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BGCSE Physical Education study materials
BGCSE Physical Education study resources

BGCSE Physical Education practice questions

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Question 1Anatomy and Physiology

Which type of joint is the elbow?

  1. Hinge joint Correct answer.
  2. Ball-and-socket joint
  3. Pivot joint
  4. Saddle joint

Explanation

The elbow allows movement in one plane only, bending and straightening like a door on hinges. A hinge joint permits flexion and extension but blocks rotation and sideways movement, which is exactly how the humerus, radius and ulna interact.

Question 2Anatomy and Physiology

Which muscle is the prime mover for flexion at the elbow?

  1. Biceps brachii Correct answer.
  2. Triceps brachii
  3. Deltoid
  4. Latissimus dorsi

Explanation

Flexion at the elbow decreases the angle between the forearm and upper arm. The biceps brachii lies on the front of the humerus and contracts to pull the forearm upward, making it the agonist for this action.

Question 3Anatomy and Physiology

What is the main function of red blood cells in exercise?

  1. Carrying oxygen to working muscles Correct answer.
  2. Producing antibodies against infection
  3. Storing glycogen for energy
  4. Clotting blood at injury sites

Explanation

Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it at the tissues. During exercise, working muscles demand more oxygen, so red blood cells deliver the extra supply needed for aerobic energy production.

Question 4Anatomy and Physiology

Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta?

  1. Left atrium
  2. Right ventricle
  3. Right atrium
  4. Left ventricle Correct answer.

Explanation

The left ventricle receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium and contracts forcefully to push it into the aorta. Its thick muscular wall reflects the high pressure needed to send blood around the whole body.

Question 5Anatomy and Physiology

Which structure connects muscle to bone?

  1. Cartilage
  2. Ligament
  3. Bursa
  4. Tendon Correct answer.

Explanation

Tendons are tough bands of fibrous tissue that attach muscle to bone and transmit the pull of contraction. Ligaments instead join bone to bone, while cartilage and bursae reduce friction within joints.

Question 6Anatomy and Physiology

What does the term 'tidal volume' describe?

  1. Total air the lungs can hold
  2. Maximum air exhaled after a full breath
  3. Air moved in one normal breath Correct answer.
  4. Air left in the lungs after forced exhalation

Explanation

Tidal volume is the amount of air breathed in or out during a single resting breath, roughly half a litre in adults. It increases during exercise as breathing becomes deeper, but it is defined by one ordinary breath.

Question 7Anatomy and Physiology

Which type of muscle is found in the walls of the stomach and blood vessels?

  1. Striated muscle
  2. Smooth muscle Correct answer.
  3. Cardiac muscle
  4. Skeletal muscle

Explanation

Smooth muscle is involuntary and lines hollow organs such as the stomach, intestines and blood vessels. It contracts slowly and steadily without conscious control, unlike skeletal muscle, which moves the skeleton voluntarily.

Question 8Anatomy and Physiology

Which movement takes the arm away from the midline of the body?

  1. Adduction
  2. Abduction Correct answer.
  3. Flexion
  4. Rotation

Explanation

Abduction means moving a limb away from the body's midline, such as raising the arm sideways. Adduction is the opposite action, bringing the limb back towards the centre.

Question 9Anatomy and Physiology

During a sit-up, which muscle group is the prime mover?

  1. Gastrocnemius
  2. Hamstrings
  3. Quadriceps
  4. Rectus abdominis Correct answer.

Explanation

A sit-up flexes the trunk against gravity, and the rectus abdominis on the front of the abdomen is the main agonist. It shortens concentrically to curl the chest towards the knees.

Question 10Anatomy and Physiology

In which phase of a bicep curl is the biceps brachii contracting concentrically?

  1. Lowering the weight
  2. Lifting the weight Correct answer.
  3. Holding the weight still
  4. Releasing the grip

Explanation

A concentric contraction shortens the muscle while it produces force. Lifting the dumbbell bends the elbow while the biceps shortens, so this is the concentric phase.

Question 11Anatomy and Physiology

A runner injures the tendon just below the kneecap. Which structure is affected?

  1. Patellar tendon Correct answer.
  2. Achilles tendon
  3. Rotator cuff
  4. Biceps tendon

Explanation

The patellar tendon attaches the lower edge of the kneecap to the tibia and transmits the pull of the quadriceps. Pain just below the kneecap after running is typical of patellar tendon irritation.

Question 12Anatomy and Physiology

Which change best explains the increased stroke volume seen in a trained endurance athlete?

