Skeletal + muscular systems
Edexcel GCSE Physical Education revision on Skeletal + muscular systems. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE PE 1PE0 specification. This bank has 7 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 7)
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Question 1
How many bones does an adult human have?
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Answer: 206
Babies are born with ~270 bones - some fuse together as we grow. Adult: 206 bones. Functions of the skeleton: SUPPORT, PROTECTION (skull, ribcage), MOVEMENT (with muscles), BLOOD CELL PRODUCTION (bone marrow), MINERAL STORAGE (calcium, phosphorus).
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Question 2
The bicep is an example of a...
- A) Bone
- B) Skeletal (voluntary) muscle
- C) Cardiac muscle
- D) Smooth muscle
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Answer: Skeletal (voluntary) muscle
Three muscle types: SKELETAL (voluntary - you choose to move, attached to bones), CARDIAC (only in heart, involuntary), SMOOTH (in organs - intestines, blood vessels - involuntary). The bicep is in your upper arm + flexes the elbow. Triceps does the OPPOSITE - extends. ANTAGONISTIC PAIR.
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Question 3
An antagonistic pair of muscles works...
- A) Together to pull bones in the same direction
- B) In opposition
- C) Independently
- D) Around the heart
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Answer: In opposition
Muscles can only PULL, not push. So we need PAIRS to move bones both ways. Bending arm: bicep CONTRACTS (agonist), tricep RELAXES (antagonist). Straightening arm: tricep contracts, bicep relaxes. Other pairs: quadriceps/hamstrings (knee), gastrocnemius/tibialis anterior (ankle).
Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?
4 more questions on Skeletal + muscular systems — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Physical Education spec.