BIOS252 Anatomy & Physiology II - Exam 1 Review Chamberlain University
BIOS252 / BIOS 252 (Latest Update 2026/2027)
Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
Exam 1: Review Questions with Verified Answers
100% Correct | Grade A - Chamberlain University
Section 1: Endocrine System (Questions 1-30)
1. A nursing student is studying hormone mechanisms. Which of the following correctly describes the mechanism of
action of steroid hormones such as cortisol?
A. They bind to surface receptors on target cells and activate G-proteins
B. They diffuse across the plasma membrane and bind to intracellular receptors to alter gene transcription
[CORRECT]
C. They activate second messenger systems including cAMP and IP3
D. They bind to receptors in the cell membrane and cause rapid, short-lived effects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Steroid hormones are lipid-soluble and diffuse directly across the plasma membrane to bind intracellular receptors,
typically in the cytoplasm or nucleus. This hormone-receptor complex then acts as a transcription factor to alter gene expression,
producing slow but long-lasting effects. Option A and C describe water-soluble (peptide) hormone mechanisms involving surface
receptors and second messengers. Option D also describes the water-soluble pathway of rapid, short-lived responses.
2. Which of the following hormones acts through a second messenger system involving cAMP?
A. Thyroid hormone (T3)
B. Cortisol
C. Epinephrine [CORRECT]
D. Testosterone
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Epinephrine is a water-soluble (catecholamine) hormone that binds to surface receptors (beta-adrenergic receptors) and
activates a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway, ultimately stimulating adenylate cyclase to produce cAMP as a second
messenger. Thyroid hormone (T3), cortisol, and testosterone are all lipid-soluble hormones that act through intracellular receptors and
alter gene transcription, not second messenger systems.
3. A patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus has elevated blood glucose due to insulin resistance. At the cellular level,
what process best describes the reduction in insulin receptor numbers in response to chronically high insulin levels?
A. Up-regulation
B. Down-regulation [CORRECT]
C. Paracrine signaling
D. Autocrine signaling
Correct Answer: B
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,BIOS252 Anatomy & Physiology II - Exam 1 Review Chamberlain University
Rationale: Down-regulation is the process by which target cells decrease the number of receptors in response to chronically high levels
of a hormone. In type 2 diabetes, persistently elevated insulin levels cause cells to reduce their insulin receptor population, worsening
insulin resistance. Up-regulation is the opposite process (increasing receptor numbers to increase sensitivity). Paracrine and autocrine
signaling refer to the distance over which chemical signals act, not receptor number regulation.
4. A researcher observes that a chemical signal released by one cell affects only neighboring cells. Which type of
signaling is this?
A. Endocrine signaling
B. Paracrine signaling [CORRECT]
C. Autocrine signaling
D. Exocrine signaling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Paracrine signaling involves chemical messengers that are released by one cell and act on nearby target cells, diffusing
only short distances through the interstitial fluid. Examples include histamine released by mast cells and neurotransmitters at synapses.
Endocrine signaling involves hormones traveling through the bloodstream to distant targets. Autocrine signaling occurs when a cell
releases a signal that binds to receptors on the same cell. Exocrine signaling refers to secretion into ducts leading to body surfaces.
5. The hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system is a specialized vascular connection that directly links which two
structures?
A. Hypothalamus and posterior pituitary
B. Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary [CORRECT]
C. Anterior pituitary and thyroid gland
D. Posterior pituitary and adrenal medulla
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system is a network of blood vessels that connects the hypothalamus to the anterior
pituitary gland. This portal system allows hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones to reach the anterior pituitary directly
without first entering systemic circulation, ensuring precise and efficient regulation of anterior pituitary hormone secretion. The
posterior pituitary is connected to the hypothalamus by neural axons (the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract), not by a portal system.
6. Which of the following anterior pituitary hormones is correctly classified as a tropic hormone?
A. Growth hormone (GH)
B. Prolactin (PRL)
C. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) [CORRECT]
D. Oxytocin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tropic hormones are anterior pituitary hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands. ACTH stimulates the adrenal
cortex to secrete cortisol, making it a tropic hormone. Other tropic hormones include TSH (stimulates thyroid), FSH, and LH (stimulate
gonads). Growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) are direct-acting hormones that do not primarily target other endocrine glands.
Oxytocin is a posterior pituitary hormone, not an anterior pituitary hormone.
7. A patient presents with increased thirst, excessive urination, and very dilute urine. Laboratory tests reveal low levels
of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which structure is primarily responsible for the synthesis of ADH?
A. Anterior pituitary gland
B. Posterior pituitary gland
C. Hypothalamus [CORRECT]
D. Adrenal cortex
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, BIOS252 Anatomy & Physiology II - Exam 1 Review Chamberlain University
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ADH (vasopressin) is synthesized in the hypothalamus (specifically in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei) and then
transported along axons of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract to the posterior pituitary, where it is stored and released into the
bloodstream. The anterior pituitary does not produce ADH. The posterior pituitary stores and releases ADH but does not synthesize it.
