Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 17 Locomotion and Movement With Answers

Locomotion is voluntary movement that changes the position or location of an organism. Muscles, bones, joints and nerves work together to produce coordinated body movement.

Movement becomes easier to revise when students connect muscle contraction with bones and joints. Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 17 help students prepare Locomotion and Movement for CBSE 2026-27 school exams, NEET foundation practice, and NCERT-based state board tests. The chapter includes types of movement, skeletal muscles, sliding filament theory, sarcomere, actin, myosin, skeletal system, axial skeleton, appendicular skeleton, joints, myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, tetany, arthritis, osteoporosis and gout.

Key Takeaways

• Movement and Locomotion: All locomotions are movements, but all movements are not locomotions.
• Human Muscles: Muscles form about 40-50 percent of adult human body weight.
• Human Skeleton: The human skeletal system has 206 bones and a few cartilages.
• Synovial Joints: Synovial joints allow considerable movement due to a fluid-filled synovial cavity.

Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 17 Structure 2026

Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 17 for CBSE 2026-27

Movement questions often mix muscle structure, skeleton terms and joint examples. The safest answers mention the structure, its location and its function.

1. What is movement in Class 11 Biology?

Movement is a change in position of a body part or cell. It may or may not change the location of the organism.

1. Amoeba shows protoplasmic streaming.
2. Cilia and flagella show cellular movement.
3. Humans move limbs, jaws, eyelids and tongue.
4. Some movements cause locomotion.

Final answer: Movement is a basic feature of living beings.

2. What is locomotion?

Locomotion is voluntary movement that changes the place or location of an organism.

1. Walking is locomotion.
2. Running is locomotion.
3. Swimming is locomotion.
4. Flying is locomotion.

Final answer: Locomotion changes the location of an organism.

3. What is the difference between movement and locomotion?

Movement may or may not change place, while locomotion always changes place.

Final fact: All locomotions are movements.

4. Why do animals show locomotion?

Animals show locomotion to find food, shelter, mates, breeding grounds and favourable conditions.

1. Locomotion helps animals search for food.
2. It helps them escape predators.
3. It helps them find mates.
4. It helps them reach suitable breeding areas.

Final fact: Locomotion supports survival and reproduction.

Types of Movement Class 11 Biology Questions

Human cells show three main movement types. Each type depends on different cell structures and performs a specific function.

5. What are the three types of movement in human cells?

Human cells show amoeboid, ciliary and muscular movements.

1. Amoeboid movement occurs in macrophages and leucocytes.
2. Ciliary movement occurs in ciliated epithelium.
3. Muscular movement occurs in limbs, jaws and tongue.

Final answer: Human cells show amoeboid, ciliary and muscular movement.

6. What is amoeboid movement?

Amoeboid movement is movement through pseudopodia formed by protoplasmic streaming.

1. Macrophages show amoeboid movement.
2. Leucocytes show amoeboid movement.
3. Microfilaments support this movement.
4. Amoeba uses the same movement pattern.

Final fact: Amoeboid movement uses pseudopodia.

7. What is ciliary movement?

Ciliary movement is movement caused by coordinated beating of cilia.

1. Cilia occur in many internal tubular organs.
2. Tracheal cilia remove dust particles.
3. Ciliary movement helps move ova.
4. It occurs in ciliated epithelium.

Final answer: Ciliary movement helps transport materials inside organs.

8. What is muscular movement?

Muscular movement is movement caused by contraction of muscles.

1. Limbs move through muscular movement.
2. Jaws move through muscular movement.
3. Tongue movement needs muscles.
4. Locomotion needs coordinated muscle activity.

Final fact: Muscular movement supports body posture and locomotion.

Muscle Class 11 Biology Questions With Answers

Muscle is a specialised mesodermal tissue. Its special properties allow contraction, relaxation and force generation.

9. What is muscle tissue?

Muscle is a specialised tissue of mesodermal origin. It contributes about 40-50 percent of adult human body weight.

1. Muscle shows excitability.
2. Muscle shows contractility.
3. Muscle shows extensibility.
4. Muscle shows elasticity.

Final answer: Muscle tissue produces movement through contraction.

10. What are the special properties of muscles?

Muscles have excitability, contractility, extensibility and elasticity.

1. Excitability helps muscle respond to stimulus.
2. Contractility helps muscle shorten.
3. Extensibility helps muscle stretch.
4. Elasticity helps muscle return to shape.

Final fact: These properties support movement.