  1. A thicker left ventricular wall Correct answer.
  2. A faster resting heart rate
  3. Fewer red blood cells
  4. A weaker ventricular contraction

Explanation

Endurance training enlarges and thickens the left ventricle, so it can hold and eject more blood per beat. This raises stroke volume, allowing the same cardiac output at a lower heart rate.

Question 13Anatomy and Physiology

Which blood vessel carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart?

  1. Pulmonary vein
  2. Coronary artery
  3. Pulmonary artery Correct answer.
  4. Aorta

Explanation

The pulmonary artery carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs, and this blood is deoxygenated because it has not yet picked up oxygen. It is the exception to the general rule that arteries carry oxygenated blood.

Question 14Anatomy and Physiology

Which sequence correctly describes the passage of air into the lungs?

  1. Alveoli, bronchioles, bronchi, trachea
  2. Bronchioles, alveoli, trachea, bronchi
  3. Bronchi, trachea, alveoli, bronchioles
  4. Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli Correct answer.

Explanation

Inhaled air travels down the trachea, which splits into two bronchi, then into many smaller bronchioles, and finally reaches the alveoli. Gas exchange occurs only at the alveoli, where the walls are thin and richly supplied with capillaries.

Question 15Anatomy and Physiology

Which muscle contracts to increase the volume of the chest cavity during quiet inhalation?

  1. Internal intercostals
  2. Diaphragm Correct answer.
  3. Latissimus dorsi
  4. Rectus abdominis

Explanation

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped sheet of muscle beneath the lungs. When it contracts it flattens, enlarging the chest cavity and lowering pressure so air rushes in.

Question 16Anatomy and Physiology

Which describes the role of haemoglobin in the blood?

  1. It forms a mesh to stop bleeding
  2. It binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it at tissues Correct answer.
  3. It digests glucose in plasma
  4. It transports carbon dioxide only

Explanation

Haemoglobin is a red pigment inside red blood cells that combines with oxygen where concentrations are high in the lungs. At active tissues, where oxygen is low, it releases the oxygen for use in energy production.

Question 17Anatomy and Physiology

Which lever class describes the action of the calf raising the heel during a jump?

  1. Second class Correct answer.
  2. Fourth class
  3. First class
  4. Third class

Explanation

In a second-class lever the load lies between the fulcrum and the effort. When the calf lifts the heel, the ball of the foot is the fulcrum, the body weight is the load and the calf muscle supplies the effort, matching this arrangement.

Question 18Anatomy and Physiology

Which bone protects the spinal cord?

  1. Vertebrae Correct answer.
  2. Scapula
  3. Femur
  4. Sternum

Explanation

The vertebrae form a column of bones with a central canal that encloses and shields the spinal cord. This bony protection is essential because damage to the cord can cause permanent loss of movement or sensation.

Question 19Anatomy and Physiology

An athlete's cardiac output is 20 litres per minute and stroke volume is 125 millilitres. What is the heart rate?

  1. 200 beats per minute
  2. 160 beats per minute Correct answer.
  3. 250 beats per minute
  4. 100 beats per minute

Explanation

Cardiac output equals stroke volume multiplied by heart rate. Dividing 20 000 millilitres by 125 millilitres gives 160 beats per minute, a plausible value during intense exercise.

Question 20Anatomy and Physiology

Which best explains why a sprinter tires quickly while a marathon runner can sustain effort for hours?

  1. Sprinting relies on anaerobic energy that produces fatigue by-products Correct answer.
  2. Sprinters have more slow-twitch fibres
  3. Sprinters store no glycogen in muscles
  4. Marathon runners do not use oxygen

Explanation

Short explosive efforts depend on anaerobic systems that release energy fast but build up lactic acid and other by-products, causing rapid fatigue. Endurance running uses aerobic respiration, which yields energy more slowly but for far longer without such accumulation.

Question 21Anatomy and Physiology

Which change occurs in the cardiovascular system during a warm-up before exercise?

  1. Stroke volume falls sharply
  2. Blood vessels to muscles narrow
  3. Heart rate rises gradually Correct answer.
  4. Blood pressure drops to zero

Explanation

A warm-up raises heart rate gradually so that blood flow to muscles increases before intense work begins. This prepares the body and reduces the risk of sudden strain or injury.

Question 22Anatomy and Physiology

Which structure prevents blood from flowing backwards from the left ventricle into the left atrium?

  1. Septum
  2. Tricuspid valve
  3. Semilunar valve
  4. Bicuspid valve Correct answer.

Explanation

The bicuspid, or mitral, valve sits between the left atrium and left ventricle. Its flaps close when the ventricle contracts, stopping blood from being forced back into the atrium.

Question 23Anatomy and Physiology

A gymnast holds a handstand for thirty seconds. Which statement about the muscles maintaining this position is correct?

