Locomotion and Movement – Joints: NEET MCQs with Answers

Explanation: The humerus–pectoral girdle joint is a ball and socket joint (A-II), the knee is a hinge joint (B-III), the atlas–axis joint is a pivot joint (C-IV) and joints between carpals are gliding joints (D-I).

Explanation: Cartilaginous joints are found between the centra of vertebrae, at the pubic symphysis, and between the ribs and the sternum. Such joints allow slight movement because of the elastic pads of fibrocartilage between the bone ends.

Explanation: The gliding joint between the zygapophyses of successive vertebrae is correctly matched. The others need correction: hinge joints are present in the elbow and knee; cartilaginous joints are present in the axial skeleton (between vertebrae); and fibrous joints join the bones of the skull to each other.

Explanation: In a hinge joint the convex surface of one bone fits into the concave surface of another, permitting movement in one plane. Examples include the knee, elbow and interphalangeal joints.

Explanation: The parietal and temporal bones are joined by a fibrous (sutural) joint. The others are wrong: the first cervical vertebra is the atlas and the second is the axis; the floating ribs are the 11th and 12th pairs; and the glenoid cavity is the depression to which the humerus, not the thigh bone, articulates.

Explanation: A synovial joint is characterised by a fluid-filled synovial cavity between the articulating surfaces of two bones, which allows considerable movement. The pivot joint between the atlas and the axis is an example. Skull bones are joined by immovable fibrous joints, not synovial joints.

Explanation: The gliding joint between the carpals is correctly matched. The others need correction: cartilaginous joints are found between vertebrae, not between the frontal and parietal skull bones (which form a fibrous suture); the pivot joint is found between the atlas and axis; and the hinge joint occurs at the elbow, knee, ankle and interphalangeal joints, whereas the humerus and pectoral girdle form a ball and socket joint.

Explanation: Fibrous joints are immovable joints occurring between the bones of the cranium and in the tooth sockets. They allow no movement because the bones are held firmly together by bundles of strong white collagen fibres; such immovable joints are often known as sutures.

Explanation: The joint between the atlas and axis is a pivot joint, which is a type of synovial joint. A considerable amount of movement is allowed at all synovial joints, which are characterised by a fluid-filled synovial cavity between the articulating surfaces of the two bones.

Explanation: The gliding joint occurs between the carpals (1-iii); the hinge joint between the humerus and ulna, i.e. at the elbow (2-iv); the pivot joint between the atlas and axis (3-ii); and the saddle joint between the carpal and metacarpal of the thumb (4-i).

Explanation: Cartilaginous joints occur between adjacent vertebrae, allowing limited movement and supporting the spine (A-II). Ball and socket joints occur between the humerus and pectoral girdle, permitting a wide range of movement in multiple planes (B-IV). Fibrous joints occur between the flat skull bones; they are immovable and protect the brain (C-I). The saddle joint occurs between the carpal and metacarpal of the thumb, allowing flexion, extension, abduction and adduction (D-III).

Explanation: Fibrous joints are present in the skull and do not allow any movement (A-III). Cartilaginous joints are present between adjacent vertebrae and provide limited movement (B-I). Hinge joints are present in the knee and help in locomotion (C-IV). Ball and socket joints are present between the humerus and pectoral girdle and provide rotational movement (D-II).

Explanation: Ligaments bind the articulating bones together and limit the range of movement to what the joint is built for. If they are torn the bones are no longer held in proper relation to one another and the joint becomes unstable, so that dislocation readily follows.

Explanation: A tendon attaches muscle to bone and is built of densely packed parallel bundles of collagen, which is white fibrous tissue. Its inextensibility is essential, since any stretch would waste the force the muscle generates instead of transmitting it to the bone.

Explanation: A synovial joint is defined by a cavity between the articulating bones containing synovial fluid, and the pivot joint between the atlas and the axis is of this kind. The fluid is synovial and not lymph, the skull bones form immovable fibrous sutures, and the knee is a synovial hinge rather than a cartilaginous joint.