11. What are the three types of muscles based on location?

The three muscle types are skeletal, visceral and cardiac muscles.

1. Skeletal muscles attach to bones.
2. Visceral muscles occur in hollow organs.
3. Cardiac muscles occur in the heart.

Final answer: Muscles are skeletal, visceral and cardiac.

12. What are skeletal muscles?

Skeletal muscles are striated voluntary muscles closely associated with skeletal components.

1. They attach to bones.
2. They show stripes under a microscope.
3. They remain under voluntary control.
4. They support locomotion and posture.

Final fact: Skeletal muscles are voluntary and striated.

13. What are visceral muscles?

Visceral muscles are smooth involuntary muscles present in the walls of hollow internal organs.

1. They occur in the alimentary canal.
2. They occur in the reproductive tract.
3. They lack striations.
4. They move food and gametes.

Final fact: Visceral muscles are non-striated and involuntary.

14. What are cardiac muscles?

Cardiac muscles are heart muscles that are striated, branched and involuntary.

1. They occur only in the heart.
2. Their cells form branching patterns.
3. They show striations.
4. The nervous system does not control them directly.

Final answer: Cardiac muscles are striated involuntary muscles.

15. Differentiate between skeletal, visceral and cardiac muscles.

Skeletal muscles are voluntary, visceral muscles are smooth, and cardiac muscles occur in the heart.

Final fact: Muscle type depends on location, appearance and control.

Sarcomere Class 11 Biology Questions

A sarcomere is the functional unit of muscle contraction. Students should learn A-band, I-band, Z-line, M-line and H-zone together.

16. What is a muscle fibre?

A muscle fibre is a muscle cell lined by sarcolemma and filled with sarcoplasm.

1. Sarcolemma is the plasma membrane.
2. Sarcoplasm contains many nuclei.
3. Muscle fibre acts as a syncytium.
4. Sarcoplasmic reticulum stores Ca²⁺.

Final fact: Muscle fibre contains many myofibrils.

17. What are myofibrils?

Myofibrils are parallelly arranged filaments present in the sarcoplasm of muscle fibres.

1. They contain alternate dark and light bands.
2. Dark bands contain myosin.
3. Light bands contain actin.
4. They run along the muscle fibre length.

Final answer: Myofibrils give skeletal muscle its striated appearance.

18. What are A-band and I-band?

A-band contains myosin, while I-band contains actin.

1. A-band is dark and anisotropic.
2. I-band is light and isotropic.
3. Thin filaments occur in I-band.
4. Thick filaments occur in A-band.

Final fact: A-band remains unchanged during contraction.

19. What is Z-line?

Z-line is an elastic fibre that bisects the I-band.

1. Thin filaments attach to Z-line.
2. Z-line marks sarcomere boundaries.
3. Two successive Z-lines enclose one sarcomere.

Final answer: Z-line marks the ends of a sarcomere.

20. What is M-line?

M-line is a thin fibrous membrane in the middle of the A-band.

1. It holds thick filaments together.
2. It lies at the centre of A-band.
3. It supports myosin filament arrangement.

Final fact: M-line stabilises thick filaments.

21. What is sarcomere?

Sarcomere is the functional unit of contraction between two successive Z-lines.

1. It contains actin and myosin filaments.
2. It has A-band and I-band regions.
3. It shortens during muscle contraction.
4. It returns during relaxation.

Final answer: Sarcomere is the contractile unit of muscle fibre.

22. What is H-zone?

H-zone is the central part of the thick filament region without thin filament overlap.

1. It lies inside A-band.
2. It contains only myosin filaments.
3. It becomes shorter during contraction.

Final fact: H-zone reduces during muscle contraction.

Actin and Myosin Class 11 Biology Questions

Actin and myosin form the contractile system of skeletal muscle. Their interaction depends on Ca²⁺, ATP and exposed binding sites.

23. What is actin filament?

Actin filament is a thin filament made of two F-actin strands, tropomyosin and troponin.

1. F-actin strands coil around each other.
2. F-actin contains G-actin monomers.
3. Tropomyosin runs along F-actin.
4. Troponin occurs at regular intervals.

Final fact: Actin forms the thin filament.

24. What is the role of troponin?

Troponin masks myosin-binding sites on actin in the resting state.

1. It occurs on tropomyosin.
2. It binds Ca²⁺ during contraction.
3. Ca²⁺ binding exposes active sites.
4. Myosin can then bind actin.

Final answer: Troponin controls actin-myosin interaction.

