2010 AIPMT-MAINS Locomotion and MovementSkeletal System and Joints Medium Question 3 of 3 in Skeletal System and Joints

Which one of the following is the correct description of a certain part of a normal human skeleton?

A Parietal bone and the temporal bone of the skull are joined by fibrous joint
B First vertebra is axis which articulates with the occipital condyles
C The 9th and 10th pairs of ribs are called the floating ribs
D Glenoid cavity is a depression to which the thigh bone articulates

The answer is A.

Solution

Fibrous joints do not allow any movement; the flat skull bones fuse end-to-end with the help of dense fibrous connective tissue in the form of sutures to form the cranium. The parietal and temporal bones are cranial bones, so they are joined by a fibrous joint. This description is correct.
The first vertebra is the atlas, which articulates with the occipital condyles; the axis is the second vertebra.
The floating ribs are the 11th and 12th pairs; the 8th, 9th and 10th pairs are vertebrochondral (false) ribs.
The glenoid cavity is in the scapula and articulates with the head of the humerus; the thigh bone (femur) articulates with the acetabulum of the pelvic girdle.
Hence the correct description is that the parietal and temporal bones are joined by a fibrous joint.

Concept Fibrous joints

Skeletal System and Joints in past papers

3 questions from this chapter have appeared across 2 exam years.