A&P 2 FINAL EXAM (ECPI) PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES |ANATOMY &
PHYSIOLOGY 2 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1: ENDOCRINE SYSTEM (Qs 1-40)
Q1. Which gland is known as the "master gland" of the endocrine system?
A) Thyroid gland
B) Pituitary gland
C) Adrenal gland
D) Hypothalamus
Answer: B
Rationale: The pituitary gland is called the "master gland" because it produces
hormones that regulate the function of other endocrine glands. It is controlled
by the hypothalamus.
Why Wrong:
- A: The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones but is regulated by TSH from
the
pituitary, so it is not the master gland.
- C: The adrenal glands produce stress hormones but are regulated by ACTH from
the pituitary.
- D: The hypothalamus controls the pituitary but is a neuroendocrine organ, not
the "master gland" itself.
Q2. Which hormone is produced by the posterior pituitary?
A) Growth hormone (GH)
B) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
C) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
D) Prolactin (PRL)
Answer: C
1
,Rationale: The posterior pituitary stores and releases ADH (vasopressin) and
oxytocin, which are synthesized in the hypothalamus. ADH regulates water
balance
by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys.
Why Wrong:
- A: GH is produced by the anterior pituitary, not the posterior.
- B: TSH is produced by the anterior pituitary.
- D: Prolactin is produced by the anterior pituitary.
Q3. A patient presents with weight loss, heat intolerance, and tachycardia.
Which endocrine disorder is most likely?
A) Hypothyroidism
B) Hyperthyroidism
C) Cushing's syndrome
D) Addison's disease
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid hormones) causes increased
metabolic
rate, leading to weight loss, heat intolerance, and tachycardia (fast heart
rate). These are classic symptoms of Graves' disease or other hyperthyroid
conditions.
Why Wrong:
- A: Hypothyroidism causes weight gain, cold intolerance, and bradycardia.
- C: Cushing's syndrome causes weight gain, moon face, and buffalo hump.
- D: Addison's disease causes weight loss but also fatigue, hypotension, and
hyperpigmentation.
Q4. What is the primary function of insulin?
A) To raise blood glucose levels
B) To lower blood glucose levels
2
,C) To stimulate glycogen breakdown
D) To increase gluconeogenesis
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the beta cells of the
pancreatic islets. Its primary function is to lower blood glucose by promoting
cellular glucose uptake and glycogenesis (storage of glucose as glycogen).
Why Wrong:
- A: Glucagon raises blood glucose.
- C: Glycogen breakdown is stimulated by glucagon and epinephrine.
- D: Gluconeogenesis is stimulated by glucagon and cortisol.
Q5. Which cells in the pancreas produce glucagon?
A) Beta cells
B) Alpha cells
C) Delta cells
D) F cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Alpha cells of the pancreatic islets (islets of Langerhans) produce
glucagon. Glucagon raises blood glucose by stimulating glycogen breakdown and
gluconeogenesis in the liver.
Why Wrong:
- A: Beta cells produce insulin.
- C: Delta cells produce somatostatin, which inhibits insulin and glucagon
secretion.
- D: F cells produce pancreatic polypeptide.
Q6. A patient with diabetes mellitus type 1 requires which type of treatment?
A) Oral hypoglycemic agents
3
, B) Insulin therapy
C) Diet and exercise only
D) Glucagon injections
Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune destruction of beta cells,
leading to absolute insulin deficiency. Insulin therapy is essential for survival
in these patients. Oral hypoglycemics are ineffective without endogenous insulin.
Why Wrong:
- A: Oral hypoglycemics (metformin, sulfonylureas) are used in type 2 diabetes,
not type 1.
- C: Diet and exercise are important but cannot replace insulin in type 1.
- D: Glucagon is used to treat hypoglycemia, not diabetes.
Q7. The adrenal medulla produces which hormones?
A) Cortisol and aldosterone
B) Epinephrine and norepinephrine
C) Androgens and estrogen
D) ADH and oxytocin
Answer: B
Rationale: The adrenal medulla is derived from neural crest cells and produces
the catecholamines epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
These hormones are part of the "fight-or-flight" response.
Why Wrong:
- A: Cortisol and aldosterone are produced by the adrenal cortex, not the medulla.
- C: Androgens and estrogen are produced by the gonads and adrenal cortex.
- D: ADH and oxytocin are produced by the hypothalamus and released from the
posterior pituitary.
