Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What is the primary function of the endoskeleton?

1. Provide energy for movement

2. Serve as a framework for muscle attachment

3. Regulate body temperature

4. Facilitate sensory perception

The correct answer is: Serve as a framework for muscle attachment

The primary function of the endoskeleton is to serve as a framework for muscle attachment. This structural support is crucial for movement, as muscles contract and pull on the bones, enabling a wide range of physical activities. The endoskeleton provides the necessary leverage and stability required for efficient locomotion, whether in walking, running, or any other form of movement that requires muscular action. In addition to facilitating movement through muscle attachment, the endoskeleton also protects vital organs, stores minerals, and produces blood cells, but its main role involves supporting the muscular system. This foundational aspect is essential for the mechanical function of organisms with skeletal structures. Other options do not align with the primary purpose of the endoskeleton. While energy for movement is necessary, it is provided by metabolic processes, not the skeleton itself. Regulating body temperature is primarily managed by the integumentary system, and sensory perception is largely associated with the nervous system and sensory organs rather than the skeletal framework.