Question 1 · 1 mark · Difficulty 1/3
Bauxite miners in Guyana are required to wear protective hard hats at all times on site. This regulation relates directly to which function of the skull?
- Protection of the brain
- Production of red blood cells
- Support of the cervical vertebrae
- Attachment of the trapezius muscle
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — Protection of the brain
Award 1 mark for protection of the brain. The skull forms a rigid bony casing that surrounds and protects the delicate brain tissue from mechanical injury; this is why hard hats substitute for this protection in hazardous environments. A is incorrect — the skull rests upon the cervical vertebrae rather than supporting them. B confuses the function of flat bones in producing red blood cells in bone marrow with the protective role of the skull specifically. D is incorrect — the trapezius muscle attaches to the cervical and thoracic vertebrae and the clavicle/scapula, not primarily to the skull.