HESI A2 A&P EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
Which is an anterior muscle?
A. Gluteus maximus
B. Quadriceps femoris
C. Biceps femoris
D. Adductor magnus - ANS B. An anterior muscle is located near the front of the body. Of
those listed, the quadriceps( frontal thigh muscle) is the most anterior.
How might the headrest on a car prevent traumatic injury?
A. By limiting hyperflexion of the neck
B. By limiting hyperextension of the neck
C. By reducing vertebral compression
D. By preventing disc degeneration - ANS B. The headrest prevents the head from moving too
far backward, or hyperextending the neck beyond its normal range.
Which might you expect to see in a whiplash injury?
A. Cardiopulmonary problems
B. Side-to-side spinal curvature
C. Eventual herniation of discs
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,D. Traumatic injury to ligaments - ANS D. Because of the hyperflexion and hyperextension
caused by such a collision, it is not uncommon to find tears or stretching of the ligaments of the
spine. The injury is front-to-back, making choice B unlikely, and a herniated disc (choice C) is
more of a compression injury.
Muscle contractions that normally move food along the human digestive system are known as
________.
A. defecation
B. osmosis
C. peristalsis
D. circulation - ANS C. Defecation(choice A) is the elimination of waste. Osmosis (choice B) is
the movement of molecules across a membrane. Circulation (choice D) is the movement of
blood through the body. Peristalsis (choice C) is the involuntary, wavelike movement of muscles
in the intestine and elsewhere that pushes food along.
Which type of nutrient does not provide the body with energy?
A. Vitamin
B. Carbohydrate
C. Fat
D. Protein - ANS A. Some nutrients supply energy, and others support metabolism. Nutrients
in the first set include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Those in the secound set include
vitamins, minerals, and water.
Where would you be likely to find a Schwann cell?
A. In the digestive system
B. In the nervous system
C. In the skeletal system
D. In the muscular system - ANS B. Schwann cells wrap around the nerve fibers and form the
myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system.
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,How does the nervous system work with the muscular system?
A. The muscles of the body produce chemicals that feed the nerves.
B. The nervous system tells the muscles how to respond to the environment.
C. The nervous system releases chemicals that remove excess waste from the muscles.
D. The muscular system provides input that allows the nerves to make decisions. - ANS B. The
nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It receives and transmits
signals from the environment that regulate voluntary and involuntary movement.
Which part of the nervous system includes the femoral , radial, and ulnar nerves?
A. Somatic
B. Autonomic
C. Sympathetic
D. Parasympathetic - ANS A. The symphathetic and parasympathetic systems (choice C and D)
are part of the autonomic nervous system (choice B), which controls involuntary actions of the
smooth muscles, glands, and heart. The somatic nervous system (choice A) has to do with
reception of external stimuli and voluntary control of the muscles.
Where might a herniated lumbar disc be most likely to create pain?
A. Along the radial nerve
B. Within the spinal cord
C. Along the sciatic nerve
D. Along the tibial nerve - ANS C. Damage to a disc in the lower back will most likely cause
pain radiating downward along the sciatic nerve.
What is the name of the bone in the human thigh?
A. Ulna
B. Femur
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, C. Radius
D. Humerus - ANS B. The ulna (choice A), radius (choice C), and humerus (choice D) are arm
bones.
The ovaries are part of the ___________.
A. skeletal system
B. nervous system
C. lymphatic system
D. reproductive system - ANS D. The ovaries are the egg-producing reproductive organs.
Of the following processes, which one is a different level of defense from the others?
A. A low pH in the stomach
B. Cilia present in the trachea
C. Body cells recognizing a pathogen
D. Mucus present in the nasal cavity - ANS C. A low pH in the stomach (choice A), cilia in the
trachea (choice B), and mucus (D) are primary defenses. Cells recognizing a pathogen (choice C)
is a third line of defense.
Which organ system is primarily responsible for regulating muscle growth?
A. The skeletal system
B. The endocrine system
C. The nervous system
D. The reproductive system - ANS B. Hormones from the endocrine system, particularly from
the pituitary gland, regulate growth.
Which parts of the heart are separated by the mitral valve?