  1. They are performing isotonic contractions
  2. They are relaxed throughout
  3. They are lengthening continuously
  4. They are performing isometric contractions Correct answer.

Explanation

An isometric contraction generates tension without changing muscle length, which is what happens when a position is held still against gravity. The muscles stay active and fatigue gradually even though no joint angle changes.

Question 24Anatomy and Physiology

During intense exercise, lactic acid builds up in muscle. What is the main consequence for performance?

  1. It converts directly into ATP without oxygen
  2. It lowers muscle pH and impairs contraction, causing fatigue Correct answer.
  3. It permanently damages muscle fibres
  4. It increases the muscle's oxygen supply

Explanation

When anaerobic glycolysis outpaces removal, lactic acid accumulates and lowers the pH inside muscle cells. This acidity interferes with enzyme activity and cross-bridge formation, contributing to the burning sensation and reduced force output.

Question 25Anatomy and Physiology

Which combination correctly pairs a joint with its movement range?

  1. Hip joint with flexion, extension and rotation Correct answer.
  2. Skull sutures with gliding movement
  3. Ankle joint with full rotation
  4. Elbow joint with circumduction

Explanation

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, so it permits movement in three planes including flexion, extension, abduction and rotation. This wide range supports walking, running and kicking.

Question 26Anatomy and Physiology

Which term describes the point where a muscle attaches to the bone that moves when the muscle contracts?

  1. Ligament
  2. Origin
  3. Bursa
  4. Insertion Correct answer.

Explanation

A muscle has two main attachments: the origin, which is usually the more fixed or proximal attachment, and the insertion, which is the attachment on the bone that is moved by contraction. The insertion therefore travels toward the origin when the muscle shortens.

Question 27Anatomy and Physiology

Which type of joint allows the greatest range of movement in the human body?

  1. Pivot joint
  2. Ball-and-socket joint Correct answer.
  3. Hinge joint
  4. Gliding joint

Explanation

Ball-and-socket joints, such as the shoulder and hip, have a rounded head fitting into a cup-shaped cavity, permitting movement in all three planes including flexion, extension, abduction, rotation and circumduction. Hinge, pivot and gliding joints each permit movement in only one or two planes.

Question 28Anatomy and Physiology

Which component of blood is chiefly responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to working muscles?

  1. Red blood cells Correct answer.
  2. White blood cells
  3. Platelets
  4. Plasma proteins

Explanation

Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it at the tissues. Although a small amount of oxygen dissolves in plasma, the great majority is carried bound to haemoglobin inside red blood cells.

Question 29Anatomy and Physiology

Which structure connects bone to bone and stabilises a joint?

  1. Fascia
  2. Cartilage
  3. Ligament Correct answer.
  4. Tendon

Explanation

Ligaments are tough bands of fibrous connective tissue that link one bone to another across a joint, limiting excessive movement and providing stability. Tendons, by contrast, attach muscle to bone.

Question 30Anatomy and Physiology

Which movement decreases the angle at a joint, such as bending the elbow?

  1. Abduction
  2. Extension
  3. Flexion Correct answer.
  4. Rotation

Explanation

Flexion reduces the angle between the bones at a joint, as seen when the elbow bends and the hand moves toward the shoulder. Extension is the opposite action, increasing that angle.

Question 31Anatomy and Physiology

Which part of the skeleton includes the skull, vertebral column and rib cage?

  1. Pelvic girdle
  2. Axial skeleton Correct answer.
  3. Pectoral girdle
  4. Appendicular skeleton

Explanation

The axial skeleton forms the central supporting axis of the body and comprises the skull, vertebral column, ribs and sternum. Its main functions are protection of the brain, spinal cord and organs, and support of the trunk.

Question 32Anatomy and Physiology

What does the term 'vital capacity' measure?

  1. The volume of air moved in one normal breath
  2. The maximum volume of air that can be exhaled after a maximum inhalation Correct answer.
  3. The volume of air remaining in the lungs after a full exhalation
  4. The number of breaths taken each minute

Explanation

Vital capacity is the largest amount of air a person can expel from the lungs after first filling them as fully as possible. It is the sum of tidal volume plus inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes, and it excludes residual volume.

Question 33Anatomy and Physiology

A goalkeeper jumps and lands on both feet with knees slightly bent. Which action at the knee occurs as the knees bend on landing?

  1. Concentric extension
  2. Passive abduction
  3. Isometric extension
  4. Eccentric flexion control Correct answer.

Explanation

As the knees bend under body weight during landing, the extensor muscles lengthen while producing tension to control the descent, which is an eccentric action. This controlled lengthening absorbs force and protects the joint.

