,BIOL251/BIOL 251 Module 3 Exam | Human Anatomy &
Physiology I w/ Lab | Portage Learning | Q & A | 2026/2027
(PDF)
**1. Which of the following are the five categories of bone shapes?**
A) Long, short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid
B) Long, short, flat, irregular, and wormian
C) Long, short, flat, compact, and spongy
D) Long, short, flat, irregular, and sutural
Correct Answer: Long, short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid
Rationale: Bones are classified into five shape categories: long bones (e.g., femur), short bones (e.g.,
carpals), flat bones (e.g., sternum), irregular bones (e.g., vertebrae), and sesamoid bones (e.g., patella).
Compact and spongy refer to bone tissue types, not shape categories. Wormian and sutural bones are
small bones found within sutures.
**2. Which of the following is an example of a long bone?**
A) Patella
B) Femur
C) Sternum
D) Vertebra
Correct Answer: Femur
Rationale: Long bones are longer than they are wide and have a diaphysis and epiphyses. The femur is a
classic example of a long bone. The patella is a sesamoid bone, the sternum is a flat bone, and vertebrae
are irregular bones.
**3. Which of the following is an example of a short bone?**
A) Femur
,B) Humerus
C) Carpals
D) Phalanges
Correct Answer: Carpals
Rationale: Short bones are roughly cube-shaped and found in the wrist (carpals) and ankle (tarsals). The
femur and humerus are long bones, and phalanges are also classified as long bones due to their
elongated shape.
**4. Which of the following is an example of a flat bone?**
A) Patella
B) Vertebra
C) Sternum
D) Femur
Correct Answer: Sternum
Rationale: Flat bones are thin, flattened, and often curved, providing protection and broad surfaces for
muscle attachment. The sternum is a flat bone. The patella is a sesamoid bone, vertebrae are irregular
bones, and the femur is a long bone.
**5. Which of the following is an example of an irregular bone?**
A) Humerus
B) Sternum
C) Vertebra
D) Patella
Correct Answer: Vertebra
, Rationale: Irregular bones have complex shapes that do not fit into other categories. Vertebrae are
irregular bones due to their unique structure. The humerus is a long bone, the sternum is a flat bone,
and the patella is a sesamoid bone.
**6. The patella is classified as which type of bone?**
A) Long bone
B) Short bone
C) Flat bone
D) Sesamoid bone
Correct Answer: Sesamoid bone
Rationale: The patella (kneecap) is a sesamoid bone, which develops within a tendon and protects the
tendon from stress. Sesamoid bones are not classified as long, short, or flat bones.
**7. How many bones are typically found in the adult human skeleton?**
A) 80
B) 126
C) 206
D) 270
Correct Answer: 206
Rationale: The adult human skeleton typically contains 206 bones. Infants have approximately 270
bones, which fuse during development. The axial skeleton contains 80 bones, and the appendicular
skeleton contains 126 bones.
**8. Which division of the skeleton includes the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage?**
A) Appendicular skeleton
B) Axial skeleton
Physiology I w/ Lab | Portage Learning | Q & A | 2026/2027
(PDF)
**1. Which of the following are the five categories of bone shapes?**
A) Long, short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid
B) Long, short, flat, irregular, and wormian
C) Long, short, flat, compact, and spongy
D) Long, short, flat, irregular, and sutural
Correct Answer: Long, short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid
Rationale: Bones are classified into five shape categories: long bones (e.g., femur), short bones (e.g.,
carpals), flat bones (e.g., sternum), irregular bones (e.g., vertebrae), and sesamoid bones (e.g., patella).
Compact and spongy refer to bone tissue types, not shape categories. Wormian and sutural bones are
small bones found within sutures.
**2. Which of the following is an example of a long bone?**
A) Patella
B) Femur
C) Sternum
D) Vertebra
Correct Answer: Femur
Rationale: Long bones are longer than they are wide and have a diaphysis and epiphyses. The femur is a
classic example of a long bone. The patella is a sesamoid bone, the sternum is a flat bone, and vertebrae
are irregular bones.
**3. Which of the following is an example of a short bone?**
A) Femur
,B) Humerus
C) Carpals
D) Phalanges
Correct Answer: Carpals
Rationale: Short bones are roughly cube-shaped and found in the wrist (carpals) and ankle (tarsals). The
femur and humerus are long bones, and phalanges are also classified as long bones due to their
elongated shape.
**4. Which of the following is an example of a flat bone?**
A) Patella
B) Vertebra
C) Sternum
D) Femur
Correct Answer: Sternum
Rationale: Flat bones are thin, flattened, and often curved, providing protection and broad surfaces for
muscle attachment. The sternum is a flat bone. The patella is a sesamoid bone, vertebrae are irregular
bones, and the femur is a long bone.
**5. Which of the following is an example of an irregular bone?**
A) Humerus
B) Sternum
C) Vertebra
D) Patella
Correct Answer: Vertebra
, Rationale: Irregular bones have complex shapes that do not fit into other categories. Vertebrae are
irregular bones due to their unique structure. The humerus is a long bone, the sternum is a flat bone,
and the patella is a sesamoid bone.
**6. The patella is classified as which type of bone?**
A) Long bone
B) Short bone
C) Flat bone
D) Sesamoid bone
Correct Answer: Sesamoid bone
Rationale: The patella (kneecap) is a sesamoid bone, which develops within a tendon and protects the
tendon from stress. Sesamoid bones are not classified as long, short, or flat bones.
**7. How many bones are typically found in the adult human skeleton?**
A) 80
B) 126
C) 206
D) 270
Correct Answer: 206
Rationale: The adult human skeleton typically contains 206 bones. Infants have approximately 270
bones, which fuse during development. The axial skeleton contains 80 bones, and the appendicular
skeleton contains 126 bones.
**8. Which division of the skeleton includes the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage?**
A) Appendicular skeleton
B) Axial skeleton