The adrenal cortex produces aldosterone and cortisol, not ADH.
8. Which hormone is correctly paired with its primary function and source?
A. Oxytocin: stimulates milk production from mammary glands; anterior pituitary
B. ADH: increases water reabsorption in kidneys; posterior pituitary (stored/released) [CORRECT]
C. TSH: directly increases basal metabolic rate; thyroid gland
D. ACTH: stimulates thyroid hormone release; thyroid gland
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ADH (vasopressin) is stored in and released from the posterior pituitary and acts on the kidneys to increase water
reabsorption by inserting aquaporin-2 channels into the collecting ducts, reducing urine output and conserving body water. Oxytocin
stimulates milk ejection (not production, which is prolactin) and uterine contractions, and is released from the posterior pituitary. TSH
stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T3/T4 (it does not directly increase BMR itself). ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex, not the
thyroid.
9. A patient is diagnosed with Graves' disease. Laboratory results would most likely show which of the following
patterns?
A. Decreased T3 and T4 with increased TSH
B. Increased T3 and T4 with decreased TSH [CORRECT]
C. Increased T3 and T4 with increased TSH
D. Decreased T3 and T4 with decreased TSH
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder in which thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) mimic TSH and
continuously stimulate the thyroid gland to produce excessive amounts of T3 and T4 (hyperthyroidism). The elevated T3 and T4 levels
suppress TSH secretion from the anterior pituitary through negative feedback, resulting in low or undetectable TSH. Decreased T3/T4
with increased TSH would suggest primary hypothyroidism, while both decreased would suggest secondary (pituitary) hypothyroidism.
10. Which of the following statements correctly describes the role of calcitonin?
A. It is produced by the parathyroid glands and increases blood calcium levels
B. It is produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid and decreases blood calcium levels [CORRECT]
C. It stimulates osteoclast activity to increase calcium release from bone
D. It is regulated primarily by the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Calcitonin is produced by the parafollicular cells (C cells) of the thyroid gland and acts to lower blood calcium levels by
inhibiting osteoclast activity and promoting calcium deposition into bone. This is the opposite action of parathyroid hormone (PTH),
which is produced by the parathyroid glands and increases blood calcium. Calcitonin is not produced by the parathyroid glands, does
not stimulate osteoclasts, and is not regulated by the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system.
11. A patient has a serum calcium level of 7.8 mg/dL (normal: 9.0-10.5 mg/dL). Which hormone would be most
elevated in response to this condition?
A. Calcitonin
B. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) [CORRECT]
C. Aldosterone
Page 3
BIOS252 / BIOS 252 (Latest Update 2026/2027)
Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
Exam 1: Review Questions with Verified Answers
100% Correct | Grade A - Chamberlain University
Section 1: Endocrine System (Questions 1-30)
1. A nursing student is studying hormone mechanisms. Which of the following correctly describes the mechanism of
action of steroid hormones such as cortisol?
A. They bind to surface receptors on target cells and activate G-proteins
B. They diffuse across the plasma membrane and bind to intracellular receptors to alter gene transcription
[CORRECT]
C. They activate second messenger systems including cAMP and IP3
D. They bind to receptors in the cell membrane and cause rapid, short-lived effects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Steroid hormones are lipid-soluble and diffuse directly across the plasma membrane to bind intracellular receptors,
typically in the cytoplasm or nucleus. This hormone-receptor complex then acts as a transcription factor to alter gene expression,
producing slow but long-lasting effects. Option A and C describe water-soluble (peptide) hormone mechanisms involving surface
receptors and second messengers. Option D also describes the water-soluble pathway of rapid, short-lived responses.
2. Which of the following hormones acts through a second messenger system involving cAMP?
A. Thyroid hormone (T3)
B. Cortisol
C. Epinephrine [CORRECT]
D. Testosterone
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Epinephrine is a water-soluble (catecholamine) hormone that binds to surface receptors (beta-adrenergic receptors) and
activates a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway, ultimately stimulating adenylate cyclase to produce cAMP as a second
messenger. Thyroid hormone (T3), cortisol, and testosterone are all lipid-soluble hormones that act through intracellular receptors and
alter gene transcription, not second messenger systems.
3. A patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus has elevated blood glucose due to insulin resistance. At the cellular level,
what process best describes the reduction in insulin receptor numbers in response to chronically high insulin levels?
A. Up-regulation
B. Down-regulation [CORRECT]
C. Paracrine signaling
D. Autocrine signaling
Correct Answer: B
Page 1
,BIOS252 Anatomy & Physiology II - Exam 1 Review Chamberlain University
Rationale: Down-regulation is the process by which target cells decrease the number of receptors in response to chronically high levels
of a hormone. In type 2 diabetes, persistently elevated insulin levels cause cells to reduce their insulin receptor population, worsening
insulin resistance. Up-regulation is the opposite process (increasing receptor numbers to increase sensitivity). Paracrine and autocrine
signaling refer to the distance over which chemical signals act, not receptor number regulation.
