Anatomy & Physiology – Skeletal System Actual Exam –
Undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology Curriculum – 2026/2027
Academic Year – Verified Questions and Answers for Health Science
and Pre-Professional Students
Section 1: Functions of the Skeletal System
Q1. Which of the following is NOT a major function of the skeletal system?
a) Support and protection
b) Blood cell production
c) Thermoregulation
d) Mineral storage
e) Movement
Answer: c) Thermoregulation
Rationale: The skeletal system provides support, protects vital organs, produces blood
cells in red bone marrow, stores minerals (especially calcium and phosphorus), and
facilitates movement through muscle attachment. Thermoregulation is primarily a
function of the muscular system (heat production through muscle contraction) and the
integumentary system .
,Q2. Which of the following is NOT a function of bone?
a) Protection
b) Blood formation
c) Electrolyte balance
d) Thermoregulation
e) Movement
Answer: d) Thermoregulation
Rationale: Bones protect organs, produce blood cells (hematopoiesis), store minerals
for electrolyte balance, and enable movement via muscle attachment. Thermoregulation
is not a direct function of bone tissue itself, though muscle contraction helps regulate
body temperature .
Q3. The skeletal system is involved in all of the following EXCEPT:
a) Storage of triglycerides in yellow bone marrow
b) Production of red blood cells
c) Primary storage site for sodium and potassium
d) Support and protection of the body
e) Site of attachment for skeletal muscles
Answer: c) Primary storage site for sodium and potassium
Rationale: Bones primarily store calcium and phosphorus, not sodium and potassium.
Yellow bone marrow stores triglycerides (fat), red bone marrow produces blood cells,
and bones provide support, protection, and muscle attachment sites. Sodium and
potassium are primarily regulated by the kidneys and maintained in extracellular fluid .
,Q4. What are the functions of the skeletal system?
Answer: The six main functions are:
1. Support – Provides a framework for the body and supports soft tissues
2. Protection – Protects vital organs (skull protects brain; rib cage protects heart
and lungs)
3. Movement – Muscles attach to bones to facilitate movement
4. Mineral storage – Stores calcium and phosphorus
5. Blood cell production (hematopoiesis) – Red bone marrow produces blood
cells
6. Fat storage – Yellow bone marrow stores triglycerides
Q5. How do bones contribute to the immune system?
a) Acting as a physical barrier against pathogens
b) Storing antibodies for future use
c) Producing white blood cells
d) Facilitating the production of antigens
Answer: c) Producing white blood cells
Rationale: Bones contain bone marrow, which produces white blood cells (leukocytes)
essential for fighting infections. This is a critical immune function. Bones do not act as
physical barriers against pathogens (skin does that), store antibodies, or produce
antigens .
, Q6. What is the function of yellow bone marrow?
a) Production of red blood cells
b) Production of white blood cells
c) Storage of fat (triglycerides)
d) Production of platelets
Answer: c) Storage of fat (triglycerides)
Rationale: Yellow bone marrow consists primarily of adipose (fat) cells and serves as a
fat storage site. Red bone marrow is responsible for producing red blood cells, white
blood cells, and platelets (hematopoiesis). All marrow is red in newborns, but much of it
converts to yellow marrow in adults .
Q7. Where is fat stored in the skeletal system?
a) In the periosteum
b) In yellow bone marrow within the medullary cavity
c) In articular cartilage
d) In red bone marrow
Answer: b) In yellow bone marrow within the medullary cavity
Rationale: Fat is stored as triglycerides in yellow bone marrow, located in the medullary
cavity of long bones. Red bone marrow produces blood cells. The periosteum is the
outer covering of bone, and articular cartilage covers joint surfaces .
Q8. Which of the following statements about the skeletal system is true?
a) Bones are rigid and immovable
b) Bones provide a framework for the body and protect internal organs
Undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology Curriculum – 2026/2027
Academic Year – Verified Questions and Answers for Health Science
and Pre-Professional Students
Section 1: Functions of the Skeletal System
Q1. Which of the following is NOT a major function of the skeletal system?
a) Support and protection
b) Blood cell production
c) Thermoregulation
d) Mineral storage
e) Movement
Answer: c) Thermoregulation
Rationale: The skeletal system provides support, protects vital organs, produces blood
cells in red bone marrow, stores minerals (especially calcium and phosphorus), and
facilitates movement through muscle attachment. Thermoregulation is primarily a
function of the muscular system (heat production through muscle contraction) and the
integumentary system .
,Q2. Which of the following is NOT a function of bone?
a) Protection
b) Blood formation
c) Electrolyte balance
d) Thermoregulation
e) Movement
Answer: d) Thermoregulation
Rationale: Bones protect organs, produce blood cells (hematopoiesis), store minerals
for electrolyte balance, and enable movement via muscle attachment. Thermoregulation
is not a direct function of bone tissue itself, though muscle contraction helps regulate
body temperature .
Q3. The skeletal system is involved in all of the following EXCEPT:
a) Storage of triglycerides in yellow bone marrow
b) Production of red blood cells
c) Primary storage site for sodium and potassium
d) Support and protection of the body
e) Site of attachment for skeletal muscles
Answer: c) Primary storage site for sodium and potassium
Rationale: Bones primarily store calcium and phosphorus, not sodium and potassium.
Yellow bone marrow stores triglycerides (fat), red bone marrow produces blood cells,
and bones provide support, protection, and muscle attachment sites. Sodium and
potassium are primarily regulated by the kidneys and maintained in extracellular fluid .
,Q4. What are the functions of the skeletal system?
Answer: The six main functions are:
1. Support – Provides a framework for the body and supports soft tissues
2. Protection – Protects vital organs (skull protects brain; rib cage protects heart
and lungs)
3. Movement – Muscles attach to bones to facilitate movement
4. Mineral storage – Stores calcium and phosphorus
5. Blood cell production (hematopoiesis) – Red bone marrow produces blood
cells
6. Fat storage – Yellow bone marrow stores triglycerides
Q5. How do bones contribute to the immune system?
a) Acting as a physical barrier against pathogens
b) Storing antibodies for future use
c) Producing white blood cells
d) Facilitating the production of antigens
Answer: c) Producing white blood cells
Rationale: Bones contain bone marrow, which produces white blood cells (leukocytes)
essential for fighting infections. This is a critical immune function. Bones do not act as
physical barriers against pathogens (skin does that), store antibodies, or produce
antigens .
, Q6. What is the function of yellow bone marrow?
a) Production of red blood cells
b) Production of white blood cells
c) Storage of fat (triglycerides)
d) Production of platelets
Answer: c) Storage of fat (triglycerides)
Rationale: Yellow bone marrow consists primarily of adipose (fat) cells and serves as a
fat storage site. Red bone marrow is responsible for producing red blood cells, white
blood cells, and platelets (hematopoiesis). All marrow is red in newborns, but much of it
converts to yellow marrow in adults .
Q7. Where is fat stored in the skeletal system?
a) In the periosteum
b) In yellow bone marrow within the medullary cavity
c) In articular cartilage
d) In red bone marrow
Answer: b) In yellow bone marrow within the medullary cavity
Rationale: Fat is stored as triglycerides in yellow bone marrow, located in the medullary
cavity of long bones. Red bone marrow produces blood cells. The periosteum is the
outer covering of bone, and articular cartilage covers joint surfaces .
Q8. Which of the following statements about the skeletal system is true?
a) Bones are rigid and immovable
b) Bones provide a framework for the body and protect internal organs
