NEET ZoologyUpdated 19 Oct 2026

Locomotion and Movement: NEET PYQs and weightage

Locomotion and Movement carries 5.1 of 100 Zoology marks in NEET by past-paper share: 33 of the 648 tagged NEET Zoology PYQs in the ViJEEta bank (NEET 2013–2026). It ranks 11 of 17 Zoology chapters.

Take the 25-question Locomotion and Movement test Key facts ↓All NEET Zoology chapters

5.1/100 Weight in Zoology

Exam importance (4/5, by past-paper share)

33 NEET PYQs

421 Practice questions

346 With measured difficulty

How the weight is computed: this chapter's tagged NEET PYQs divided by all tagged NEET Zoology PYQs in the bank (33 of 648), times 100, with repeated questions counted once. The bank does not store the year of each NEET question, so none is printed. Computed from the bank at build time. Updated 19 Oct 2026.

Locomotion and Movement: key facts for NEET

16 facts the paper keeps asking, each with how it is asked. Copy it onto one page of your notebook: that page is this chapter's handbook.

Types of movement in human cells
Human cells show three movements: amoeboid (macrophages, leucocytes; pseudopodia and microfilaments), ciliary (trachea clears dust, ova pass along the female tract) and muscular.
Asked as: "Which movement is shown by leucocytes?" or match the cell or organ to its type of movement.
Muscle origin and types
Muscle is mesodermal and makes up 40-50% of adult body weight; skeletal muscle is striated and voluntary, visceral is smooth and involuntary, cardiac is striated, branched and involuntary.
Asked as: pick the striated but involuntary muscle (cardiac), or the % of body weight.
Muscle fibre structure
Sarcolemma encloses sarcoplasm; the fibre is a syncytium (many nuclei); sarcoplasmic reticulum stores $C a^{2 +}$ ; fascicles are held together by fascia.
Asked as: "In a muscle fibre $C a^{2 +}$ is stored in ___" (sarcoplasmic reticulum).
Bands and lines of the sarcomere
I-band is light, isotropic and has actin; A-band is dark, anisotropic and has myosin; Z line bisects I; M line holds thick filaments mid-A; sarcomere is the unit between two Z lines; H zone is the central thick part not overlapped by thin filaments.
Asked as: diagram labelling, or a true/false such as "H-zone has both thick and thin filaments" (false).
Thin filament
Thin filament = 2 F-actins helically wound (each a polymer of G-actin) + 2 tropomyosin filaments + troponin at intervals; at rest a troponin subunit masks myosin-binding sites.
Asked as: "Thin filament has 2 F-actins and ___ and ___" (tropomyosin, troponin).
Thick filament
Thick filament = many meromyosins; HMM is the globular head + short arm (cross arm), LMM is the tail; the head is an ATPase with ATP-binding sites and actin-binding sites.
Asked as: which part of myosin has ATPase activity, or HMM vs LMM match.
Motor unit and neuromuscular junction
Motor neuron + its muscle fibres = motor unit; at the neuromuscular junction (motor-end plate) acetylcholine triggers an action potential, $C a^{2 +}$ is released and binds troponin, unmasking actin.
Asked as: arrange contraction steps in order, or " $C a^{2 +}$ binds to ___" (troponin).
Sliding filament theory
Thin filaments slide over thick; cross bridges pull actin toward the centre of A band, Z lines move inward, I band shortens and A band keeps its length; $C a^{2 +}$ pumped back gives relaxation.
Asked as: "Which band stays unchanged during contraction?" (A band).
Fatigue; red and white fibres
Fatigue comes from lactic acid (anaerobic glycogen breakdown); red fibres have high myoglobin and many mitochondria (aerobic); white fibres have little myoglobin, few mitochondria, much SR (anaerobic).
Asked as: red vs white fibre statements, or match red muscle to myoglobin.
Skeleton, bone, cartilage and skull counts
206 bones; bone matrix hard from calcium salts, cartilage pliable from chondroitin salts; axial skeleton = 80 bones; skull = 22 (8 cranial + 14 facial); hyoid is U-shaped; ear ossicles: malleus, incus, stapes.
Asked as: number of cranial or facial or axial bones; the human cranium has ___ bones (8).
Dicondylic skull and vertebral column
Skull is dicondylic (two occipital condyles articulate with atlas); 26 vertebrae: cervical 7, thoracic 12, lumbar 5, sacral 1 (fused), coccygeal 1 (fused); 7 cervical in almost all mammals.
Asked as: vertebral formula, or "first vertebra articulating with occipital condyles" (atlas).
Ribs
12 pairs of ribs, each bicephalic; 1st-7th are true ribs (sternum via hyaline cartilage); 8th-10th are vertebrochondral (false) ribs and join the 7th rib; 11th-12th are floating ribs.
Asked as: which ribs are floating, or how false ribs connect ventrally.
Limb bones
Each limb has 30 bones. Forelimb: humerus, radius, ulna, carpals 8, metacarpals 5, phalanges 14. Hindlimb: femur (longest), tibia, fibula, tarsals 7, metatarsals 5, phalanges 14, patella.
Asked as: number of carpals vs tarsals, or phalanges per limb (14).
Pectoral and pelvic girdles
Pectoral girdle half = clavicle (collar bone) + scapula (between 2nd and 7th ribs; acromion; glenoid cavity takes humerus head); coxal bone = ilium + ischium + pubis fused, with acetabulum for femur; pubic symphysis has fibrous cartilage.
Asked as: glenoid cavity vs acetabulum, or which bones form the coxal bone.
Joints
Joints: fibrous (skull sutures, no movement), cartilaginous (between adjacent vertebrae, limited movement), synovial (fluid-filled cavity): ball and socket (humerus-pectoral girdle), hinge (knee), pivot (atlas-axis), gliding (between carpals), saddle (carpal-metacarpal of thumb).
Asked as: match the joint type to its location.
Disorders of the muscular and skeletal system
Myasthenia gravis is autoimmune and affects the neuromuscular junction; muscular dystrophy is progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle, mostly due to a genetic disorder; tetany comes from low $C a^{2 +}$ ; osteoporosis is age-related loss of bone mass with more fractures, and low estrogen is a common cause; gout comes from uric acid crystals in joints.
Asked as: match disorder to cause; "rapid spasms due to low $C a^{2 +}$ " (tetany).

