Ch-7: Structural Organisation in Animals30 Questions
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1. Animal tissues are broadly classified into four main types:
A. Epithelial, connective, muscular, and neural tissue
B. Meristematic, permanent, vascular, and ground tissue
C. Xylem, phloem, cortex, and epidermis
D. Simple, complex, dermal, and ground tissue
Answer: A. Epithelial, connective, muscular, and neural tissue
Explanation: Animal tissues are classified into four fundamental types based on structure and function: epithelial tissue (covering/lining), connective tissue (binding/support), muscular tissue (movement), and neural tissue (coordination).
2. Epithelial tissue mainly functions to
A. Cover the body surface and line body cavities and organs
B. Generate movement through contraction
C. Conduct nerve impulses
D. Bind and support other tissues
Answer: A. Cover the body surface and line body cavities and organs
Explanation: Epithelial tissue forms a covering or lining for the body surface, various organs, and body cavities, providing protection, absorption, or secretion depending on its type.
3. Epithelial tissue made up of a single layer of flat, thin cells is called
A. Simple squamous epithelium
B. Stratified squamous epithelium
C. Simple columnar epithelium
D. Cuboidal epithelium
Answer: A. Simple squamous epithelium
Explanation: Simple squamous epithelium consists of a single layer of flattened, thin cells, well-suited for locations requiring rapid diffusion, such as the walls of blood vessels and air sacs of lungs.
4. Epithelial tissue with multiple layers of cells, providing protection against mechanical and chemical stress, such as in the skin, is called
A. Stratified squamous epithelium
B. Simple squamous epithelium
C. Simple columnar epithelium
D. Glandular epithelium
Answer: A. Stratified squamous epithelium
Explanation: Stratified squamous epithelium has multiple layers of cells, providing strong protection against mechanical stress, abrasion, and chemical attack, such as in the outer layer of skin.
5. Epithelial cells specialized for secretion, forming structures like glands, are called
A. Glandular epithelium
B. Squamous epithelium
C. Ciliated epithelium
D. Neural tissue
Answer: A. Glandular epithelium
Explanation: Glandular epithelium consists of cells specialized for secretion, forming glands (either exocrine, secreting via ducts, or endocrine, secreting directly into the bloodstream).
6. The junction that mechanically attaches adjacent epithelial cells to one another, preventing them from being pulled apart, is called a
A. Adhering junction
B. Tight junction
C. Gap junction
D. Synapse
Answer: A. Adhering junction
Explanation: Adhering junctions perform a cementing function, mechanically attaching adjacent epithelial cells together to keep neighboring cells connected and resist mechanical stress.
7. Tight junctions between epithelial cells mainly function to
A. Prevent leakage of substances across a tissue layer
B. Facilitate direct communication between cells
C. Provide mechanical attachment only
D. Allow free diffusion of large molecules between cells
Answer: A. Prevent leakage of substances across a tissue layer
Explanation: Tight junctions seal adjacent epithelial cells tightly together, preventing the leakage of substances across a tissue layer, which is important in organs like the intestine and kidney tubules.
8. Connective tissue is characterized by cells that are typically
A. Loosely spaced within an extracellular matrix
B. Tightly packed with little to no matrix
C. Arranged only in sheets covering surfaces
D. Exclusively excitable and capable of conducting impulses
Answer: A. Loosely spaced within an extracellular matrix
Explanation: Connective tissue cells are typically loosely spaced and embedded in an extracellular matrix, which may be jelly-like, fluid, dense, or rigid, distinguishing them from tightly packed epithelial cells.
9. Areolar connective tissue, found between the skin and underlying muscles, mainly functions to
A. Attach the skin to underlying tissues and fill spaces inside the body
B. Conduct electrical impulses
C. Contract to generate body movement
D. Transport oxygen throughout the body
Answer: A. Attach the skin to underlying tissues and fill spaces inside the body
Explanation: Areolar connective tissue is present between the skin and muscles, around blood vessels and nerves, and functions to support internal organs and repair tissue damage.
10. Adipose connective tissue is specialized mainly for
A. Fat storage
B. Conducting nerve impulses
C. Producing red blood cells
D. Forming rigid support structures like bones
Answer: A. Fat storage
Explanation: Adipose tissue is a connective tissue specialized for the storage of fats, with cells (adipocytes) that swell and store fat globules, found mainly below the skin.
11. Dense connective tissue that connects bones to other bones and provides flexibility is called
A. Ligament
B. Tendon
C. Cartilage
D. Areolar tissue
Answer: A. Ligament
Explanation: Ligaments are a type of dense connective tissue that connect bone to bone at joints, and are highly elastic, providing both strength and flexibility.
12. Dense connective tissue that connects muscles to bones, offering great tensile strength but limited flexibility, is called
A. Tendon
B. Ligament
C. Cartilage
D. Adipose tissue
Answer: A. Tendon
Explanation: Tendons are dense, fibrous connective tissue that connect muscles to bones, with parallel arrangement of fibres providing great strength but limited flexibility compared to ligaments.
