This question was attempted by many candidates and the candidates’ performance was fair. In part (a) few candidates could not name five regions of the vertebral column, candidates mentioned or wrote axial, appendicular, scapular, cartilage and pelvic. In part (b) few candidates could not state functions of bones in the body, candidates wrote bones create dead person, bones will be difficult to eat.
The expected answers were as follows:
9(a) Regions of the vertebral column
- cervical region
- thoracic region
- lumbar region
- sacral region
- caudal/coccyx/coccygeal
(b) Function of bones in the body
- supports vital organs of the body
- assists in movement
- production of blood cells
- acts as storage (reservoir) for certain minerals e.g. calcium, phosphorus
- provides places of attachment for muscles
- gives flexibility from the arrangement of joints and body parts
- assists external respiration.