Trap

During contraction the A band keeps its length (myosin does not shorten); it is the I band that shrinks. The H zone has thick filaments only, not both.

How does NEET ask Locomotion and Movement?

8 real previous-year questions from this chapter, as printed in the paper, each with its worked solution. Answer the first one here with no sign-in.

Q1ZoologyNEET UG PYQDisorders of Skeletal and Muscular System

Try right here · No sign-in

Select the correct statement with respect to locomotion in humans.

Answer key (B) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option B

Gout is caused by the excessive formation of uric acid, and its subsequent deposition in the joints as monosodium salts.While the vertebral column has 12 thoracic vertebrae.

-The joint between adjacent vertebrae is a cartilaginous joint.

-Progesterone hormone is produced from the corpus luteum that supports pregnancy.

Q2ZoologyNEET UG PYQMechanism of Muscle Contraction - Sliding Filament Theory

Name the ion responsible for unmasking of active sites for myosin for cross-bridge activity during muscle contraction.

AMagnesium

BSodium

CPotassium

DCalcium

Answer key (D) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option D

Calcium is the ion released into the sarcoplasm from sarcoplasmic reticulum during polarisation. Ca ion attaches to the Troponin-C. This brings a conformational change in the tropomyosin. As a result unmasking of active sites on actin for myosin takes place. Cross bridges are formed between actin and myosin. This results in muscle contraction. Magnesium is used in phosphorylation reactions involving ATP. Sodium and potassium help in maintaining the membrane potential. So the correct option is d.

Q3ZoologyNEET UG PYQStructure of Skeletal Muscle

The H-zone in the skeletal muscle ﬁbre is due to

AThe absence of myoﬁbrils in the central portion of A-band

BThe central gap between myosin ﬁlaments in the A-band

CThe central gap between actin ﬁlaments extending through myosin ﬁlaments in the A-band

DExtension of myosin ﬁlaments in the central portion of the A-band

Answer key (C) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option C

In the skeletal muscle, the central gap between acting ﬁlaments extending through myosin ﬁlaments in the A band is called the H-zone.

Q4ZoologyNEET UG PYQDisorders of Skeletal and Muscular System

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Osteoporosis is characterised by decreased bone mass and increased chances of fracture. Reason (R): Common cause of osteoporosis is increased levels of oestrogen. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given b

ABoth (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

BBoth (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

C(A) is correct but (R) is not correct

D(A) is not correct but (R) is correct

Answer key (C) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option C

Estrogen helps keep the bones healthful and strong. As estrogen levels decrease, bone loss may occur. For example, women who are post-menopausal are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Q5ZoologyNEET UG PYQDisorders of Skeletal and Muscular System

Match List I with List II related to muscular/skeletal system: List IList IIA.Tetany(I)Inflammation of jointsB.Arthritis(II)Autoimmune disorder affecting neuromuscular junctionC.Myasthenia gravis(III)Wild contraction in muscle due to low Ca

^{++}

in body fluidD.Muscular dystrophy(IV)Progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

AA-III, B-I, C-II, D-IV

BA-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

CA-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV

DA-III, B-II, C-I, D-IV

Answer key (A) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option A

- Arthritis is an inflammation of joints. - Tetany is rapid spasms (wild contractions) in muscle due to low

Ca^{++}

in body fluids. - Muscular dystrophy is progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle mostly due to genetic disorder - Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting neuromuscular junction leading to fatigue, weakening and paralysis of skeletal muscle.