13. Cartilage, a supportive connective tissue with a solid but flexible matrix, is found in structures like the
A. Nose and outer ear
B. Blood vessels only
C. Skin surface only
D. Brain only
Answer: A. Nose and outer ear
Explanation: Cartilage is a supportive connective tissue with a solid but flexible matrix that resists compression, found in structures such as the nose, outer ear, and between vertebrae.
14. Bone, a rigid connective tissue forming the framework supporting the body, has a matrix rich in
A. Calcium salts
B. Fat globules
C. Collagen alone, with no minerals
D. Water only
Answer: A. Calcium salts
Explanation: Bone is a rigid connective tissue whose extracellular matrix is rich in calcium salts and collagen fibres, giving it strength and support for the body framework.
15. Blood, classified as a fluid connective tissue, is composed of a fluid matrix called plasma along with
A. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
B. Only collagen fibres
C. Only fat cells
D. Only bone cells
Answer: A. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
Explanation: Blood is classified as a fluid connective tissue, with plasma as its fluid matrix, containing red blood cells (oxygen transport), white blood cells (immunity), and platelets (clotting).
16. Muscular tissue is primarily responsible for
A. Body movement, through the contraction and relaxation of muscle fibres
B. Covering and protecting body surfaces
C. Storing fat
D. Conducting electrical nerve impulses only
Answer: A. Body movement, through the contraction and relaxation of muscle fibres
Explanation: Muscular tissue consists of elongated cells (muscle fibres) that can contract and relax, enabling body movement and the movement of internal organs.
17. Muscle tissue that is voluntary, striated, and attached to bones for movement of the skeleton is called
A. Skeletal muscle
B. Smooth muscle
C. Cardiac muscle
D. Cardiac and smooth muscle together
Answer: A. Skeletal muscle
Explanation: Skeletal muscle is attached to bones, striated in appearance, and under voluntary (conscious) control, responsible for movements like walking and lifting.
18. Muscle tissue that is involuntary, non-striated, and typically found in the walls of internal organs like the intestine is called
A. Smooth muscle
B. Skeletal muscle
C. Cardiac muscle
D. Neural tissue
Answer: A. Smooth muscle
Explanation: Smooth muscle is non-striated and under involuntary control, found in the walls of hollow internal organs such as the intestine, blood vessels, and bladder, controlling movements like peristalsis.
19. Muscle tissue found exclusively in the heart, which is striated but works involuntarily, is called
A. Cardiac muscle
B. Skeletal muscle
C. Smooth muscle
D. Areolar tissue
Answer: A. Cardiac muscle
Explanation: Cardiac muscle is found exclusively in the walls of the heart; it is striated in structure like skeletal muscle but functions involuntarily and rhythmically, without conscious control.
20. Neural tissue is specialized mainly to
A. Receive and transmit electrical impulses for control and coordination
B. Store fat within the body
C. Provide mechanical support to bones
D. Secrete digestive enzymes
Answer: A. Receive and transmit electrical impulses for control and coordination
Explanation: Neural tissue is specialized to sense stimuli and rapidly transmit electrical impulses throughout the body, enabling control and coordination of various body functions.
21. The basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system, specialized to conduct nerve impulses, is called a
A. Neuron
B. Myocyte
C. Osteocyte
D. Adipocyte
Answer: A. Neuron
Explanation: A neuron is the fundamental structural and functional unit of the nervous system, specialized for receiving stimuli and conducting nerve impulses.
22. In a typical earthworm, which is used as a representative organism to study animal organisation, the digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems are all examples of
A. Organ systems, formed by groups of organs working together
B. Individual tissues functioning alone
C. Individual cells functioning alone
D. Structures found only in plants, not animals
Answer: A. Organ systems, formed by groups of organs working together
Explanation: In organisms like earthworms and cockroaches, different organs work together to perform a common function, forming organ systems such as the digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems.
23. Which of the following correctly represents the increasing hierarchy of biological organisation in most animals?
A. Cells → Tissues → Organs → Organ systems → Organism
B. Organism → Organ systems → Organs → Tissues → Cells
C. Tissues → Cells → Organism → Organs → Organ systems
D. Organs → Organism → Cells → Tissues → Organ systems
Answer: A. Cells → Tissues → Organs → Organ systems → Organism
Explanation: The hierarchy of structural organisation in most animals proceeds from the basic cell, to groups of similar cells forming tissues, tissues combining to form organs, organs working together as organ systems, and finally all systems together constituting the complete organism.
24. Why is the earthworm often used as a representative model organism to study animal organ systems in biology?
A. It has clearly organized, distinguishable organ systems (digestive, circulatory, nervous, etc.) that are relatively simple to study
B. It lacks any organ systems whatsoever
C. It has no cells or tissues at all
D. It is the most complex organism known, more so than humans
Answer: A. It has clearly organized, distinguishable organ systems (digestive, circulatory, nervous, etc.) that are relatively simple to study
Explanation: Earthworms possess distinct, well-organized organ systems that are structurally simpler than in higher vertebrates, yet clearly demonstrate the principle of organ system-level organisation, making them convenient and instructive as representative study organisms.
