Locomotion and MovementNEET MCQs with solutions
Locomotion and Movement covers the types of movement, the structure of skeletal muscle and how it contracts, the human skeleton and joints, and common muscle and bone disorders. NEET questions test the bands of a sarcomere, the sliding filament theory, bone counts and joint examples.
- Class
- 11 Biology
- Free on this page
- 24 questions
- In the RankUp app
- 515 questions
- ELITE questions
- 48
- NCERT topics
- 6
Practise 24 questions
Tap an option to check it. Questions from every NCERT topic in this chapter, from easy to hard.
Q1Types of Movement
Which of the following represents locomotion at the organismal level?
Not quite — the answer is B.
Swimming of fish results in displacement of the whole organism — this is locomotion. Heartbeat and cytoplasmic streaming are movements confined to organs/cells; chromosomal movement is intracellular.
Q2Types of Movement
In earthworm, locomotion is primarily achieved by:
Not quite — the answer is C.
Earthworm locomotion uses coelomic fluid as a hydrostatic skeleton; alternating contraction of circular muscles (elongates body) and longitudinal muscles (shortens body) with setae for grip produces forward movement. Ciliary and flagellar mechanisms are absent.
Q3Types of Movement
Which of the following is an example of movement that is neither ciliary, flagellar, nor muscular?
Not quite — the answer is D.
Cytoplasmic streaming (cyclosis) in plant cells is driven by actin-myosin interaction but is classified separately — it is neither ciliary, flagellar, nor muscular movement as defined in NCERT. Peristalsis is muscular; ovum transport is ciliary; sperm swimming is flagellar.
Q4Types of Movement
Flagellar movement in human sperm occurs due to:
Not quite — the answer is D.
Flagellar bending results from dynein-powered sliding of microtubule doublets within the 9+2 axoneme. Actin-myosin interaction drives muscular movement, not flagellar movement.
Q5Muscle
The sarcoplasm of a muscle fibre contains abundant:
Not quite — the answer is B.
Muscle fibres have a very high ATP demand for contraction; abundant mitochondria meet this energy requirement. The sarcoplasm also contains sarcoplasmic reticulum and myofibrils.
Q6Muscle
The region within the A band where thin filaments do not reach is:
Not quite — the answer is D.
The H zone is the central pale region of the A band containing only thick filaments with no overlap from thin filaments. During contraction, as thin filaments slide in, the H zone narrows and may disappear.
Q7Muscle
Which event directly follows release of Ca²⁺ from sarcoplasmic reticulum?
Not quite — the answer is D.
Ca²⁺ binds to troponin on the thin filament, causing tropomyosin to shift and uncover myosin-binding active sites on actin. ATP hydrolysis occurs subsequently to cock the myosin head for the power stroke.
Q8Muscle – Mechanism of Contraction and Neuromuscular Junction
The neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction is:
Not quite — the answer is D.
Acetylcholine (ACh) is released from synaptic vesicles in the motor neuron terminal into the synaptic cleft, where it binds receptors on the motor end plate to generate an action potential in the muscle fibre.
Q9Muscle – Mechanism of Contraction and Neuromuscular Junction
Which of the following correctly describes the role of T-tubules in muscle contraction?
Not quite — the answer is B.
T-tubules are continuous with the sarcolemma and penetrate deep into the muscle fibre. They rapidly transmit the electrical action potential to the SR, ensuring simultaneous Ca²⁺ release throughout the fibre. Ca²⁺ storage is the SR's role.
Q10Muscle – Mechanism of Contraction and Neuromuscular Junction
Which of the following correctly describes the role of ATP in the cross-bridge cycle?
Not quite — the answer is C.
ATP serves two distinct roles: its hydrolysis (by myosin ATPase) re-energises and re-cocks the myosin head; its binding to myosin causes detachment from actin after the power stroke. Without ATP, detachment cannot occur — causing rigor.
Q11Muscle – Mechanism of Contraction and Neuromuscular Junction
Binding of Ca²⁺ to troponin results in:
Not quite — the answer is B.