25. What is myosin filament?

Myosin filament is a thick filament made of polymerised meromyosin molecules.

1. Each meromyosin has a head and tail.
2. The head and short arm form HMM.
3. The tail forms LMM.
4. Myosin heads form cross arms.

Final fact: Myosin forms the thick filament.

26. What is the role of myosin head?

Myosin head has ATPase activity and binding sites for ATP and actin.

1. It binds ATP.
2. It hydrolyses ATP.
3. It binds exposed actin sites.
4. It forms cross bridges.

Final answer: Myosin head drives cross-bridge formation.

27. Differentiate between actin and myosin.

Actin forms thin filaments, while myosin forms thick filaments.

Final fact: Actin and myosin slide during contraction.

Sliding Filament Theory Class 11 Biology Questions

Sliding filament theory explains muscle contraction through movement of thin filaments over thick filaments. ATP and Ca²⁺ control each contraction cycle.

28. What is sliding filament theory?

Sliding filament theory states that muscle contraction occurs by sliding of thin filaments over thick filaments.

1. Actin filaments slide over myosin filaments.
2. Sarcomere becomes shorter.
3. I-band reduces in length.
4. A-band retains its length.

Final answer: Sliding filament theory explains muscle contraction.

29. What is a motor unit?

A motor unit includes one motor neuron and the muscle fibres connected to it.

1. A motor neuron carries signals from CNS.
2. It reaches muscle fibres.
3. The connected fibres respond together.

Final fact: Motor unit links nerve signal with muscle contraction.

30. What is neuromuscular junction?

Neuromuscular junction is the junction between a motor neuron and muscle fibre sarcolemma.

1. It is also called motor end plate.
2. Neural signal reaches this junction.
3. Acetylcholine releases here.
4. Action potential forms in sarcolemma.

Final answer: Neuromuscular junction starts muscle response.

31. Describe the important steps in muscle contraction.

Muscle contraction begins with a neural signal and ends with actin sliding over myosin.

1. CNS sends a signal through a motor neuron.
2. Acetylcholine releases at the neuromuscular junction.
3. Action potential spreads through sarcolemma.
4. Sarcoplasmic reticulum releases Ca²⁺.
5. Ca²⁺ binds troponin.
6. Myosin-binding sites on actin get exposed.
7. Myosin head uses ATP and binds actin.
8. Cross bridge pulls actin towards A-band centre.
9. Sarcomere shortens.

Final answer: Actin sliding over myosin causes contraction.

32. What changes occur in bands during muscle contraction?

I-band and H-zone reduce during contraction, while A-band keeps its length.

1. Thin filaments slide inward.
2. Z-lines move closer.
3. Sarcomere shortens.
4. A-band length remains constant.

Final fact: A-band does not shorten during contraction.

33. How does muscle relaxation occur?

Muscle relaxation occurs when Ca²⁺ returns to sarcoplasmic reticulum.

1. Ca²⁺ leaves the sarcoplasm.
2. Troponin returns to resting state.
3. Active sites on actin get masked.
4. Cross-bridge cycling stops.
5. Z-lines return to original position.

Final answer: Ca²⁺ removal causes muscle relaxation.

34. Why does muscle fatigue occur?

Muscle fatigue occurs due to lactic acid accumulation after repeated muscle activation.

1. Repeated contraction increases energy demand.
2. Anaerobic glycogen breakdown starts.
3. Lactic acid accumulates in muscle.
4. Muscle performance decreases.

Final fact: Lactic acid accumulation causes fatigue.

Red and White Muscle Fibres Class 11 Biology Questions

Red and white fibres differ in myoglobin, mitochondria and energy source. These differences explain fatigue resistance.

35. What are red muscle fibres?

Red muscle fibres contain high myoglobin and many mitochondria.

1. Myoglobin stores oxygen.
2. High myoglobin gives red colour.
3. Many mitochondria support aerobic ATP production.
4. These fibres resist fatigue better.

Final fact: Red fibres are aerobic muscles.

36. What are white muscle fibres?

White muscle fibres contain less myoglobin and fewer mitochondria.

1. They appear pale or whitish.
2. They have high sarcoplasmic reticulum.
3. They depend more on anaerobic processes.
4. They fatigue faster than red fibres.

Final answer: White fibres depend mainly on anaerobic energy.

37. Differentiate between red and white muscle fibres.

Red fibres are aerobic and myoglobin-rich, while white fibres are pale and anaerobic.

Final fact: Myoglobin content gives red fibres their colour.

