HESI A2 Practice Exam Reviewed and Updated 2026| All 175 Questions and Correct Accurate Answers With Rationales | Guaranteed Pass (NEW!)

Prepare for the HESI A2 entrance exam with this updated 2026 practice test focusing on Anatomy and Physiology. This comprehensive document features 175 questions and verified answers covering all major body systems, including the muscular, skeletal, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and digestive systems. Master key concepts such as homeostasis, hormone function, muscle contraction, and medical terminology to achieve a high score on your nursing school admission test. HESI A2 Practice Exam Reviewed and Updated 2026| All 175 Questions and Correct Accurate Answers With Rationales | Guaranteed Pass (NEW!) 1. Which is an anterior muscle? A. Gluteus maximus B. Quadriceps femoris C. Biceps femoris D. Adductor magnus - ANSWER️️-B. An anterior muscle is located near the front of the body. Of those listed, the quadriceps( frontal thigh muscle) is the most anterior. 2. 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 - ANSWER️️-B. The headrest prevents the head from moving too far backward, or hyperextending the neck beyond its normal range. 3. Which might you expect to see in a whiplash injury? A. Cardiopulmonary problems B. Side-to-side spinal curvature C. Eventual herniation of discs D. Traumatic injury to ligaments - ANSWER️️-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. 4. Muscle contractions that normally move food along the human digestive system are known as ________. A. defecation B. osmosis C. peristalsis D. circulation - ANSWER️️-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. 5. Which type of nutrient does not provide the body with energy? A. Vitamin B. Carbohydrate C. Fat D. Protein - ANSWER️️-A. Some nutrients supply energy, and others support metabolism. Nutrients in the first set include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Those in the second set include vitamins, minerals, and water. 6. 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 - ANSWER️️-B. Schwann cells wrap around the nerve fibers and form the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system. 7. 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. - ANSWER️️-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. 8. Which part of the nervous system includes the femoral , radial, and ulnar nerves? A. Somatic B. Autonomic C. Sympathetic D. Parasympathetic - ANSWER️️-A. The sympathetic 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. 9. 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 - ANSWER️️-C. Damage to a disc in the lower back will most likely cause pain radiating downward along the sciatic nerve. 10. What is Erythropoiesis? a) red blood cell formation b) white blood cell formation c) the destruction of red blood cells d) the destruction of white blood cells - ANSWER️️-a) red blood cell formation Blood cell formation is called Hemopoiesis. Erythro- red blood cells 11. The medulla oblongata has what primary responsibility? a) balance b) intellect c) vital functions d) sensory input - ANSWER️️-c) vital functions The medulla oblongata is responsible for basic vital functions, including respiration and heart rate. 12. Which of the following is true about simple reflexes? a) they travel through the entire body b) they travel only through the spinal cord c) they travel only through the brain d) they do not travel and remain localized - ANSWER️️-b) they travel only through the spinal cord Simple reflexes, known also as spinal reflexes, travel only through the spinal cord, and do not reach the brain. 13. In which part of the body is keratin NOT found? a) hair b) skin c) nails d) teeth - ANSWER️️-d) teeth Keratin is a family of fibrous structural proteins. Keratin is the key structural component of hair, nails, and the outer layer of human skin 14. What is the relationship between sarcomeres and muscle cells? a) sarcomeres are muscle cells b) sarcomeres contain muscle cells c) muscle cells contain myofibrils, which in turn are made up of sarcomeres d) muscle cells contain sarcomeres, which in turn are made up of myofibrils - ANSWER️️-c) muscle cells contain myofibrils, which in turn are made up of sarcomeres 15. A person who has torn their vastus lateralis muscle will need which of the following? a) an arm sling b) a cane or crutches c) insulin d) a neck brace - ANSWER️️-b) a cane or crutches The vastus lateralis muscle is a voluntary muscle in the legs. It is part of the quadriceps. 16. Muscles produce contraction due to the sliding of: a) filaments b) sarcomeres c) flexors d) neutrons - ANSWER️️-a) filaments