BIOL251 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
w/Lab
Module 7 Exam Review Updated
2025/2026
1. Which of the following is NOT a basic function of skeletal muscle?
a) Body movement
b) Maintaining posture
c) Vasoconstriction of blood vessels
d) Heat production
Answer: c) Vasoconstriction of blood vessels
Rationale: Vasoconstriction is a function of smooth muscle in blood vessel walls. Skeletal
muscle is responsible for movement, posture, joint stability, and heat generation
(thermogenesis).
2. Which property of muscle tissue allows it to return to its original shape after being
stretched?
a) Excitability
b) Contractility
c) Extensibility
d) Elasticity
Answer: d) Elasticity
Rationale: Elasticity is the ability to recoil and resume resting length after stretching.
Excitability is the response to stimuli, contractility is the ability to shorten, and extensibility is
the ability to stretch.
3. Which type of muscle tissue is characterized by the presence of intercalated discs,
striations, and involuntary control?
,a) Skeletal
b) Smooth
c) Cardiac
d) Multi-unit smooth
Answer: c) Cardiac
Rationale: Cardiac muscle is striated, involuntary, and possesses intercalated discs (gap
junctions and desmosomes) that allow for synchronized contraction. Skeletal is voluntary,
smooth is non-striated and involuntary.
4. The sarcoplasmic reticulum stores which ion that is critical for muscle contraction?
a) Sodium (Na+)
b) Potassium (K+)
c) Calcium (Ca2+)
d) Chloride (Cl-)
Answer: c) Calcium (Ca2+)
*Rationale: The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a specialized smooth ER that sequesters and
releases calcium ions. The release of Ca2+ into the sarcoplasm initiates the sliding filament
mechanism.*
5. The plasma membrane of a muscle fiber is called the:
a) Sarcoplasm
b) Sarcolemma
c) Sarcoplasmic reticulum
d) Endomysium
Answer: b) Sarcolemma
Rationale: The sarcolemma is the specialized cell membrane of a muscle fiber. Sarcoplasm is
the cytoplasm, and the endomysium is the connective tissue layer surrounding the fiber.
Section 2: Skeletal Muscle Anatomy & Connective Tissue
6. A muscle fascicle is defined as:
a) A single muscle fiber
,b) A bundle of myofibrils
c) A bundle of muscle fibers
d) The connective tissue surrounding the entire muscle
Answer: c) A bundle of muscle fibers
Rationale: Within a skeletal muscle, fibers are grouped into bundles called fascicles. Each
fascicle is surrounded by perimysium.
7. Which connective tissue layer directly surrounds an individual muscle fiber?
a) Epimysium
b) Perimysium
c) Endomysium
d) Fascia
Answer: c) Endomysium
Rationale: Endomysium ("within the muscle") is a delicate areolar connective tissue layer
that surrounds each individual muscle fiber. Epimysium surrounds the whole muscle, and
perimysium surrounds fascicles.
8. A tendon is composed of dense regular connective tissue and connects:
a) Bone to bone
b) Muscle to bone
c) Muscle to muscle
d) Bone to cartilage
Answer: b) Muscle to bone
Rationale: Tendons anchor muscles to bones. Ligaments connect bone to bone. Aponeuroses
are broad, flat sheets of connective tissue that connect muscle to muscle or muscle to bone.
9. Which of the following lists the structural hierarchy of skeletal muscle from largest to
smallest?
a) Muscle fiber → myofibril → fascicle → thick filament
b) Muscle → fascicle → muscle fiber → myofibril
c) Myofibril → muscle fiber → fascicle → muscle
d) Muscle → muscle fiber → fascicle → myofibril
Answer: b) Muscle → fascicle → muscle fiber → myofibril
, Rationale: The correct order is: Whole muscle, Fascicles (bundles of fibers), Muscle fibers
(cells), Myofibrils (contractile organelles), and then Myofilaments (actin/mysosin).
Section 3: The Neuromuscular Junction & Sliding Filament Theory
10. The specific synapse between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fiber is called the:
a) Synaptic cleft
b) Motor end plate
c) Neuromuscular junction
d) Synaptic bulb
Answer: c) Neuromuscular junction
Rationale: The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is the chemical synapse where a motor neuron
communicates with a skeletal muscle fiber. The motor end plate is the specialized region of
the sarcolemma at the NMJ.
11. Which neurotransmitter is released from the synaptic bulb of a somatic motor neuron
to stimulate skeletal muscle contraction?
a) Dopamine
b) Norepinephrine
c) Acetylcholine (ACh)
d) Serotonin
Answer: c) Acetylcholine (ACh)
Rationale: ACh is the exclusive neurotransmitter used at the somatic neuromuscular junction.
It binds to nicotinic receptors on the motor end plate to generate an end-plate potential.
