2026 ATI TEAS Anatomy and
Physiology Practice Exam Questions
with Answers and Detailed Rationales
1. A patient experiences damage to the posterior pituitary
gland. Which physiological function is most directly affected?
A. Production of thyroid-stimulating hormone
B. Production of adrenocorticotropic hormone
C. Release of antidiuretic hormone
D. Synthesis of follicle-stimulating hormone
Rationale: The posterior pituitary stores and releases
antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin, which are
synthesized in the hypothalamus. Damage to this region can
impair ADH release, reducing water reabsorption in the
kidneys and potentially causing diabetes insipidus. The
anterior pituitary produces TSH, ACTH, and FSH.
2.A red blood cell is placed in a solution with a lower solute
concentration than the cell's cytoplasm. What will most likely
occur?
A. The cell will lose water and crenate
B. No net water movement will occur
C. Water will enter the cell, causing it to swell
D. Solutes will rapidly leave the cell by active transport
,Rationale: A hypotonic extracellular solution has a lower
solute concentration than the intracellular environment.
Water moves into the cell through osmosis, potentially
causing swelling and hemolysis. In a hypertonic solution,
water would leave the cell and cause crenation.
3.Which structure is primarily responsible for preventing food
from entering the trachea during swallowing?
A. Uvula
B. Vocal cords
C. Hard palate
D. Epiglottis
Rationale: The epiglottis is a cartilaginous flap that folds over
the laryngeal opening during swallowing, directing food
toward the oesophagus. The vocal cords are involved
primarily in phonation and airway protection but are not the
main structure that covers the tracheal opening.
4.A patient has a deficiency of intrinsic factor. Which
physiological consequence is most likely?
A. Decreased absorption of dietary iron
B. Decreased pancreatic enzyme secretion
C. Impaired absorption of vitamin B12
D. Impaired absorption of vitamin C
Rationale: Intrinsic factor is produced by parietal cells of the
stomach and is necessary for vitamin B12 absorption in the
,terminal ileum. Deficiency can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency
and megaloblastic anaemia.
5.Which part of the nephron is primarily responsible for
establishing the medullary osmotic gradient that allows the
kidney to concentrate urine?
A. Proximal convoluted tubule
B. Distal convoluted tubule
C. Loop of Henle
D. Bowman's capsule
Rationale: The loop of Henle functions as a countercurrent
multiplier. The descending limb is highly permeable to water,
whereas the ascending limb actively transports electrolytes
and is relatively impermeable to water. This arrangement
establishes the medullary osmotic gradient needed for urine
concentration.
6. Difficulty: Hard
Which cardiac structure normally initiates the electrical
impulse that determines the heart's basic rhythm?
A. Atrioventricular node
B. Bundle of His
C. Purkinje fibres
D. Sinoatrial node
Rationale: The sinoatrial (SA) node is the heart's normal
pacemaker. It spontaneously depolarises and initiates the
, electrical impulse that spreads through the atria before
reaching the atrioventricular node.
7. Difficulty: Hard
A patient has damage to the myelin sheath surrounding a
peripheral nerve. Which process is most directly impaired?
A. Neurotransmitter synthesis
B. Rapid propagation of action potentials
C. Production of cerebrospinal fluid
D. Release of hormones from the hypothalamus
Rationale: Myelin electrically insulates axons and allows
saltatory conduction, in which action potentials effectively
"jump" between nodes of Ranvier. Damage to myelin slows or
disrupts action potential propagation.
8. Difficulty: Hard
Which hormone directly increases blood calcium
concentration by stimulating osteoclast activity?
A. Calcitonin
B. Insulin
C. Parathyroid hormone
D. Aldosterone
Rationale: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases blood
calcium by promoting bone resorption, enhancing renal
calcium reabsorption, and indirectly increasing intestinal
Physiology Practice Exam Questions
with Answers and Detailed Rationales
1. A patient experiences damage to the posterior pituitary
gland. Which physiological function is most directly affected?
A. Production of thyroid-stimulating hormone
B. Production of adrenocorticotropic hormone
C. Release of antidiuretic hormone
D. Synthesis of follicle-stimulating hormone
Rationale: The posterior pituitary stores and releases
antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin, which are
synthesized in the hypothalamus. Damage to this region can
impair ADH release, reducing water reabsorption in the
kidneys and potentially causing diabetes insipidus. The
anterior pituitary produces TSH, ACTH, and FSH.
2.A red blood cell is placed in a solution with a lower solute
concentration than the cell's cytoplasm. What will most likely
occur?
A. The cell will lose water and crenate
B. No net water movement will occur
C. Water will enter the cell, causing it to swell
D. Solutes will rapidly leave the cell by active transport
,Rationale: A hypotonic extracellular solution has a lower
solute concentration than the intracellular environment.
Water moves into the cell through osmosis, potentially
causing swelling and hemolysis. In a hypertonic solution,
water would leave the cell and cause crenation.
3.Which structure is primarily responsible for preventing food
from entering the trachea during swallowing?
A. Uvula
B. Vocal cords
C. Hard palate
D. Epiglottis
Rationale: The epiglottis is a cartilaginous flap that folds over
the laryngeal opening during swallowing, directing food
toward the oesophagus. The vocal cords are involved
primarily in phonation and airway protection but are not the
main structure that covers the tracheal opening.
4.A patient has a deficiency of intrinsic factor. Which
physiological consequence is most likely?
A. Decreased absorption of dietary iron
B. Decreased pancreatic enzyme secretion
C. Impaired absorption of vitamin B12
D. Impaired absorption of vitamin C
Rationale: Intrinsic factor is produced by parietal cells of the
stomach and is necessary for vitamin B12 absorption in the
,terminal ileum. Deficiency can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency
and megaloblastic anaemia.
5.Which part of the nephron is primarily responsible for
establishing the medullary osmotic gradient that allows the
kidney to concentrate urine?
A. Proximal convoluted tubule
B. Distal convoluted tubule
C. Loop of Henle
D. Bowman's capsule
Rationale: The loop of Henle functions as a countercurrent
multiplier. The descending limb is highly permeable to water,
whereas the ascending limb actively transports electrolytes
and is relatively impermeable to water. This arrangement
establishes the medullary osmotic gradient needed for urine
concentration.
6. Difficulty: Hard
Which cardiac structure normally initiates the electrical
impulse that determines the heart's basic rhythm?
A. Atrioventricular node
B. Bundle of His
C. Purkinje fibres
D. Sinoatrial node
Rationale: The sinoatrial (SA) node is the heart's normal
pacemaker. It spontaneously depolarises and initiates the
, electrical impulse that spreads through the atria before
reaching the atrioventricular node.
7. Difficulty: Hard
A patient has damage to the myelin sheath surrounding a
peripheral nerve. Which process is most directly impaired?
A. Neurotransmitter synthesis
B. Rapid propagation of action potentials
C. Production of cerebrospinal fluid
D. Release of hormones from the hypothalamus
Rationale: Myelin electrically insulates axons and allows
saltatory conduction, in which action potentials effectively
"jump" between nodes of Ranvier. Damage to myelin slows or
disrupts action potential propagation.
8. Difficulty: Hard
Which hormone directly increases blood calcium
concentration by stimulating osteoclast activity?
A. Calcitonin
B. Insulin
C. Parathyroid hormone
D. Aldosterone
Rationale: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases blood
calcium by promoting bone resorption, enhancing renal
calcium reabsorption, and indirectly increasing intestinal