Skeletal System Class 11 Biology Questions

The skeletal system supports movement, protection and body framework. Human skeleton has axial and appendicular divisions.

38. What is skeletal system?

Skeletal system is the framework of bones and cartilages in the body.

1. Bones have hard matrix with calcium salts.
2. Cartilage has pliable matrix with chondroitin salts.
3. Skeleton supports movement.
4. It protects internal organs.

Final answer: Human skeletal system has 206 bones.

39. What are axial and appendicular skeleton?

Axial skeleton lies along the main body axis, while appendicular skeleton includes limbs and girdles.

1. Axial skeleton has 80 bones.
2. Skull, vertebral column, sternum and ribs form axial skeleton.
3. Limb bones and girdles form appendicular skeleton.

Final fact: Human skeleton has axial and appendicular divisions.

40. What are the bones of the skull?

The skull has 22 bones, including cranial and facial bones.

1. Cranial bones are 8 in number.
2. Facial bones are 14 in number.
3. Cranium protects the brain.
4. Facial bones form the front skull region.

Final answer: Human skull has 22 bones.

41. What is dicondylic skull?

Dicondylic skull has two occipital condyles that articulate with the vertebral column.

1. Human skull has two occipital condyles.
2. These condyles connect with atlas.
3. The skull articulates with the vertebral column.

Final fact: Human skull is dicondylic.

42. How many vertebrae are present in the human vertebral column?

The human vertebral column has 26 serially arranged vertebrae.

1. Cervical vertebrae = 7.
2. Thoracic vertebrae = 12.
3. Lumbar vertebrae = 5.
4. Sacral region = 1 fused bone.
5. Coccygeal region = 1 fused bone.

Final answer: Human vertebral column has 26 vertebrae.

43. How many cervical vertebrae are present in humans?

Humans have seven cervical vertebrae.

1. This number occurs in almost all mammals.
2. Cervical vertebrae form the neck region.
3. Atlas is the first vertebra.

Final fact: Humans have 7 cervical vertebrae.

44. What are true ribs, false ribs and floating ribs?

True ribs attach directly to sternum, false ribs attach indirectly, and floating ribs lack ventral attachment.

1. First seven pairs are true ribs.
2. 8th, 9th and 10th pairs are false ribs.
3. 11th and 12th pairs are floating ribs.
4. Humans have 12 pairs of ribs.

Final answer: Ribs are true, false and floating.

Appendicular Skeleton Class 11 Biology Questions

Appendicular skeleton includes limb bones and girdles. It helps attach limbs to the axial skeleton.

45. How many bones are present in each limb?

Each human limb has 30 bones.

Forelimb bones:

1. Humerus.
2. Radius.
3. Ulna.
4. Carpals = 8.
5. Metacarpals = 5.
6. Phalanges = 14.

Hind limb bones:

1. Femur.
2. Tibia.
3. Fibula.
4. Tarsals = 7.
5. Metatarsals = 5.
6. Phalanges = 14.

Final fact: Each limb contains 30 bones.

46. What is the longest bone in the human body?

Femur is the longest bone in the human body.

1. It forms the thigh bone.
2. It belongs to the hind limb.
3. It articulates with the pelvic girdle.

Final answer: Femur is the longest bone.

47. What is pectoral girdle?

Pectoral girdle connects the upper limb with the axial skeleton.

1. Each half has one clavicle.
2. Each half has one scapula.
3. Scapula has glenoid cavity.
4. Glenoid cavity articulates with humerus.

Final fact: Clavicle is commonly called collar bone.

48. What is pelvic girdle?

Pelvic girdle connects lower limbs with the axial skeleton.

1. It has two coxal bones.
2. Each coxal bone forms from ilium, ischium and pubis.
3. Acetabulum receives the thigh bone.
4. Pubic symphysis joins both halves ventrally.

Final answer: Pelvic girdle supports lower limb attachment.

Joints Class 11 Biology Questions

Joints create movement where bones meet. Their mobility depends on structure and connecting tissue.

49. What are joints?

Joints are points of contact between bones or between bones and cartilage.

1. Muscles generate force.
2. Joints act as fulcrums.
3. Different joints allow different movement ranges.

Final fact: Joints are essential for skeletal movement.

50. What are fibrous joints?

Fibrous joints do not allow movement.

1. Skull bones show fibrous joints.
2. Dense fibrous connective tissue forms sutures.
3. Sutures fuse skull bones end-to-end.

Final answer: Cranial sutures are fibrous joints.