Ca²⁺ binds to troponin C, causing a conformational change that moves tropomyosin away from the myosin-binding sites on actin. This exposes active sites and allows cross-bridge formation. Myosin head detachment requires ATP, not Ca²⁺.
Q12Skeletal System
The vertebral canal, which encloses and protects the spinal cord, is formed by:
Not quite — the answer is D.
The neural arches of successive vertebrae together form the vertebral canal that runs the length of the vertebral column, enclosing the spinal cord. The skull encloses the brain, not the spinal cord. Sternum and ribs form the thoracic cage.
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Get RankUp on Google PlayQ13Skeletal System
Which of the following correctly identifies the components of the axial skeleton?
Not quite — the answer is B.
The axial skeleton consists of skull (22), vertebral column (26), and thoracic cage — ribs (24) and sternum (1) = 80 bones total. Girdles and limbs are appendicular. Pectoral and pelvic girdles are never axial.
Q14Skeletal System
Spongy bone differs from compact bone primarily in that spongy bone:
Not quite — the answer is B.
Spongy (cancellous) bone consists of an irregular network of trabeculae and does not have the organised Haversian systems characteristic of compact bone. Marrow spaces are abundant in spongy bone. It has its own blood supply via nearby vessels.
Q15Skeletal System
Which of the following pairs of ribs are called floating ribs?
Not quite — the answer is C.
The 11th and 12th pairs are floating ribs — they attach to thoracic vertebrae posteriorly but have no anterior attachment to sternum or cartilage. The 8th–10th pairs are false ribs (attached via cartilage of 7th rib, not sternum directly).
Q16Skeletal System
The hyoid bone is unique among all bones in the human body because it:
Not quite — the answer is C.
The hyoid is a U-shaped bone in the neck that is suspended by muscles and ligaments but does not directly articulate with any other bone — unique in the skeleton. The smallest bones are the ear ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes). Hyoid is unpaired.
Q17Joints
The synovial membrane lining the joint capsule primarily functions to:
Not quite — the answer is A.
The synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid — a viscous, albumin-rich fluid that lubricates articular cartilage, reduces friction and nourishes the avascular cartilage. Calcium storage is a bone matrix function; RBC production is red marrow's role; tendons are anchored by periosteum.
Q18Joints
The articulation between adjacent carpal bones is an example of:
Not quite — the answer is C.
Intercarpal joints are gliding (plane) joints where flat or slightly curved articular surfaces slide against each other with minimal range of movement. Pivot joints allow rotation; hinge joints allow flexion/extension; ball and socket joints are multiaxial — none describe intercarpal movement.
Q19Joints
The joint between the first metacarpal bone and the trapezium carpal bone (carpometacarpal joint of the thumb) is:
Not quite — the answer is C.
The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is a saddle joint — both articulating surfaces are concave in one direction and convex in the other, allowing biaxial movement including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction and opposition. Opposition (thumb touching fingers) is the unique movement enabled by this joint.
Q20Joints
Which of the following components is exclusive to synovial joints and absent in fibrous and cartilaginous joints?
Not quite — the answer is C.
Synovial fluid — secreted by the synovial membrane — is present only in synovial joints, lubricating the articular surfaces and reducing friction. Periosteum covers all bone; lacunae house osteocytes in bone/cartilage matrix; trabeculae are spongy bone structures — none are joint-specific.
Q21Disorders of Muscular and Skeletal System
The term arthritis most precisely refers to:
Not quite — the answer is C.
Arthritis = inflammation of joints (arthr- = joint, -itis = inflammation), causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Muscle fibre inflammation = myositis; bone marrow inflammation = osteomyelitis; tendon inflammation = tendinitis.
Q22Disorders of Muscular and Skeletal System
Which condition results in painful inflammation of synovial joints specifically due to monosodium urate crystal deposition?
Not quite — the answer is D.
Gout involves precipitation of monosodium urate crystals in joints (commonly the first metatarsophalangeal joint) due to hyperuricaemia. Rheumatoid arthritis involves autoimmune synovial inflammation without crystal deposition.