25. Which of the following best explains why cardiac muscle, unlike skeletal muscle, can function continuously throughout a person's life without becoming fatigued in the same way?
A. Cardiac muscle has a rich blood supply and specialized structure (intercalated discs) that support its continuous, involuntary, rhythmic contractions
B. Cardiac muscle is not made of living cells and therefore never tires
C. Cardiac muscle contracts only when consciously willed by a person
D. Cardiac muscle is structurally identical to smooth muscle in every way
Answer: A. Cardiac muscle has a rich blood supply and specialized structure (intercalated discs) that support its continuous, involuntary, rhythmic contractions
Explanation: Cardiac muscle cells are interconnected by intercalated discs that allow synchronized contraction, and they have an abundant blood and oxygen supply along with a high density of mitochondria, enabling continuous, involuntary, rhythmic contraction throughout life without the fatigue seen in prolonged voluntary skeletal muscle use.
26. Why is cartilage, rather than bone, found at the ends of long bones and in areas like the nose and ear, where flexibility along with support is needed?
A. Cartilage has a smooth, flexible, and slightly compressible matrix that reduces friction and absorbs shock while still providing support
B. Cartilage is heavier and more rigid than bone
C. Cartilage cannot bear any mechanical load at all
D. Cartilage is composed mainly of calcium salts, just like bone
Answer: A. Cartilage has a smooth, flexible, and slightly compressible matrix that reduces friction and absorbs shock while still providing support
Explanation: Unlike the rigid, calcified matrix of bone, cartilage has a smoother, more flexible, and compressible matrix, making it ideal for locations such as joint surfaces (reducing friction) and structures like the nose and ear (providing flexible support without full rigidity).
27. Why does damage to cartilage typically heal more slowly than damage to other connective tissues like bone?
A. Cartilage lacks a direct blood supply, relying on diffusion for nutrients, which slows the repair process
B. Cartilage has an extremely rich blood supply, which usually speeds up healing significantly
C. Cartilage cells divide much faster than bone cells
D. Cartilage is not a living tissue at all
Answer: A. Cartilage lacks a direct blood supply, relying on diffusion for nutrients, which slows the repair process
Explanation: Cartilage is avascular (lacks its own blood vessels), so its cells (chondrocytes) must rely on the slow process of diffusion for receiving nutrients and removing waste, which significantly slows down its capacity to heal compared to well-vascularized tissues like bone.
28. Why do organs like the small intestine have inner walls lined with columnar epithelium rather than simple squamous epithelium?
A. Columnar cells have a larger surface area and can accommodate structures (like microvilli) for efficient absorption and secretion
B. Squamous epithelium is thicker and better suited for absorption
C. Columnar epithelium cannot perform any absorption at all
D. There is no functional difference between the two epithelial types
Answer: A. Columnar cells have a larger surface area and can accommodate structures (like microvilli) for efficient absorption and secretion
Explanation: Columnar epithelial cells are taller and can bear structures like microvilli on their surface, greatly increasing the surface area available for the efficient absorption of digested nutrients and for secretion, which is essential in an organ like the small intestine.
29. Why is blood classified as a connective tissue, even though it is fluid and does not physically bind or support other tissues in the same way bone or cartilage does?
A. Because it consists of cells suspended in an extracellular fluid matrix (plasma), fitting the general structural definition of connective tissue
B. Because it is capable of contracting like muscle tissue
C. Because it conducts electrical impulses like neural tissue
D. Because it always forms a solid, rigid matrix like bone
Answer: A. Because it consists of cells suspended in an extracellular fluid matrix (plasma), fitting the general structural definition of connective tissue
Explanation: Even though blood is fluid rather than solid, it structurally fits the definition of connective tissue because it consists of specialized cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets) suspended within an extracellular fluid matrix called plasma, distinguishing it as a "fluid connective tissue."
30. Why is understanding the different levels of structural organisation (cells, tissues, organs, organ systems) important for studying how an animal's body functions as a whole?
A. Because each higher level of organisation emerges from the coordinated function of the level below it, so understanding one level helps explain the function of the level above
B. Because each level of organisation functions completely independently, with no relation to any other level
C. Because only the organ system level matters; cells and tissues are irrelevant to body function
D. Because all animals, regardless of complexity, have identical levels of organisation
Answer: A. Because each higher level of organisation emerges from the coordinated function of the level below it, so understanding one level helps explain the function of the level above
Explanation: In multicellular animals, individual cells combine to form specialized tissues, which combine to form organs, and organs work together as organ systems; understanding this hierarchy shows how coordinated function at each lower level builds up to produce the complex, integrated functioning of the whole organism.
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