Muscular System: JAMB Physical and Health Education Questions, Answers & Notes

What Muscular System covers in the JAMB Physical and Health Education syllabus

The muscular system is responsible for body movement: muscles produce movement by contracting (getting shorter and pulling on bones) and then relaxing (getting longer). There are three types of muscle: skeletal (voluntary) muscle, attached to bones by tendons and used for movement under our control; cardiac muscle, found only in the heart; and smooth (involuntary) muscle, found in the walls of internal organs such as the stomach and intestines. Voluntary muscles (like arm muscles) can be controlled at will, while involuntary muscles (heart, gut) work automatically. Muscles often work in antagonistic pairs — one contracts while the other relaxes — for example the biceps bends the elbow and the triceps straightens it. Muscles need energy (from food) and oxygen, and regular exercise makes them stronger. The main point: the muscular system produces movement by contracting and relaxing, often in pairs.

For Muscular System, JAMB expects you to be able to:

• State the muscular system's role (movement) via contraction and relaxation
• Recall the three muscle types (skeletal/voluntary, cardiac, smooth/involuntary) and tendons
• Explain antagonistic pairs (biceps/triceps) and voluntary vs involuntary action

Key facts & revision notes: Muscular System

These are the recurring points our Muscular System questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• The muscular system is responsible for body movement.
• Muscles produce movement by contracting (getting shorter and pulling on bones).
• Skeletal (voluntary) muscle is attached to bones and used for movement.
• Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart.
• Smooth (involuntary) muscle is found in the walls of internal organs like the stomach and intestines.
• Skeletal muscles are attached to bones by tendons.
• Muscles we can control at will (like arm muscles) are voluntary muscles.
• Muscles that work automatically (like the heart and gut) are involuntary muscles.
• Muscles often work in antagonistic pairs — one contracts while the other relaxes.
• The biceps at the front of the upper arm bends (flexes) the elbow.
• The triceps at the back of the upper arm straightens (extends) the elbow.
• When a muscle relaxes, it becomes longer (releasing its pull).
• Muscles need energy (from food) and oxygen to work.
• Regular exercise makes muscles stronger and firmer.
• Muscles contract and relax to produce movement.
• Skeletal muscles are joined to bones by tendons.
• Raising your arm is a voluntary muscle action; the others are involuntary.
• The biceps and triceps work as an antagonistic pair.
• The main point is that the muscular system produces movement by contracting and relaxing (often in pairs).

Worked examples

Three Muscular System questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.

How Muscular System is tested in JAMB Physical and Health Education

Our Muscular System bank holds 20 questions (2 easy, 11 medium, 7 hard). JAMB Physical and Health Education typically returns to Muscular System year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.

How to answer Muscular System questions

Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on Muscular System. If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one Physical and Health Education item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at Muscular System is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in Muscular System

The errors that cost marks on Muscular System are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise Muscular System actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is Muscular System part of the JAMB Physical and Health Education syllabus?

Yes. Muscular System is a recognised topic in the JAMB Physical and Health Education syllabus, covering state the muscular system's role (movement) via contraction and relaxation. You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many Muscular System questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 20 original, JAMB-standard Muscular System questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.

What are the most important points to know about Muscular System?

The muscular system is responsible for body movement: muscles produce movement by contracting (getting shorter and pulling on bones) and then relaxing (getting longer). There are three types of muscle: skeletal (voluntary) muscle, attached to bones by tendons and used for movement under our control;…

How do I answer Muscular System questions quickly in JAMB?

Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for Muscular System. Practising timed Muscular System questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.

Are these JAMB Physical and Health Education Muscular System questions past questions or original?

They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.

Where can I practise Muscular System questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start Muscular System practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.

About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME Physical and Health Education syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.