Hence, A-III, B-I, C-II, D-IV is the correct match.

Q6ZoologyNEET UG PYQJoints

Match List I with List II. List I (Type of Joint)List II (Found between)A.Cartilaginous JointI. Between flat skull bones B.Ball and Socket JointII.Between adjacent vertebrae in vertebral columnC.Fibrous Joint III. Between carpal and metacarpal of thumbD.Saddle JointIV. Between humerus and pectoral girdle Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

AA–II, B–IV, C–I, D–III

BA–I, B–IV, C–III, D–II

CA–II, B–IV, C–III, D–I

DA–III, B–I, C–II, D–IV

Answer key (A) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option A

List I (Type of Joint)List II (Found between)A.Cartilaginous JointII.Between adjacent vertebrae in vertebral columnB.Ball and Socket JointIV. Between humerus and pectoral girdleC.Fibrous Joint I. Between flat skull bones D.Saddle JointIII. Between carpal and metacarpal of thumb

Q7ZoologyNEET UG PYQMechanism of Muscle Contraction - Sliding Filament Theory

Calcium is important in skeletal muscle contraction because it

AActivates the myosin ATPase by binding to it

BDetaching the myosin head from the actin filament

CBinds to troponin to remove the masking of active sites on actin for myosin

DPrevents the formation of bonds between the myosin cross-bridges and the actin filament

Answer key (C) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option C

During muscular contraction, the level of calcium ions gets increased in the sarcoplasm. Increased level of Ca

^{++}

now binds with a subunit of troponin (troponin “C”) which is masking the active site on actin filament and displaces the subunit of troponin. Once the active site is exposed, the head of the myosin attaches and initiates contraction by sliding the actin over the myosin.

Q8ZoologyNEET UG PYQMechanism of Muscle Contraction - Sliding Filament Theory

Muscle contraction is initiated by a signal sent by the central nervous system by the release of

Aacetyl coenzyme A

Bcyclic guanine monophosphate

Ccyclic adenine monophosphate

Dacetyl choline

Answer key (D) & worked solution

Correct answer: Option D

Muscle contraction is initiated by a signal sent by the central nervous system (CNS) via a motor neuron. A neural signal reaching this junction releases a neurotransmitter (Acetylcholine) which generates an action potential in the sarcolemma.

Which topics in Locomotion and Movement carry the most questions?

All 11 topics, by tagged PYQs, then practice questions. Counted from the bank. Updated 19 Oct 2026.

Topic	PYQs	Practice questions
Human Skeletal System (Axial Skeleton)	7	67
Mechanism of Muscle Contraction - Sliding Filament Theory	7	67
Joints	7	47
Disorders of Skeletal and Muscular System	7	26
Structure of Skeletal Muscle	2	47
Human Skeletal System (Appendicular Skeleton)	1	55
Types of Muscles	1	32
Types of Movements	1	21
Structure of Contractile Proteins	0	32
Red Muscles and White Muscles	0	17
Miscellaneous Examples	0	10

Why does Locomotion and Movement show "–" until you answer 3 questions?

Unknown is not zero. Until you answer at least 3 graded questions in Locomotion and Movement, ViJEEta shows – instead of a zero or a 50% default. Book exercises can raise chapter mastery up to 0.60, adaptive practice up to 0.75, and only a timed chapter test or mock can certify 0.80 and above.

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What happens when you test Locomotion and Movement?

Every chapter test is 25 questions. It starts at moderate difficulty and adapts after each saved answer. If you open a solution before answering, that attempt earns no credit, so your mastery stays honest.

Start the Locomotion and Movement test

Chapters either side of Locomotion and Movement by weight

Breathing and Exchange of Gases Weight 5.2/100 Reproductive Health Weight 5.2/100 Structural Organisation in Animals Weight 4.6/100 Biotechnology and Its Applications Weight 4.5/100

Locomotion and Movement: NEET PYQs and weightage

Locomotion and Movement: key facts for NEET

Types of movement in human cells

Muscle origin and types

Muscle fibre structure

Bands and lines of the sarcomere

Thin filament

Thick filament

Motor unit and neuromuscular junction

Sliding filament theory

Fatigue; red and white fibres

Skeleton, bone, cartilage and skull counts

Dicondylic skull and vertebral column

Ribs

Limb bones

Pectoral and pelvic girdles

Joints

Disorders of the muscular and skeletal system

How does NEET ask Locomotion and Movement?

Which topics in Locomotion and Movement carry the most questions?

Why does Locomotion and Movement show "–" until you answer 3 questions?

What happens when you test Locomotion and Movement?

Chapters either side of Locomotion and Movement by weight