4. A researcher observes that a chemical signal released by one cell affects only neighboring cells. Which type of
signaling is this?
A. Endocrine signaling
B. Paracrine signaling [CORRECT]
C. Autocrine signaling
D. Exocrine signaling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Paracrine signaling involves chemical messengers that are released by one cell and act on nearby target cells, diffusing
only short distances through the interstitial fluid. Examples include histamine released by mast cells and neurotransmitters at synapses.
Endocrine signaling involves hormones traveling through the bloodstream to distant targets. Autocrine signaling occurs when a cell
releases a signal that binds to receptors on the same cell. Exocrine signaling refers to secretion into ducts leading to body surfaces.
5. The hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system is a specialized vascular connection that directly links which two
structures?
A. Hypothalamus and posterior pituitary
B. Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary [CORRECT]
C. Anterior pituitary and thyroid gland
D. Posterior pituitary and adrenal medulla
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system is a network of blood vessels that connects the hypothalamus to the anterior
pituitary gland. This portal system allows hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones to reach the anterior pituitary directly
without first entering systemic circulation, ensuring precise and efficient regulation of anterior pituitary hormone secretion. The
posterior pituitary is connected to the hypothalamus by neural axons (the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract), not by a portal system.
6. Which of the following anterior pituitary hormones is correctly classified as a tropic hormone?
A. Growth hormone (GH)
B. Prolactin (PRL)
C. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) [CORRECT]
D. Oxytocin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tropic hormones are anterior pituitary hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands. ACTH stimulates the adrenal
cortex to secrete cortisol, making it a tropic hormone. Other tropic hormones include TSH (stimulates thyroid), FSH, and LH (stimulate
gonads). Growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) are direct-acting hormones that do not primarily target other endocrine glands.
Oxytocin is a posterior pituitary hormone, not an anterior pituitary hormone.
7. A patient presents with increased thirst, excessive urination, and very dilute urine. Laboratory tests reveal low levels
of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which structure is primarily responsible for the synthesis of ADH?
A. Anterior pituitary gland
B. Posterior pituitary gland
C. Hypothalamus [CORRECT]
D. Adrenal cortex
Page 2
, BIOS252 Anatomy & Physiology II - Exam 1 Review Chamberlain University
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ADH (vasopressin) is synthesized in the hypothalamus (specifically in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei) and then
transported along axons of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract to the posterior pituitary, where it is stored and released into the
bloodstream. The anterior pituitary does not produce ADH. The posterior pituitary stores and releases ADH but does not synthesize it.
The adrenal cortex produces aldosterone and cortisol, not ADH.
8. Which hormone is correctly paired with its primary function and source?
A. Oxytocin: stimulates milk production from mammary glands; anterior pituitary
B. ADH: increases water reabsorption in kidneys; posterior pituitary (stored/released) [CORRECT]
C. TSH: directly increases basal metabolic rate; thyroid gland
D. ACTH: stimulates thyroid hormone release; thyroid gland
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ADH (vasopressin) is stored in and released from the posterior pituitary and acts on the kidneys to increase water
reabsorption by inserting aquaporin-2 channels into the collecting ducts, reducing urine output and conserving body water. Oxytocin
stimulates milk ejection (not production, which is prolactin) and uterine contractions, and is released from the posterior pituitary. TSH
stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T3/T4 (it does not directly increase BMR itself). ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex, not the
thyroid.
9. A patient is diagnosed with Graves' disease. Laboratory results would most likely show which of the following
patterns?
A. Decreased T3 and T4 with increased TSH
B. Increased T3 and T4 with decreased TSH [CORRECT]
C. Increased T3 and T4 with increased TSH
D. Decreased T3 and T4 with decreased TSH
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder in which thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) mimic TSH and
continuously stimulate the thyroid gland to produce excessive amounts of T3 and T4 (hyperthyroidism). The elevated T3 and T4 levels
suppress TSH secretion from the anterior pituitary through negative feedback, resulting in low or undetectable TSH. Decreased T3/T4
with increased TSH would suggest primary hypothyroidism, while both decreased would suggest secondary (pituitary) hypothyroidism.
10. Which of the following statements correctly describes the role of calcitonin?
A. It is produced by the parathyroid glands and increases blood calcium levels
B. It is produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid and decreases blood calcium levels [CORRECT]
C. It stimulates osteoclast activity to increase calcium release from bone
D. It is regulated primarily by the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Calcitonin is produced by the parafollicular cells (C cells) of the thyroid gland and acts to lower blood calcium levels by
inhibiting osteoclast activity and promoting calcium deposition into bone. This is the opposite action of parathyroid hormone (PTH),
which is produced by the parathyroid glands and increases blood calcium. Calcitonin is not produced by the parathyroid glands, does
not stimulate osteoclasts, and is not regulated by the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system.
11. A patient has a serum calcium level of 7.8 mg/dL (normal: 9.0-10.5 mg/dL). Which hormone would be most
elevated in response to this condition?
A. Calcitonin
B. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) [CORRECT]
C. Aldosterone
Page 3