12. An action potential travels along the sarcolemma and down into the cell via:
a) T-tubules
b) Terminal cisternae
c) Myosin heads
d) The sarcoplasmic reticulum
Answer: a) T-tubules
w/Lab
Module 7 Exam Review Updated
2025/2026
1. Which of the following is NOT a basic function of skeletal muscle?
a) Body movement
b) Maintaining posture
c) Vasoconstriction of blood vessels
d) Heat production
Answer: c) Vasoconstriction of blood vessels
Rationale: Vasoconstriction is a function of smooth muscle in blood vessel walls. Skeletal
muscle is responsible for movement, posture, joint stability, and heat generation
(thermogenesis).
2. Which property of muscle tissue allows it to return to its original shape after being
stretched?
a) Excitability
b) Contractility
c) Extensibility
d) Elasticity
Answer: d) Elasticity
Rationale: Elasticity is the ability to recoil and resume resting length after stretching.
Excitability is the response to stimuli, contractility is the ability to shorten, and extensibility is
the ability to stretch.
3. Which type of muscle tissue is characterized by the presence of intercalated discs,
striations, and involuntary control?
,a) Skeletal
b) Smooth
c) Cardiac
d) Multi-unit smooth
Answer: c) Cardiac
Rationale: Cardiac muscle is striated, involuntary, and possesses intercalated discs (gap
junctions and desmosomes) that allow for synchronized contraction. Skeletal is voluntary,
smooth is non-striated and involuntary.
4. The sarcoplasmic reticulum stores which ion that is critical for muscle contraction?
a) Sodium (Na+)
b) Potassium (K+)
c) Calcium (Ca2+)
d) Chloride (Cl-)
Answer: c) Calcium (Ca2+)
*Rationale: The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a specialized smooth ER that sequesters and
releases calcium ions. The release of Ca2+ into the sarcoplasm initiates the sliding filament
mechanism.*
5. The plasma membrane of a muscle fiber is called the:
a) Sarcoplasm
b) Sarcolemma
c) Sarcoplasmic reticulum
d) Endomysium
Answer: b) Sarcolemma
Rationale: The sarcolemma is the specialized cell membrane of a muscle fiber. Sarcoplasm is
the cytoplasm, and the endomysium is the connective tissue layer surrounding the fiber.
Section 2: Skeletal Muscle Anatomy & Connective Tissue
6. A muscle fascicle is defined as:
a) A single muscle fiber
,b) A bundle of myofibrils
c) A bundle of muscle fibers
d) The connective tissue surrounding the entire muscle
Answer: c) A bundle of muscle fibers
Rationale: Within a skeletal muscle, fibers are grouped into bundles called fascicles. Each
fascicle is surrounded by perimysium.
7. Which connective tissue layer directly surrounds an individual muscle fiber?
a) Epimysium
b) Perimysium
c) Endomysium
d) Fascia
Answer: c) Endomysium
Rationale: Endomysium ("within the muscle") is a delicate areolar connective tissue layer
that surrounds each individual muscle fiber. Epimysium surrounds the whole muscle, and
perimysium surrounds fascicles.
8. A tendon is composed of dense regular connective tissue and connects:
a) Bone to bone
b) Muscle to bone
c) Muscle to muscle
d) Bone to cartilage
Answer: b) Muscle to bone
Rationale: Tendons anchor muscles to bones. Ligaments connect bone to bone. Aponeuroses
are broad, flat sheets of connective tissue that connect muscle to muscle or muscle to bone.
9. Which of the following lists the structural hierarchy of skeletal muscle from largest to
smallest?
a) Muscle fiber → myofibril → fascicle → thick filament
b) Muscle → fascicle → muscle fiber → myofibril
c) Myofibril → muscle fiber → fascicle → muscle
d) Muscle → muscle fiber → fascicle → myofibril
Answer: b) Muscle → fascicle → muscle fiber → myofibril
, Rationale: The correct order is: Whole muscle, Fascicles (bundles of fibers), Muscle fibers
(cells), Myofibrils (contractile organelles), and then Myofilaments (actin/mysosin).
Section 3: The Neuromuscular Junction & Sliding Filament Theory
10. The specific synapse between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fiber is called the:
a) Synaptic cleft
b) Motor end plate
c) Neuromuscular junction
d) Synaptic bulb
Answer: c) Neuromuscular junction
Rationale: The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is the chemical synapse where a motor neuron
communicates with a skeletal muscle fiber. The motor end plate is the specialized region of
the sarcolemma at the NMJ.
11. Which neurotransmitter is released from the synaptic bulb of a somatic motor neuron
to stimulate skeletal muscle contraction?
a) Dopamine
b) Norepinephrine
c) Acetylcholine (ACh)
d) Serotonin
Answer: c) Acetylcholine (ACh)
Rationale: ACh is the exclusive neurotransmitter used at the somatic neuromuscular junction.
It binds to nicotinic receptors on the motor end plate to generate an end-plate potential.
12. An action potential travels along the sarcolemma and down into the cell via:
a) T-tubules
b) Terminal cisternae
c) Myosin heads
d) The sarcoplasmic reticulum
Answer: a) T-tubules
