waecE-LEARNING
Health Science Paper 3, Nov/Dec. 2014  
Questions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Main
General Comments
Strength
Weakness/Remedies

Question 1
  1. The diagram below is an illustration of a bone in the human vertebral column.  Study it carefully and use it to answer questions 2(a), (b) and (c).


    1. (i)   Name the bone illustrated in the diagram.                                          [1 mark]

    (ii)  Name the parts labelled I, II, III, IV, V and VI.                               [3 marks]

    1. State one function each of the parts labeled II, III and IV.                    [3 marks]

     

    1. Name two bones each found at the upper and lower regions

    of the illustrated bone in the vertebral column.                                        [4 marks]

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

observation

  This question was attempted by many candidates and their performance was very poor.  In part (a)(i) candidates could not correctly name the lumbar vertebra and in (a)(ii) only few candidates correctly named the part labelled I, II, III, IV, V and VI of the lumbar vertebra.

In part (b) candidate could not correctly state one function each of the parts labelled II, III and IV of the lumbar vertebra column.

In part (c) candidate could not correctly name bones each found at the upper and lower regions of the lumbar vertebra column.

However, the expected answers are as follows:

2(a)(i)  NAME OF THE BONE ILLUSTRATED IN THE DIAGRAM

  1. Lumbar vertebra

         
                 (ii)   PARTS LABELLED
           
                        I      -     neural spine/spinous process
                        II     -    transverse process
                        III   -     neural canal/vertebral foramen
                        IV   -     centrum/body
                        V    -      articular facet/process/prezygapophysis
                        VI   -      neural arch

            (b)        ONE FUNCTION EACH OF THE PARTS LABELLED
II, III AND IV

                        FUNCTION II

  1. provides attachment for muscles
  2. provides surface for articulation with vertebra

                        FUNCTION III

  1. provides passage for the spinal cord  
  2. accommodates the spinal cord     

                        FUNCTION IV

  1. support the body weight/provide rigidity to the vertebra
  2. provides attachment for back muscle
  3. provides surface for articulation with vertebra/fits into the intervertebral discs

  (c)     BONES FOUND AT THE UPPER END

  1. skull
  2. atlas
  3. axis
  4. cervical
  5. thoracic

     BONES AT THE LOWER END

  1. sacrum/sacral
  2. caudal / coccyx
Powered by Sidmach Technologies(Nigeria) Limited .
Copyright © 2015 The West African Examinations Council. All rights reserved.