2026 ATI TEAS Science Practice Exam
Questions Answers and Verified
Rationales
1: Human Anatomy & Physiology
A patient experiences damage to the sinoatrial (SA) node of
the heart. Which physiological consequence is most likely to
occur?
A. The ventricles will permanently lose the ability to contract.
B. The atrioventricular valves will remain permanently closed.
C. The heart's normal pacemaker activity will be disrupted.
D. The myocardium will no longer receive oxygenated blood.
Rationale: The SA node normally initiates spontaneous
electrical impulses that establish the heart's sinus rhythm.
Damage can impair normal pacemaker activity and may
result in an abnormal or slower rhythm. The AV valves and
ventricular contractility are not directly eliminated by SA-node
damage.
2. A researcher measures glomerular filtration rate in a
patient with severe constriction of the afferent arteriole.
What change is expected?
A. Increased glomerular hydrostatic pressure and increased
filtration
,B. Decreased glomerular hydrostatic pressure and decreased
filtration
C. Increased Bowman capsule pressure and increased
filtration
D. No change because filtration occurs independently of
blood flow
Rationale: The afferent arteriole delivers blood to the
glomerulus. Constriction decreases blood flow into the
glomerular capillaries, lowering glomerular hydrostatic
pressure and reducing the filtration rate.
3. A patient has destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Which
change is most likely?
A. Increased glucagon secretion and decreased blood glucose
B. Decreased insulin secretion and increased blood glucose
C. Increased insulin secretion and decreased blood glucose
D. Decreased glucagon secretion and increased blood glucose
Rationale: Beta cells produce insulin, which promotes cellular
glucose uptake and lowers blood glucose. Destruction of
these cells reduces insulin production and therefore tends to
cause hyperglycemia.
4. During vigorous exercise, a person's skeletal muscles
require increased oxygen delivery. Which response most
directly facilitates this need?
,A. Decreased cardiac output
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Increased cardiac output and ventilation
D. Reduced blood flow to active skeletal muscles
Rationale: Exercise increases metabolic demand. Cardiac
output rises to deliver more oxygenated blood, while
ventilation increases to improve oxygen uptake and carbon
dioxide removal.
5. Which sequence correctly describes the pathway of blood
through the pulmonary circuit?
A. Right ventricle → pulmonary vein → lungs → pulmonary
artery → left atrium
B. Right ventricle → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary vein → left atrium
C. Left ventricle → pulmonary artery → lungs → pulmonary
vein → right atrium
D. Right atrium → pulmonary vein → lungs → pulmonary
artery → left ventricle
Rationale: Deoxygenated blood leaves the right ventricle
through the pulmonary arteries and travels to the lungs.
Oxygenated blood returns through the pulmonary veins to the
left atrium.
6. Difficulty: Hard
, A patient develops a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone
(ADH). Which renal effect is expected?
A. Increased water reabsorption in the collecting ducts
B. Increased sodium secretion by the distal tubule
C. Decreased water reabsorption and increased dilute urine
production
D. Complete cessation of glomerular filtration
Rationale: ADH increases water permeability in the collecting
ducts by promoting aquaporin insertion. Without sufficient
ADH, less water is reabsorbed, producing larger volumes of
dilute urine.
7. Difficulty: Hard
Which structure is primarily responsible for exchanging
oxygen and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and
pulmonary capillary blood?
A. Bronchi
B. Trachea
C. Bronchioles
D. Alveoli
Rationale: Alveoli have thin walls and extensive capillary
networks that provide a large surface area for gas exchange.
The conducting airways primarily transport air rather than
directly performing most gas exchange.
8. Difficulty: Hard
Questions Answers and Verified
Rationales
1: Human Anatomy & Physiology
A patient experiences damage to the sinoatrial (SA) node of
the heart. Which physiological consequence is most likely to
occur?
A. The ventricles will permanently lose the ability to contract.
B. The atrioventricular valves will remain permanently closed.
C. The heart's normal pacemaker activity will be disrupted.
D. The myocardium will no longer receive oxygenated blood.
Rationale: The SA node normally initiates spontaneous
electrical impulses that establish the heart's sinus rhythm.
Damage can impair normal pacemaker activity and may
result in an abnormal or slower rhythm. The AV valves and
ventricular contractility are not directly eliminated by SA-node
damage.
2. A researcher measures glomerular filtration rate in a
patient with severe constriction of the afferent arteriole.
What change is expected?
A. Increased glomerular hydrostatic pressure and increased
filtration
,B. Decreased glomerular hydrostatic pressure and decreased
filtration
C. Increased Bowman capsule pressure and increased
filtration
D. No change because filtration occurs independently of
blood flow
Rationale: The afferent arteriole delivers blood to the
glomerulus. Constriction decreases blood flow into the
glomerular capillaries, lowering glomerular hydrostatic
pressure and reducing the filtration rate.
3. A patient has destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Which
change is most likely?
A. Increased glucagon secretion and decreased blood glucose
B. Decreased insulin secretion and increased blood glucose
C. Increased insulin secretion and decreased blood glucose
D. Decreased glucagon secretion and increased blood glucose
Rationale: Beta cells produce insulin, which promotes cellular
glucose uptake and lowers blood glucose. Destruction of
these cells reduces insulin production and therefore tends to
cause hyperglycemia.
4. During vigorous exercise, a person's skeletal muscles
require increased oxygen delivery. Which response most
directly facilitates this need?
,A. Decreased cardiac output
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Increased cardiac output and ventilation
D. Reduced blood flow to active skeletal muscles
Rationale: Exercise increases metabolic demand. Cardiac
output rises to deliver more oxygenated blood, while
ventilation increases to improve oxygen uptake and carbon
dioxide removal.
5. Which sequence correctly describes the pathway of blood
through the pulmonary circuit?
A. Right ventricle → pulmonary vein → lungs → pulmonary
artery → left atrium
B. Right ventricle → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary vein → left atrium
C. Left ventricle → pulmonary artery → lungs → pulmonary
vein → right atrium
D. Right atrium → pulmonary vein → lungs → pulmonary
artery → left ventricle
Rationale: Deoxygenated blood leaves the right ventricle
through the pulmonary arteries and travels to the lungs.
Oxygenated blood returns through the pulmonary veins to the
left atrium.
6. Difficulty: Hard
, A patient develops a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone
(ADH). Which renal effect is expected?
A. Increased water reabsorption in the collecting ducts
B. Increased sodium secretion by the distal tubule
C. Decreased water reabsorption and increased dilute urine
production
D. Complete cessation of glomerular filtration
Rationale: ADH increases water permeability in the collecting
ducts by promoting aquaporin insertion. Without sufficient
ADH, less water is reabsorbed, producing larger volumes of
dilute urine.
7. Difficulty: Hard
Which structure is primarily responsible for exchanging
oxygen and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and
pulmonary capillary blood?
A. Bronchi
B. Trachea
C. Bronchioles
D. Alveoli
Rationale: Alveoli have thin walls and extensive capillary
networks that provide a large surface area for gas exchange.
The conducting airways primarily transport air rather than
directly performing most gas exchange.
8. Difficulty: Hard
