HESI A2 Anatomy and Physiology Real
Exam Questions and Answers (2026) |
Real Exam Prep Pack | 100% Verified
Responses | A
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 -✓✓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
D. Traumatic injury to ligaments -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓B. Schwann cells wrap around the nerve fibers and form
the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system.
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. -
✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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
C. Radius
D. Humerus -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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
B. Right atrium and right extremities
C. Left ventricle and right ventricle
D. Left atrium and left ventricle -✓✓D. The mitral valve opens to allow oxygenated
blood collected in the left atrium to flow into the left ventricle
How might vitamin D deficiency present?
A. As bleeding gums
B. As swollen extremities
C. As red patches
D. As crooked bones -✓✓D. The disease known as rickets is a product of vitamin D
deficiency and results in the softening and bending of bones.
How does the lymphatic system work with the circulatory system?
A. The circulatory system produces red blood cells for the lymphatic system.
B. Lymph draws excess fluid from the cells and deposits it into the blood vessels.
C. The heart regulates the production of lymph in the lymph glands.
D. White cells from the lymphatic system eliminate excess red blood cells. -✓✓B. One
of the jobs of the lymphatic system is to prevent excess fluid from accumulating in
tissues by collecting it and moving it into the circulatory system via the brachiocephalic
veins.
What is the function of parathyroid hormone?
A. Increasing energy levels
B. Stimulating cell reproduction
C. Speeding up metabolism
D. Activating vitamin D -✓✓D. The parathyroid hormone regulates calcium in the body
through several means, one of which is increasing the production of activated vitamin D.
Which feature of the ear is most medial?
A. Pinna
B. Tympanic membrane
C. Cochlea
Exam Questions and Answers (2026) |
Real Exam Prep Pack | 100% Verified
Responses | A
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 -✓✓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
D. Traumatic injury to ligaments -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓B. Schwann cells wrap around the nerve fibers and form
the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system.
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. -
✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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
C. Radius
D. Humerus -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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
B. Right atrium and right extremities
C. Left ventricle and right ventricle
D. Left atrium and left ventricle -✓✓D. The mitral valve opens to allow oxygenated
blood collected in the left atrium to flow into the left ventricle
How might vitamin D deficiency present?
A. As bleeding gums
B. As swollen extremities
C. As red patches
D. As crooked bones -✓✓D. The disease known as rickets is a product of vitamin D
deficiency and results in the softening and bending of bones.
How does the lymphatic system work with the circulatory system?
A. The circulatory system produces red blood cells for the lymphatic system.
B. Lymph draws excess fluid from the cells and deposits it into the blood vessels.
C. The heart regulates the production of lymph in the lymph glands.
D. White cells from the lymphatic system eliminate excess red blood cells. -✓✓B. One
of the jobs of the lymphatic system is to prevent excess fluid from accumulating in
tissues by collecting it and moving it into the circulatory system via the brachiocephalic
veins.
What is the function of parathyroid hormone?
A. Increasing energy levels
B. Stimulating cell reproduction
C. Speeding up metabolism
D. Activating vitamin D -✓✓D. The parathyroid hormone regulates calcium in the body
through several means, one of which is increasing the production of activated vitamin D.
Which feature of the ear is most medial?
A. Pinna
B. Tympanic membrane
C. Cochlea
