HESI A2 ADMISSION ASSESSMENT PRACTICE EXAM
2026/2027 Complete Test | Anatomy, Biology, Chemistry,
Grammar, Reading, Math| Actual Questions & Verified Answers
| All Subject Areas | Pass Guarantee
SECTION 1: Anatomy & Physiology (Questions 1-40)
1. Which organ system is primarily responsible for regulating body temperature
through sweating and vasodilation?
A. Endocrine system
B. Integumentary system
C. Lymphatic system
D. Digestive system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The integumentary system (skin) contains sweat glands and blood vessels
that adjust heat loss to maintain homeostasis.
2. The dorsal body cavity contains which of the following structures?
A. Heart and lungs
B. Stomach and liver
C. Brain and spinal cord
D. Urinary bladder and reproductive organs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsal cavity is subdivided into the cranial cavity (brain) and vertebral
cavity (spinal cord).
, 3. Which type of muscle tissue is striated and under voluntary control?
A. Cardiac
B. Smooth
C. Skeletal
D. Elastic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Skeletal muscle appears striated and is innervated by somatic motor
neurons, allowing voluntary movement.
4. Which heart chamber receives deoxygenated blood from the systemic
circulation?
A. Left atrium
B. Right atrium
C. Left ventricle
D. Right ventricle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The superior and inferior venae cavae empty systemic venous blood into the
right atrium.
5. The functional unit of the kidney responsible for blood filtration is the
A. nephron.
B. collecting duct.
C. renal pelvis.
D. glomerular capsule.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Each nephron contains a glomerulus and tubule that filter blood, reabsorb,
and secrete solutes to form urine.
6. Which hormone is released by the posterior pituitary gland and promotes water
reabsorption in the kidneys?
A. ADH
B. ACTH
, C. TSH
D. LH
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) increases water permeability in collecting
ducts, conserving water.
7. Which blood vessel type has the thickest tunica media relative to its lumen size?
A. Capillary
B. Vein
C. Artery
D. Venule
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Arteries withstand higher pressure; their thick muscular tunica media
maintains vessel tone.
8. Which cells produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
A. Chief cells
B. Parietal cells
C. Mucous cells
D. G cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Parietal (oxyntic) cells contain H⁺/K⁺-ATPase pumps that secrete HCl into the
lumen.
9. Which directional term means closer to the point of attachment of a limb?
A. Distal
B. Lateral
C. Proximal
D. Medial
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Proximal describes structures nearer to the trunk or origin; distal is farther
away.
10. Which lobe of the brain contains the visual cortex?
A. Frontal
B. Parietal
C. Temporal
D. Occipital
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The primary visual cortex (area 17) is located in the occipital lobe.
11. Which type of joint allows the greatest range of motion?
A. Suture (skull)
B. Pivot (C1-C2)
C. Hinge (elbow)
D. Ball-and-socket (shoulder)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Ball-and-socket joints permit flexion, extension, abduction, adduction,
rotation, and circumduction.
12. Which valve prevents backflow of blood into the left ventricle during diastole?
A. Tricuspid
B. Pulmonary
C. Mitral (bicuspid)
D. Aortic
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The aortic valve closes when LV pressure falls below aortic pressure,
preventing regurgitation.
13. Which structure carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetal heart?
A. Umbilical arteries
2026/2027 Complete Test | Anatomy, Biology, Chemistry,
Grammar, Reading, Math| Actual Questions & Verified Answers
| All Subject Areas | Pass Guarantee
SECTION 1: Anatomy & Physiology (Questions 1-40)
1. Which organ system is primarily responsible for regulating body temperature
through sweating and vasodilation?
A. Endocrine system
B. Integumentary system
C. Lymphatic system
D. Digestive system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The integumentary system (skin) contains sweat glands and blood vessels
that adjust heat loss to maintain homeostasis.
2. The dorsal body cavity contains which of the following structures?
A. Heart and lungs
B. Stomach and liver
C. Brain and spinal cord
D. Urinary bladder and reproductive organs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsal cavity is subdivided into the cranial cavity (brain) and vertebral
cavity (spinal cord).
, 3. Which type of muscle tissue is striated and under voluntary control?
A. Cardiac
B. Smooth
C. Skeletal
D. Elastic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Skeletal muscle appears striated and is innervated by somatic motor
neurons, allowing voluntary movement.
4. Which heart chamber receives deoxygenated blood from the systemic
circulation?
A. Left atrium
B. Right atrium
C. Left ventricle
D. Right ventricle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The superior and inferior venae cavae empty systemic venous blood into the
right atrium.
5. The functional unit of the kidney responsible for blood filtration is the
A. nephron.
B. collecting duct.
C. renal pelvis.
D. glomerular capsule.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Each nephron contains a glomerulus and tubule that filter blood, reabsorb,
and secrete solutes to form urine.
6. Which hormone is released by the posterior pituitary gland and promotes water
reabsorption in the kidneys?
A. ADH
B. ACTH
, C. TSH
D. LH
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) increases water permeability in collecting
ducts, conserving water.
7. Which blood vessel type has the thickest tunica media relative to its lumen size?
A. Capillary
B. Vein
C. Artery
D. Venule
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Arteries withstand higher pressure; their thick muscular tunica media
maintains vessel tone.
8. Which cells produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
A. Chief cells
B. Parietal cells
C. Mucous cells
D. G cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Parietal (oxyntic) cells contain H⁺/K⁺-ATPase pumps that secrete HCl into the
lumen.
9. Which directional term means closer to the point of attachment of a limb?
A. Distal
B. Lateral
C. Proximal
D. Medial
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Proximal describes structures nearer to the trunk or origin; distal is farther
away.
10. Which lobe of the brain contains the visual cortex?
A. Frontal
B. Parietal
C. Temporal
D. Occipital
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The primary visual cortex (area 17) is located in the occipital lobe.
11. Which type of joint allows the greatest range of motion?
A. Suture (skull)
B. Pivot (C1-C2)
C. Hinge (elbow)
D. Ball-and-socket (shoulder)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Ball-and-socket joints permit flexion, extension, abduction, adduction,
rotation, and circumduction.
12. Which valve prevents backflow of blood into the left ventricle during diastole?
A. Tricuspid
B. Pulmonary
C. Mitral (bicuspid)
D. Aortic
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The aortic valve closes when LV pressure falls below aortic pressure,
preventing regurgitation.
13. Which structure carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetal heart?
A. Umbilical arteries