Question 34Anatomy and Physiology

Which muscle group acts as the antagonist during extension of the knee?

  1. Quadriceps femoris
  2. Iliopsoas
  3. Hamstrings Correct answer.
  4. Gastrocnemius

Explanation

During knee extension the quadriceps are the agonist producing the movement, while the hamstrings on the opposite side lengthen and control the action as antagonists. The antagonist relaxes and stretches to allow smooth movement at the joint.

Question 35Anatomy and Physiology

A swimmer performs a front crawl stroke and rotates the arm through a full circle. Which term describes this combined movement at the shoulder?

  1. Adduction
  2. Pronation
  3. Circumduction Correct answer.
  4. Inversion

Explanation

Circumduction is a conical movement in which the distal end of a limb traces a circle while the proximal end stays still, combining flexion, abduction, extension and adduction. It is possible only at joints with a wide range such as the shoulder and hip.

Question 36Anatomy and Physiology

Why does a first-class lever such as the neck extensors produce only small, precise movements rather than large forces?

  1. The load lies between the fulcrum and the effort
  2. The lever has no fulcrum
  3. The effort acts between the fulcrum and the load
  4. The fulcrum lies between the effort and the load Correct answer.

Explanation

In a first-class lever the fulcrum sits between the effort and the load, as with a see-saw. In the neck the effort arm is short relative to the load arm, so the arrangement favours speed and range of movement over force production.

Question 37Anatomy and Physiology

During a long-distance run, which response helps regulate rising body temperature?

  1. Constriction of skin arterioles and reduced sweating
  2. Dilation of skin arterioles and increased sweating Correct answer.
  3. Increased blood flow to the digestive organs
  4. Reduced heart rate and shallower breathing

Explanation

When core temperature rises, the body dilates arterioles near the skin so more blood reaches the surface to lose heat, and sweat glands increase output so evaporation cools the skin. Both responses are controlled by the thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus.

Question 38Anatomy and Physiology

Which statement best explains why the alveoli are efficient surfaces for gas exchange?

  1. They are filled with blood plasma rather than air
  2. They have a large combined surface area and a very thin wall Correct answer.
  3. They contain cartilage rings that keep them open
  4. They are lined with smooth muscle to pump gases

Explanation

The alveoli number in the millions, giving a very large total surface area, and their walls are only one cell thick next to a dense capillary network. This thin, moist, well-perfused barrier allows rapid diffusion of oxygen in and carbon dioxide out.

Question 39Anatomy and Physiology

At high altitude the partial pressure of oxygen in the air is lower. Which immediate adjustment best maintains oxygen delivery to muscles?

  1. A reduction in red blood cell production
  2. A fall in cardiac output
  3. A decrease in ventilation rate
  4. An increase in ventilation and heart rate Correct answer.

Explanation

With less oxygen available per breath, the body increases breathing rate and depth and raises heart rate to move more blood past the lungs and to the tissues. Over longer periods, red blood cell production also rises to improve oxygen-carrying capacity.

Question 40Anatomy and Physiology

A student measures a resting heart rate of 60 beats per minute and a stroke volume of 70 millilitres. What is the cardiac output?

  1. 4.2 litres per minute Correct answer.
  2. 42 litres per minute
  3. 1.2 litres per minute
  4. 7.0 litres per minute

Explanation

Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume, so 60 beats per minute times 70 millilitres gives 4200 millilitres, or 4.2 litres per minute. This value rises during exercise as both heart rate and stroke volume increase.

Question 41Anatomy and Physiology

Which change in the blood occurs during acclimatisation to endurance training?

  1. A fall in total blood volume
  2. An increase in plasma volume and red cell mass Correct answer.
  3. A reduction in the number of mitochondria
  4. A decrease in capillary density in muscle

Explanation

Endurance training expands plasma volume and stimulates greater red blood cell production, raising total blood volume and oxygen-carrying capacity. It also increases muscle capillarisation and mitochondrial density, improving oxygen delivery and use.

Question 42Anatomy and Physiology

Which muscle of the trunk flexes the spine and is commonly strengthened by curl-up exercises?

  1. Erector spinae
  2. Trapezius
  3. Rectus abdominis Correct answer.
  4. Latissimus dorsi

Explanation

The rectus abdominis runs down the front of the abdomen and flexes the trunk, drawing the rib cage toward the pelvis in a curl-up. The erector spinae on the back perform the opposing action of extension.

Question 43Anatomy and Physiology

A basketball player lands awkwardly and tears the anterior cruciate ligament. Which function of that ligament is lost?