51. What are cartilaginous joints?

Cartilaginous joints allow limited movement because cartilage joins the bones.

1. Adjacent vertebrae show this joint type.
2. Cartilage connects the bones.
3. Movement remains restricted.

Final fact: Intervertebral joints are cartilaginous joints.

52. What are synovial joints?

Synovial joints have a fluid-filled synovial cavity and allow considerable movement.

1. Articulating bone surfaces face each other.
2. Synovial fluid reduces friction.
3. These joints support locomotion.
4. They allow free movement.

Final answer: Synovial joints are freely movable joints.

53. Name the types of synovial joints with examples.

Synovial joints include ball and socket, hinge, pivot, gliding and saddle joints.

1. Ball and socket: humerus and pectoral girdle.
2. Hinge: knee joint.
3. Pivot: atlas and axis.
4. Gliding: carpals.
5. Saddle: carpal and metacarpal of thumb.

Final fact: Synovial joints support major body movements.

Muscular and Skeletal Disorders Class 11 Biology Questions

Disorders in this chapter link symptoms with muscles, joints, bones or neuromuscular junctions. These are direct NCERT-based facts.

54. What is myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction.

1. It causes fatigue.
2. It weakens skeletal muscles.
3. It may lead to paralysis.

Final fact: Myasthenia gravis affects skeletal muscle function.

55. What is muscular dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle.

1. It mostly occurs due to genetic disorder.
2. Skeletal muscles weaken over time.
3. Muscle function gradually decreases.

Final answer: Muscular dystrophy causes progressive skeletal muscle degeneration.

56. What is tetany?

Tetany is rapid muscle spasm due to low Ca²⁺ in body fluid.

1. Muscles show wild contractions.
2. Body fluid Ca²⁺ level falls.
3. Muscle excitability increases abnormally.

Final fact: Low Ca²⁺ causes tetany.

57. What is arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation of joints.

1. It affects joint movement.
2. It can cause pain and stiffness.
3. It belongs to skeletal system disorders.

Final answer: Arthritis means joint inflammation.

58. What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is an age-related disorder with decreased bone mass and higher fracture risk.

1. Bone mass decreases.
2. Fracture chances increase.
3. Decreased oestrogen level is a common cause.

Final fact: Osteoporosis weakens bones.

59. What is gout?

Gout is joint inflammation caused by accumulation of uric acid crystals.

1. Uric acid crystals collect in joints.
2. Joints become inflamed.
3. Pain and swelling may occur.

Final answer: Gout results from uric acid crystal deposition.

Class 11 Biology Locomotion and Movement Questions With Answers for Board Practice

NCERT exercise questions often ask true or false, matching and joint identification. These questions reward exact terms and examples.

60. Correct the statement: H-zone represents both thick and thin filaments.

The statement is false. H-zone represents only thick filaments.

1. H-zone lies in the centre of A-band.
2. Thin filaments do not overlap here.
3. It contains only myosin filaments.

Final answer: H-zone has only thick filaments.

61. Correct the statement: There are 11 pairs of ribs in humans.

The statement is false. Humans have 12 pairs of ribs.

1. First seven pairs are true ribs.
2. 8th to 10th pairs are false ribs.
3. 11th and 12th pairs are floating ribs.

Final fact: Humans have 12 pairs of ribs.

62. Match smooth muscle, tropomyosin, red muscle and skull with their correct terms.

Smooth muscle is involuntary, tropomyosin belongs to thin filament, red muscle contains myoglobin, and skull has sutures.

1. Smooth muscle: involuntary.
2. Tropomyosin: thin filament.
3. Red muscle: myoglobin.
4. Skull: sutures.

Final answer: These matches follow NCERT exercise terms.

63. Name the joint between atlas and axis.

The joint between atlas and axis is a pivot joint.

1. Atlas is the first vertebra.
2. Axis is the second cervical vertebra.
3. Pivot joint allows rotation.

Final fact: Atlas-axis joint is a pivot joint.

64. Name the joint between femur and acetabulum.

The joint between femur and acetabulum is a ball and socket joint.

1. Femur head fits into acetabulum.
2. Acetabulum belongs to pelvic girdle.
3. This joint allows wide movement.

Final answer: Femur-acetabulum joint is ball and socket type.

65. Name the joint between cranial bones.

The joint between cranial bones is a fibrous joint.

1. Sutures connect cranial bones.
2. These joints do not allow movement.
3. They protect the brain.

Final fact: Cranial bones join through sutures.

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