Portage Learning A&P II: Final
Exam Questions with correct
Answers
Course
A&P
1. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
Answer: D — Left ventricle
Explanation: The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood through the aorta to the systemic
circulation. Its wall is thicker than that of the right ventricle because it must generate higher
pressure.
2. Which structure prevents backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium?
A. Tricuspid valve
B. Pulmonary semilunar valve
C. Mitral (bicuspid) valve
D. Aortic semilunar valve
Answer: C — Mitral valve
Explanation: The mitral valve lies between the left atrium and left ventricle. It closes during
ventricular contraction to prevent blood from moving backward into the atrium.
3. What is the primary function of erythrocytes?
A. Produce antibodies
B. Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
C. Destroy bacteria through phagocytosis
D. Produce clotting factors
Answer: B — Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
,Explanation: Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds oxygen and contributes to carbon
dioxide transport.
4. Which hormone stimulates red blood cell production?
A. Insulin
B. Erythropoietin
C. Calcitonin
D. Aldosterone
Answer: B — Erythropoietin
Explanation: Erythropoietin is produced primarily by the kidneys in response to reduced oxygen
availability. It stimulates erythropoiesis in red bone marrow.
5. Where does most gas exchange occur in the lungs?
A. Trachea
B. Primary bronchi
C. Alveoli
D. Larynx
Answer: C — Alveoli
Explanation: Alveoli provide a large, thin respiratory surface surrounded by pulmonary
capillaries. Oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse across the respiratory membrane.
6. During normal inspiration, what happens to thoracic volume?
A. It decreases
B. It remains constant
C. It increases
D. It becomes zero
Answer: C — It increases
Explanation: Contraction of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles expands the
thoracic cavity. Increased volume decreases intrapulmonary pressure, allowing air to enter.
,7. Which substance reduces alveolar surface tension?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Surfactant
C. Bile
D. Mucus
Answer: B — Surfactant
Explanation: Pulmonary surfactant, produced by type II alveolar cells, reduces surface tension
and helps prevent alveolar collapse during expiration.
8. Which blood vessels carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?
A. Pulmonary arteries
B. Pulmonary veins
C. Superior vena cava
D. Coronary arteries
Answer: B — Pulmonary veins
Explanation: Pulmonary veins return oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium. They
are an important exception to the general rule that veins carry deoxygenated blood.
9. What is the primary function of the small intestine?
A. Store feces
B. Absorb most nutrients
C. Produce urine
D. Store bile permanently
Answer: B — Absorb most nutrients
Explanation: The small intestine is the principal site of chemical digestion and nutrient
absorption. Its villi and microvilli greatly increase absorptive surface area.
10. Which organ produces bile?
A. Gallbladder
B. Pancreas
, C. Liver
D. Stomach
Answer: C — Liver
Explanation: The liver synthesizes bile. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile before
releasing it into the small intestine.
11. What is the major digestive function of bile?
A. Digest proteins directly
B. Emulsify fats
C. Digest DNA
D. Convert glucose into glycogen
Answer: B — Emulsify fats
Explanation: Bile salts break large fat globules into smaller droplets, increasing the surface area
available for pancreatic lipase.
12. Which pancreatic enzyme begins the digestion of proteins?
A. Amylase
B. Lipase
C. Trypsin
D. Lactase
Answer: C — Trypsin
Explanation: Trypsin is a pancreatic protease that participates in protein digestion in the small
intestine. It is secreted initially as the inactive precursor trypsinogen.
13. What is the functional unit of the kidney?
A. Nephron
B. Alveolus
C. Sarcomere
D. Neuron
Answer: A — Nephron
Exam Questions with correct
Answers
Course
A&P
1. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
Answer: D — Left ventricle
Explanation: The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood through the aorta to the systemic
circulation. Its wall is thicker than that of the right ventricle because it must generate higher
pressure.
2. Which structure prevents backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium?
A. Tricuspid valve
B. Pulmonary semilunar valve
C. Mitral (bicuspid) valve
D. Aortic semilunar valve
Answer: C — Mitral valve
Explanation: The mitral valve lies between the left atrium and left ventricle. It closes during
ventricular contraction to prevent blood from moving backward into the atrium.
3. What is the primary function of erythrocytes?
A. Produce antibodies
B. Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
C. Destroy bacteria through phagocytosis
D. Produce clotting factors
Answer: B — Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
,Explanation: Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds oxygen and contributes to carbon
dioxide transport.
4. Which hormone stimulates red blood cell production?
A. Insulin
B. Erythropoietin
C. Calcitonin
D. Aldosterone
Answer: B — Erythropoietin
Explanation: Erythropoietin is produced primarily by the kidneys in response to reduced oxygen
availability. It stimulates erythropoiesis in red bone marrow.
5. Where does most gas exchange occur in the lungs?
A. Trachea
B. Primary bronchi
C. Alveoli
D. Larynx
Answer: C — Alveoli
Explanation: Alveoli provide a large, thin respiratory surface surrounded by pulmonary
capillaries. Oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse across the respiratory membrane.
6. During normal inspiration, what happens to thoracic volume?
A. It decreases
B. It remains constant
C. It increases
D. It becomes zero
Answer: C — It increases
Explanation: Contraction of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles expands the
thoracic cavity. Increased volume decreases intrapulmonary pressure, allowing air to enter.
,7. Which substance reduces alveolar surface tension?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Surfactant
C. Bile
D. Mucus
Answer: B — Surfactant
Explanation: Pulmonary surfactant, produced by type II alveolar cells, reduces surface tension
and helps prevent alveolar collapse during expiration.
8. Which blood vessels carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?
A. Pulmonary arteries
B. Pulmonary veins
C. Superior vena cava
D. Coronary arteries
Answer: B — Pulmonary veins
Explanation: Pulmonary veins return oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium. They
are an important exception to the general rule that veins carry deoxygenated blood.
9. What is the primary function of the small intestine?
A. Store feces
B. Absorb most nutrients
C. Produce urine
D. Store bile permanently
Answer: B — Absorb most nutrients
Explanation: The small intestine is the principal site of chemical digestion and nutrient
absorption. Its villi and microvilli greatly increase absorptive surface area.
10. Which organ produces bile?
A. Gallbladder
B. Pancreas
, C. Liver
D. Stomach
Answer: C — Liver
Explanation: The liver synthesizes bile. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile before
releasing it into the small intestine.
11. What is the major digestive function of bile?
A. Digest proteins directly
B. Emulsify fats
C. Digest DNA
D. Convert glucose into glycogen
Answer: B — Emulsify fats
Explanation: Bile salts break large fat globules into smaller droplets, increasing the surface area
available for pancreatic lipase.
12. Which pancreatic enzyme begins the digestion of proteins?
A. Amylase
B. Lipase
C. Trypsin
D. Lactase
Answer: C — Trypsin
Explanation: Trypsin is a pancreatic protease that participates in protein digestion in the small
intestine. It is secreted initially as the inactive precursor trypsinogen.
13. What is the functional unit of the kidney?
A. Nephron
B. Alveolus
C. Sarcomere
D. Neuron
Answer: A — Nephron