A. Left atrium and right atrium
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
Which is an anterior muscle?
A. Gluteus maximus
B. Quadriceps femoris
C. Biceps femoris
D. Adductor magnus - ANS B. An anterior muscle is located near the front of the body. Of
those listed, the quadriceps( frontal thigh muscle) is the most anterior.
How might the headrest on a car prevent traumatic injury?
A. By limiting hyperflexion of the neck
B. By limiting hyperextension of the neck
C. By reducing vertebral compression
D. By preventing disc degeneration - ANS B. The headrest prevents the head from moving too
far backward, or hyperextending the neck beyond its normal range.
Which might you expect to see in a whiplash injury?
A. Cardiopulmonary problems
B. Side-to-side spinal curvature
C. Eventual herniation of discs
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,D. Traumatic injury to ligaments - ANS D. Because of the hyperflexion and hyperextension
caused by such a collision, it is not uncommon to find tears or stretching of the ligaments of the
spine. The injury is front-to-back, making choice B unlikely, and a herniated disc (choice C) is
more of a compression injury.
Muscle contractions that normally move food along the human digestive system are known as
________.
A. defecation
B. osmosis
C. peristalsis
D. circulation - ANS C. Defecation(choice A) is the elimination of waste. Osmosis (choice B) is
the movement of molecules across a membrane. Circulation (choice D) is the movement of
blood through the body. Peristalsis (choice C) is the involuntary, wavelike movement of muscles
in the intestine and elsewhere that pushes food along.
Which type of nutrient does not provide the body with energy?
A. Vitamin
B. Carbohydrate
C. Fat
D. Protein - ANS A. Some nutrients supply energy, and others support metabolism. Nutrients
in the first set include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Those in the secound set include
vitamins, minerals, and water.
Where would you be likely to find a Schwann cell?
A. In the digestive system
B. In the nervous system
C. In the skeletal system
D. In the muscular system - ANS B. Schwann cells wrap around the nerve fibers and form the
myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,How does the nervous system work with the muscular system?
A. The muscles of the body produce chemicals that feed the nerves.
B. The nervous system tells the muscles how to respond to the environment.
C. The nervous system releases chemicals that remove excess waste from the muscles.
D. The muscular system provides input that allows the nerves to make decisions. - ANS B. The
nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It receives and transmits
signals from the environment that regulate voluntary and involuntary movement.
Which part of the nervous system includes the femoral , radial, and ulnar nerves?
A. Somatic
B. Autonomic
C. Sympathetic
D. Parasympathetic - ANS A. The symphathetic and parasympathetic systems (choice C and D)
are part of the autonomic nervous system (choice B), which controls involuntary actions of the
smooth muscles, glands, and heart. The somatic nervous system (choice A) has to do with
reception of external stimuli and voluntary control of the muscles.
Where might a herniated lumbar disc be most likely to create pain?
A. Along the radial nerve
B. Within the spinal cord
C. Along the sciatic nerve
D. Along the tibial nerve - ANS C. Damage to a disc in the lower back will most likely cause
pain radiating downward along the sciatic nerve.
What is the name of the bone in the human thigh?
A. Ulna
B. Femur
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, C. Radius
D. Humerus - ANS B. The ulna (choice A), radius (choice C), and humerus (choice D) are arm
bones.
The ovaries are part of the ___________.
A. skeletal system
B. nervous system
C. lymphatic system
D. reproductive system - ANS D. The ovaries are the egg-producing reproductive organs.
Of the following processes, which one is a different level of defense from the others?
A. A low pH in the stomach
B. Cilia present in the trachea
C. Body cells recognizing a pathogen
D. Mucus present in the nasal cavity - ANS C. A low pH in the stomach (choice A), cilia in the
trachea (choice B), and mucus (D) are primary defenses. Cells recognizing a pathogen (choice C)
is a third line of defense.
Which organ system is primarily responsible for regulating muscle growth?
A. The skeletal system
B. The endocrine system
C. The nervous system
D. The reproductive system - ANS B. Hormones from the endocrine system, particularly from
the pituitary gland, regulate growth.
Which parts of the heart are separated by the mitral valve?
A. Left atrium and right atrium
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