4
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES |ANATOMY &
PHYSIOLOGY 2 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1: ENDOCRINE SYSTEM (Qs 1-40)
Q1. Which gland is known as the "master gland" of the endocrine system?
A) Thyroid gland
B) Pituitary gland
C) Adrenal gland
D) Hypothalamus
Answer: B
Rationale: The pituitary gland is called the "master gland" because it produces
hormones that regulate the function of other endocrine glands. It is controlled
by the hypothalamus.
Why Wrong:
- A: The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones but is regulated by TSH from
the
pituitary, so it is not the master gland.
- C: The adrenal glands produce stress hormones but are regulated by ACTH from
the pituitary.
- D: The hypothalamus controls the pituitary but is a neuroendocrine organ, not
the "master gland" itself.
Q2. Which hormone is produced by the posterior pituitary?
A) Growth hormone (GH)
B) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
C) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
D) Prolactin (PRL)
Answer: C
1
,Rationale: The posterior pituitary stores and releases ADH (vasopressin) and
oxytocin, which are synthesized in the hypothalamus. ADH regulates water
balance
by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys.
Why Wrong:
- A: GH is produced by the anterior pituitary, not the posterior.
- B: TSH is produced by the anterior pituitary.
- D: Prolactin is produced by the anterior pituitary.
Q3. A patient presents with weight loss, heat intolerance, and tachycardia.
Which endocrine disorder is most likely?
A) Hypothyroidism
B) Hyperthyroidism
C) Cushing's syndrome
D) Addison's disease
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid hormones) causes increased
metabolic
rate, leading to weight loss, heat intolerance, and tachycardia (fast heart
rate). These are classic symptoms of Graves' disease or other hyperthyroid
conditions.
Why Wrong:
- A: Hypothyroidism causes weight gain, cold intolerance, and bradycardia.
- C: Cushing's syndrome causes weight gain, moon face, and buffalo hump.
- D: Addison's disease causes weight loss but also fatigue, hypotension, and
hyperpigmentation.
Q4. What is the primary function of insulin?
A) To raise blood glucose levels
B) To lower blood glucose levels
2
,C) To stimulate glycogen breakdown
D) To increase gluconeogenesis
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the beta cells of the
pancreatic islets. Its primary function is to lower blood glucose by promoting
cellular glucose uptake and glycogenesis (storage of glucose as glycogen).
Why Wrong:
- A: Glucagon raises blood glucose.
- C: Glycogen breakdown is stimulated by glucagon and epinephrine.
- D: Gluconeogenesis is stimulated by glucagon and cortisol.
Q5. Which cells in the pancreas produce glucagon?
A) Beta cells
B) Alpha cells
C) Delta cells
D) F cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Alpha cells of the pancreatic islets (islets of Langerhans) produce
glucagon. Glucagon raises blood glucose by stimulating glycogen breakdown and
gluconeogenesis in the liver.
Why Wrong:
- A: Beta cells produce insulin.
- C: Delta cells produce somatostatin, which inhibits insulin and glucagon
secretion.
- D: F cells produce pancreatic polypeptide.
Q6. A patient with diabetes mellitus type 1 requires which type of treatment?
A) Oral hypoglycemic agents
3
, B) Insulin therapy
C) Diet and exercise only
D) Glucagon injections
Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune destruction of beta cells,
leading to absolute insulin deficiency. Insulin therapy is essential for survival
in these patients. Oral hypoglycemics are ineffective without endogenous insulin.
Why Wrong:
- A: Oral hypoglycemics (metformin, sulfonylureas) are used in type 2 diabetes,
not type 1.
- C: Diet and exercise are important but cannot replace insulin in type 1.
- D: Glucagon is used to treat hypoglycemia, not diabetes.
Q7. The adrenal medulla produces which hormones?
A) Cortisol and aldosterone
B) Epinephrine and norepinephrine
C) Androgens and estrogen
D) ADH and oxytocin
Answer: B
Rationale: The adrenal medulla is derived from neural crest cells and produces
the catecholamines epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
These hormones are part of the "fight-or-flight" response.
Why Wrong:
- A: Cortisol and aldosterone are produced by the adrenal cortex, not the medulla.
- C: Androgens and estrogen are produced by the gonads and adrenal cortex.
- D: ADH and oxytocin are produced by the hypothalamus and released from the
posterior pituitary.
4
