(a) Figure 4 shows the main bones of part of the human skeleton.
(i)
Name the bones labelled X and Y in Figure 4.
x-cranium
y- ribs
(ii)
State ONE function of EACH bone named in (i) above.
Cranium protects the brain.
Ribs protects the heart and lungs.
(b) The skeletal system is made up of both bone and cartilage. State TWO distinguishing
features of bone and cartilage.
Bone is a living hard connective tissue made from a ground substance, or matrix, and
bone cells and cartilage is a flexible connective tissue with a smooth glossy appearance.
(c) Charles has been complaining of severe pain in his lower back. His wife, Summer, has
problems with the arches of her feet. They both visit the doctor and are told that he has poor
posture and she needs to stop wearing very high-heeled shoes.
Explain how poor posture and wearing high-heeled shoes could contribute to Charles’
back pains and summer’s painful arches, respectively.
Charles bad posture puts a strain on the muscles in his body and they lose their tone. Bad
posture while standing is caused by high- heeled shoes therefore it puts a strain on the
joints and the cartilage may become worn and the ligaments distorted bones become
misaligned.
(d) Granny Luanda has had a history of malformed bones at her youth and now that she is
old, she has fallen several times and twice fractured her left hip.
(i)
Suggest ONE vitamin and ONE material that may be deficient in Granny Luanda’s
diet.
Granny Luanda is lacking vitamin D and calcium in her diet.
(ii)
Suggest ONE disease EACH that could develop as a result of a deficiency of the
vitamin and mineral named in (d) (i) above.
The disease that could be developed would be rickets for both the vitamin and the
mineral.