger, not a light polarizer.
#53 of 58 MDCAT 2017
Permalink
Over lapping of thick filament occurs in:
A
A-Band
B
M-line
C
I-Band
D
Z-line
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Banding patterns in the sliding filament model.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The A-Band represents the entire length of the thick myosin filaments.


  • In the peripheral edges of the A-Band, these thick filaments physically overlap with the interdigitating thin actin filaments, creating a very dense, dark appearance under a microscope.


Why other options are incorrect:

The I-Band contains strictly thin filaments. The H-zone (center of A-band) contains only thick filaments (no overlap). The Z-line anchors thin filaments.
#54 of 58 ETEA 2017
Permalink
Sarcolemma is the membrane around?
A
Bone
B
Joints
C
Muscle fiber
D
Heat
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Cellular wrappers in musculoskeletal anatomy.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The prefix sarco- translates to 'flesh' or 'muscle'.


  • The sarcolemma is explicitly the specialized lipid bilayer plasma membrane that directly surrounds an individual muscle fiber (muscle cell).


Why other options are incorrect:

Bones are covered by the periosteum. Joints are enclosed by synovial capsules. 'Heat' is a form of energy, not a biological structure.
#55 of 58 MDCAT 2016
Permalink
Each muscle fiber is surrounded by a modified cell membrane called:
A
Sarcolemma
B
Myosin Filament
C
Sarcomere
D
Myofilament
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Anatomy of a muscle cell.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • A muscle fiber is a single muscle cell.


  • Its highly specialized outer plasma membrane, which is uniquely capable of conducting action potentials deep into the cell via T-tubules, is called the sarcolemma.


Why other options are incorrect:

Myofilaments (actin/myosin) and sarcomeres are internal contractile structures. They are surrounded by the sarcoplasm and eventually bounded by the sarcolemma.
#56 of 58 MDCAT 2015
Permalink
A sarcomere is the region of a myofibril between two successive:
A
M-lines
B
I-bands
C
Z-lines
D
T-tubules
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Boundaries of the sarcomere.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • The basic functional unit of muscle contraction is the sarcomere.


  • By standard histological definition, a single sarcomere spans the exact distance between two successive Z-lines (or Z-discs), which anchor the thin actin filaments.


Why other options are incorrect:

The M-line is the center of the sarcomere. The I-band spans across the Z-line into two adjacent sarcomeres. T-tubules are membrane invaginations, not filament boundaries.
#57 of 58 MDCAT 2015
Permalink
According to sliding filament theory, when muscle fibers are stimulated by nervous system, which of the following changes occurs?
A
I-bands shorten
B
Z-lines move further apart
C
H-zone becomes more visible
D
A-bands shorten
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Changes in sarcomere banding during contraction.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • According to the sliding filament theory, myofilaments themselves do not change length; rather, the thin filaments slide deeply into the A-band.


  • As the Z-lines are pulled closer together, the region containing only thin filaments (the I-band) noticeably shortens.


Why other options are incorrect:

Z-lines move closer together, not further apart. The H-zone (center gap) narrows and disappears, rather than becoming more visible. The A-band remains completely unchanged in length because the thick filaments do not shrink.
#58 of 58 MDCAT 2014
Permalink
The repeated protein pattern of myofibrils is called:
A
Sarcomere
B
Sarcolemma
C
Zyomere
D
Cross bridges
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:

Ultrastructure of striated muscle fibers.

Formula:

N/A (Conceptual)

Solution:

  • A myofibril is composed of highly organized repeating units of actin and myosin filaments.


  • This repeating functional pattern, stretching from one Z-line to the next, is strictly defined as a sarcomere. It is the fundamental contractile unit of striated muscle.


Why other options are incorrect:

The sarcolemma is the cell membrane. Cross bridges are the physical attachments between myosin heads and actin. 'Zyomere' is an incorrect/typographical distractor for Z-line.
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