Q23Disorders of Muscular and Skeletal System
Which of the following best explains why neuromuscular transmission fails progressively in myasthenia gravis?
Not quite — the answer is B.
In myasthenia gravis, IgG autoantibodies bind and internalise ACh receptors on the postsynaptic motor end plate, reducing available receptors for each nerve impulse. Demyelination describes multiple sclerosis; presynaptic Ca²⁺ blockade describes Lambert-Eaton syndrome — a critical NEET-level distinction.
Q24Disorders of Muscular and Skeletal System
The disorder causing progressive degeneration of muscle fibres due to a genetic defect in the dystrophin gene is:
Not quite — the answer is D.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by a mutation in the X-linked dystrophin gene, leading to absence of dystrophin protein and progressive skeletal muscle wasting. Myasthenia gravis is autoimmune, not genetic in the same sense.
ELITE question · AIR under 50 level
This chapter has 48 ELITE questions for students aiming at the very top. They are only in the app.
Unlock ELITE questions in the appMuscle, skeleton and joints
Quick revision: most questions in this chapter test these facts.
| Topic | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Types of movement | Amoeboid (macrophages, leucocytes); ciliary (trachea, fallopian tubes); muscular (limbs, jaws, tongue) |
| Muscle types | Skeletal: striated, voluntary; visceral: smooth, involuntary; cardiac: striated, involuntary |
| Sarcomere | Between two Z lines; A band (myosin, dark), I band (actin, light), H zone and M line in the middle of the A band |
| Contraction | Ca²⁺ binds troponin, exposing actin sites; myosin heads form cross-bridges using ATP; thin filaments slide over thick ones |
| Red vs white fibres | Red: rich in myoglobin and mitochondria (aerobic); white: less myoglobin (anaerobic) |
| Bones | 206 in total — axial skeleton 80, appendicular skeleton 126 |
| Skull | 29 bones: 8 cranial, 14 facial, 1 hyoid, 6 ear ossicles |
| Vertebral column | 26 vertebrae: cervical 7, thoracic 12, lumbar 5, sacral 1 (fused), coccygeal 1 (fused) |
| Ribs | 12 pairs: true ribs 1–7, false (vertebrochondral) 8–10, floating 11–12 |
| Joints | Fibrous: skull sutures; cartilaginous: between vertebrae; synovial: ball and socket (humerus and pectoral girdle), hinge (knee), pivot (atlas and axis), gliding (between carpals), saddle (carpal and metacarpal of thumb) |
| Myasthenia gravis | Autoimmune disorder of the neuromuscular junction; fatigue and paralysis of skeletal muscle |
| Muscular dystrophy | Progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle, mostly genetic |
| Tetany | Rapid spasms due to low Ca²⁺ in body fluid |
| Bone and joint disorders | Arthritis (inflamed joints); osteoporosis (low bone mass); gout (uric acid crystals in joints) |
What the app covers in this chapter
515 questions in total, each with a detailed explanation.
| Types of Movement | 61 |
| Muscle | 20 |
| Muscle – Mechanism of Contraction and Neuromuscular Junction | 21 |
| Skeletal System | 40 |
| Joints | 40 |
| Disorders of Muscular and Skeletal System | 59 |
| Mixed practice and chapter tests | 274 |
Questions students ask
Is Locomotion and Movement important for NEET?
Yes. It is a factual Zoology chapter. Questions test sarcomere bands, the sliding filament mechanism, the number and types of bones, joint examples and disorders like myasthenia gravis, tetany and gout.
Which topics should I revise first?
Start with the structure of the sarcomere and the steps of contraction, then bone counts and rib types, and finish with joint examples and disorders (use the table on this page).
How many questions from this chapter are on RankUp?
The RankUp app has 515 questions on Locomotion and Movement, including 48 ELITE questions written for students aiming at AIR under 50. Every question has a detailed explanation.
Can I download these questions as a PDF?
Yes. The free PDF on this page has all 24 questions with the answer key and explanations. No signup is needed.
