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 organelle is most abundant in cardiac-muscle fibers and provides the ATP
needed for continuous contraction?
A. Rough endoplasmic reticulum
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Mitochondria
D. Lysosomes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cardiac muscle is highly oxidative; mitochondria occupy ~30 % of cell volume
and generate ATP aerobically.
2. The term “distal” is best defined as
A. closer to the midline of the body.
B. closer to the point of attachment.
C. farther from the point of attachment.
D. toward the head.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Distal means farther from the trunk or point of origin; proximal is closer.
3. Which heart chamber has the thickest myocardial wall and why?
A. Right atrium – must push blood through lungs
B. Left atrium – receives high-pressure systemic blood
, C. Right ventricle – must overcome systemic resistance
D. Left ventricle – must generate systemic pressure
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Systemic vascular resistance is much higher than pulmonary; LV wall is
thicker to generate ~120 mmHg.
4. Which blood vessel type contains the greatest proportion of smooth muscle
relative to its diameter?
A. Capillaries
B. Venules
C. Arterioles
D. Large veins
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Arterioles are the chief resistance vessels; thick smooth-muscle layer
regulates blood flow into capillary beds.
5. Which valve closes when the ventricles begin to contract during systole?
A. Aortic
B. Pulmonary
C. Mitral (left AV)
D. Tricuspid (right AV)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Atrioventricular valves (mitral & tricuspid) close at onset of systole to prevent
back-flow into atria.
6. Which respiratory structure is lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar
epithelium and functions to warm and humidify air?
A. Alveolus
B. Bronchiole
C. Nasal cavity
D. Trachea
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nasal cavity mucosa contains cilia and goblet cells that filter, warm, and
moisten incoming air.
7. Which of the following best describes the movement of oxygen from the alveolus
into the blood?
A. Active transport against its gradient
B. Facilitated diffusion via carrier proteins
C. Simple diffusion down a partial-pressure gradient
D. Secondary active transport with Na⁺
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: O₂ is lipid-soluble; crosses respiratory membrane by simple diffusion driven
by PO₂ gradient.
8. The glomerular filtrate is similar to plasma EXCEPT it contains little
A. glucose.
B. sodium.
C. albumin.
D. urea.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fenestrated endothelium and podocyte slit diaphragms restrict proteins >
~70 kDa; albumin (69 kDa) is largely retained.
9. Which hormone is released by the posterior pituitary and increases water
reabsorption in the collecting ducts?
A. ADH (vasopressin)
B. Aldosterone
C. ANP
D. Renin
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: ADH inserts aquaporin-2 channels in collecting-duct principal cells,
increasing water permeability.
10. Which layer of the digestive tract contains the myenteric (Auerbach) plexus that
regulates peristalsis?
A. Mucosa
B. Submucosa
C. Muscularis externa
D. Serosa
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Myenteric plexus lies between circular and longitudinal muscle layers of
muscularis externa.
11. Which salivary gland produces the most serous (watery) saliva rich in amylase?
A. Parotid
B. Submandibular
C. Sublingual
D. Minor buccal
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Parotid glands are purely serous and secrete saliva with high amylase
content.
12. Which pancreatic enzyme is secreted in its active form and does NOT require an
enteropeptidase-mediated conversion?
A. Trypsinogen
B. Chymotrypsinogen
C. Amylase
D. Procarboxypeptidase
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Amylase is already active; proteases are secreted as zymogens and activated
in lumen.
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 organelle is most abundant in cardiac-muscle fibers and provides the ATP
needed for continuous contraction?
A. Rough endoplasmic reticulum
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Mitochondria
D. Lysosomes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cardiac muscle is highly oxidative; mitochondria occupy ~30 % of cell volume
and generate ATP aerobically.
2. The term “distal” is best defined as
A. closer to the midline of the body.
B. closer to the point of attachment.
C. farther from the point of attachment.
D. toward the head.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Distal means farther from the trunk or point of origin; proximal is closer.
3. Which heart chamber has the thickest myocardial wall and why?
A. Right atrium – must push blood through lungs
B. Left atrium – receives high-pressure systemic blood
, C. Right ventricle – must overcome systemic resistance
D. Left ventricle – must generate systemic pressure
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Systemic vascular resistance is much higher than pulmonary; LV wall is
thicker to generate ~120 mmHg.
4. Which blood vessel type contains the greatest proportion of smooth muscle
relative to its diameter?
A. Capillaries
B. Venules
C. Arterioles
D. Large veins
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Arterioles are the chief resistance vessels; thick smooth-muscle layer
regulates blood flow into capillary beds.
5. Which valve closes when the ventricles begin to contract during systole?
A. Aortic
B. Pulmonary
C. Mitral (left AV)
D. Tricuspid (right AV)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Atrioventricular valves (mitral & tricuspid) close at onset of systole to prevent
back-flow into atria.
6. Which respiratory structure is lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar
epithelium and functions to warm and humidify air?
A. Alveolus
B. Bronchiole
C. Nasal cavity
D. Trachea
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nasal cavity mucosa contains cilia and goblet cells that filter, warm, and
moisten incoming air.
7. Which of the following best describes the movement of oxygen from the alveolus
into the blood?
A. Active transport against its gradient
B. Facilitated diffusion via carrier proteins
C. Simple diffusion down a partial-pressure gradient
D. Secondary active transport with Na⁺
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: O₂ is lipid-soluble; crosses respiratory membrane by simple diffusion driven
by PO₂ gradient.
8. The glomerular filtrate is similar to plasma EXCEPT it contains little
A. glucose.
B. sodium.
C. albumin.
D. urea.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fenestrated endothelium and podocyte slit diaphragms restrict proteins >
~70 kDa; albumin (69 kDa) is largely retained.
9. Which hormone is released by the posterior pituitary and increases water
reabsorption in the collecting ducts?
A. ADH (vasopressin)
B. Aldosterone
C. ANP
D. Renin
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: ADH inserts aquaporin-2 channels in collecting-duct principal cells,
increasing water permeability.
10. Which layer of the digestive tract contains the myenteric (Auerbach) plexus that
regulates peristalsis?
A. Mucosa
B. Submucosa
C. Muscularis externa
D. Serosa
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Myenteric plexus lies between circular and longitudinal muscle layers of
muscularis externa.
11. Which salivary gland produces the most serous (watery) saliva rich in amylase?
A. Parotid
B. Submandibular
C. Sublingual
D. Minor buccal
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Parotid glands are purely serous and secrete saliva with high amylase
content.
12. Which pancreatic enzyme is secreted in its active form and does NOT require an
enteropeptidase-mediated conversion?
A. Trypsinogen
B. Chymotrypsinogen
C. Amylase
D. Procarboxypeptidase
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Amylase is already active; proteases are secreted as zymogens and activated
in lumen.