  1. Preventing the tibia from sliding too far forward on the femur Correct answer.
  2. Producing the force for knee extension
  3. Carrying nerve impulses to the quadriceps
  4. Producing synovial fluid within the joint

Explanation

The anterior cruciate ligament lies inside the knee and restrains forward translation of the tibia relative to the femur, also limiting excessive rotation. Damage leads to instability because this passive restraint no longer resists those forces.

Question 44Anatomy and Physiology

Which statement correctly describes the difference between type I and type II muscle fibres?

  1. Type I fibres contract rapidly and fatigue quickly
  2. Type II fibres have the highest capillary density
  3. Type II fibres rely mainly on aerobic metabolism
  4. Type I fibres are slow to contract and resist fatigue Correct answer.

Explanation

Type I (slow-twitch) fibres have many mitochondria and capillaries and a rich blood supply, making them fatigue-resistant and suited to endurance work. Type II fibres contract faster and more powerfully but fatigue more quickly because they depend more on anaerobic glycolysis.

Question 45Anatomy and Physiology

During a vertical jump, the hip, knee and ankle extend explosively. Which sequence correctly lists the muscles acting as agonists at these joints?

  1. Gluteus maximus, quadriceps, gastrocnemius Correct answer.
  2. Iliopsoas, hamstrings, tibialis anterior
  3. Adductor group, popliteus, peroneus longus
  4. Rectus abdominis, biceps femoris, soleus only

Explanation

Jumping requires forceful extension at the hip, knee and ankle. The gluteus maximus extends the hip, the quadriceps extend the knee and the gastrocnemius with the soleus plantar flexes the ankle to push off the ground.

Question 46Anatomy and Physiology

An athlete has a resting stroke volume of 70 millilitres and a heart rate of 70 beats per minute. During maximal exercise the heart rate reaches 190 beats per minute and cardiac output is 22.8 litres per minute. What is the exercising stroke volume?

  1. 190 millilitres
  2. 120 millilitres Correct answer.
  3. 228 millilitres
  4. 150 millilitres

Explanation

Rearranging cardiac output equals heart rate times stroke volume gives stroke volume equals cardiac output divided by heart rate. Converting 22.8 litres to 22800 millilitres and dividing by 190 beats per minute yields 120 millilitres per beat, a large rise from the resting value.

Question 47Anatomy and Physiology

Why is the second-class lever arrangement of the calf raising the heel considered effective for lifting body weight?

  1. The load arm is always longer than the effort arm
  2. The fulcrum lies between effort and load
  3. The effort arm is longer than the load arm, giving mechanical advantage Correct answer.
  4. The effort and load act at the same point

Explanation

In a second-class lever the load lies between the fulcrum and the effort, as with a wheelbarrow. When the effort arm exceeds the load arm, a smaller effort can move a larger load, so the arrangement favours force production over speed.

Question 48Anatomy and Physiology

A trained endurance athlete and an untrained person exercise at the same submaximal running speed. Which explanation best accounts for the athlete's lower heart rate?

  1. The athlete has a lower stroke volume but higher heart rate reserve
  2. The athlete's blood has a lower oxygen-carrying capacity
  3. The athlete's muscles use anaerobic pathways at this intensity
  4. The athlete has a larger stroke volume, so less frequent beats deliver the same output Correct answer.

Explanation

Training enlarges the heart's chambers and strengthens the myocardium, raising stroke volume at rest and during exercise. Because each beat ejects more blood, a lower heart rate is sufficient to achieve the same cardiac output at a given submaximal workload.

Question 49Anatomy and Physiology

Which statement best explains how the respiratory and circulatory systems work together during sustained exercise?

  1. Both systems remove carbon dioxide but neither transports oxygen
  2. The lungs pump blood while the heart exchanges gases
  3. Ventilation brings oxygen to the alveoli and circulation carries it to muscles while removing carbon dioxide Correct answer.
  4. The circulatory system produces oxygen that the lungs then absorb

Explanation

Ventilation replenishes oxygen in the alveoli and removes carbon dioxide from them, while the circulatory system transports oxygen bound to haemoglobin to working muscle and carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs. The two systems are linked by diffusion at the alveolar-capillary membrane.

Question 50Anatomy and Physiology

A netball player stands on tiptoe to reach for a high pass. Which type of joint action is occurring at the ankle?

  1. Circumduction
  2. Plantar flexion Correct answer.
  3. Dorsiflexion
  4. Inversion

Explanation

Rising onto the toes points the foot downward, which is plantar flexion at the ankle joint. Dorsiflexion is the opposite movement, bringing the top of the foot toward the shin. Inversion and circumduction describe other directions of movement and do not describe lifting the heel to stand on tiptoe.