HESI A2 Anatomy and Physiology [2026] UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Review | Correct Questions & Answers |
Detailed Explanations | A+
• Which is an anterior muscle?
A. Gluteus maximus
B. Quadriceps femoris
C. Biceps femoris
D. Adductor magnus . CORRECT ANSWER: B. An anterior muscle is located
near the front of the body. Of those listed, the quadriceps( frontal thigh muscle) is
the most anterior.
• How might the headrest on a car prevent traumatic injury?
A. By limiting hyperflexion of the neck
B. By limiting hyperextension of the neck
C. By reducing vertebral compression
D. By preventing disc degeneration . CORRECT ANSWER: B. The headrest
prevents the head from moving too far backward, or hyperextending the neck
beyond its normal range.
• Which might you expect to see in a whiplash injury?
A. Cardiopulmonary problems
B. Side-to-side spinal curvature
C. Eventual herniation of discs
D. Traumatic injury to ligaments . CORRECT ANSWER: D. Because of the
hyperflexion and hyperextension caused by such a collision, it is not uncommon to
find tears or stretching of the ligaments of the spine. The injury is front-to-back,
making choice B unlikely, and a herniated disc (choice C) is more of a
compression injury.
,• Muscle contractions that normally move food along the human digestive system
are known as ________.
A. defecation
B. osmosis
C. peristalsis
D. circulation . CORRECT ANSWER: C. Defecation(choice A) is the elimination
of waste. Osmosis (choice B) is the movement of molecules across a membrane.
Circulation (choice D) is the movement of blood through the body. Peristalsis
(choice C) is the involuntary, wavelike movement of muscles in the intestine and
elsewhere that pushes food along.
• Which type of nutrient does not provide the body with energy?
A. Vitamin
B. Carbohydrate
C. Fat
D. Protein . CORRECT ANSWER: A. Some nutrients supply energy, and others
support metabolism. Nutrients in the first set include carbohydrates, proteins, and
fats. Those in the secound set include vitamins, minerals, and water.
• Where would you be likely to find a Schwann cell?
A. In the digestive system
B. In the nervous system
C. In the skeletal system
D. In the muscular system . CORRECT ANSWER: B. Schwann cells wrap around
the nerve fibers and form the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system.
• How does the nervous system work with the muscular system?
,A. The muscles of the body produce chemicals that feed the nerves.
B. The nervous system tells the muscles how to respond to the environment.
C. The nervous system releases chemicals that remove excess waste from the
muscles.
D. The muscular system provides input that allows the nerves to make decisions. .
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord,
and nerves. It receives and transmits signals from the environment that regulate
voluntary and involuntary movement.
• Which part of the nervous system includes the femoral , radial, and ulnar nerves?
A. Somatic
B. Autonomic
C. Sympathetic
D. Parasympathetic . CORRECT ANSWER: A. The symphathetic and
parasympathetic systems (choice C and D) are part of the autonomic nervous
system (choice B), which controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles,
glands, and heart. The somatic nervous system (choice A) has to do with reception
of external stimuli and voluntary control of the muscles.
• Where might a herniated lumbar disc be most likely to create pain?
A. Along the radial nerve
B. Within the spinal cord
C. Along the sciatic nerve
D. Along the tibial nerve . CORRECT ANSWER: C. Damage to a disc in the
lower back will most likely cause pain radiating downward along the sciatic nerve.
• What is the name of the bone in the human thigh?
A. Ulna
, B. Femur
C. Radius
D. Humerus . CORRECT ANSWER: B. The ulna (choice A), radius (choice C),
and humerus (choice D) are arm bones.
• The ovaries are part of the ___________.
A. skeletal system
B. nervous system
C. lymphatic system
D. reproductive system . CORRECT ANSWER: D. The ovaries are the egg-
producing reproductive organs.
• Of the following processes, which one is a different level of defense from the
others?
A. A low pH in the stomach
B. Cilia present in the trachea
C. Body cells recognizing a pathogen
D. Mucus present in the nasal cavity . CORRECT ANSWER: C. A low pH in the
stomach (choice A), cilia in the trachea (choice B), and mucus (D) are primary
defenses. Cells recognizing a pathogen (choice C) is a third line of defense.
• Which organ system is primarily responsible for regulating muscle growth?
A. The skeletal system
B. The endocrine system
C. The nervous system
D. The reproductive system . CORRECT ANSWER: B. Hormones from the
endocrine system, particularly from the pituitary gland, regulate growth.
ACTUAL Exam Review | Correct Questions & Answers |
Detailed Explanations | A+
• Which is an anterior muscle?
A. Gluteus maximus
B. Quadriceps femoris
C. Biceps femoris
D. Adductor magnus . CORRECT ANSWER: B. An anterior muscle is located
near the front of the body. Of those listed, the quadriceps( frontal thigh muscle) is
the most anterior.
• How might the headrest on a car prevent traumatic injury?
A. By limiting hyperflexion of the neck
B. By limiting hyperextension of the neck
C. By reducing vertebral compression
D. By preventing disc degeneration . CORRECT ANSWER: B. The headrest
prevents the head from moving too far backward, or hyperextending the neck
beyond its normal range.
• Which might you expect to see in a whiplash injury?
A. Cardiopulmonary problems
B. Side-to-side spinal curvature
C. Eventual herniation of discs
D. Traumatic injury to ligaments . CORRECT ANSWER: D. Because of the
hyperflexion and hyperextension caused by such a collision, it is not uncommon to
find tears or stretching of the ligaments of the spine. The injury is front-to-back,
making choice B unlikely, and a herniated disc (choice C) is more of a
compression injury.
,• Muscle contractions that normally move food along the human digestive system
are known as ________.
A. defecation
B. osmosis
C. peristalsis
D. circulation . CORRECT ANSWER: C. Defecation(choice A) is the elimination
of waste. Osmosis (choice B) is the movement of molecules across a membrane.
Circulation (choice D) is the movement of blood through the body. Peristalsis
(choice C) is the involuntary, wavelike movement of muscles in the intestine and
elsewhere that pushes food along.
• Which type of nutrient does not provide the body with energy?
A. Vitamin
B. Carbohydrate
C. Fat
D. Protein . CORRECT ANSWER: A. Some nutrients supply energy, and others
support metabolism. Nutrients in the first set include carbohydrates, proteins, and
fats. Those in the secound set include vitamins, minerals, and water.
• Where would you be likely to find a Schwann cell?
A. In the digestive system
B. In the nervous system
C. In the skeletal system
D. In the muscular system . CORRECT ANSWER: B. Schwann cells wrap around
the nerve fibers and form the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system.
• How does the nervous system work with the muscular system?
,A. The muscles of the body produce chemicals that feed the nerves.
B. The nervous system tells the muscles how to respond to the environment.
C. The nervous system releases chemicals that remove excess waste from the
muscles.
D. The muscular system provides input that allows the nerves to make decisions. .
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord,
and nerves. It receives and transmits signals from the environment that regulate
voluntary and involuntary movement.
• Which part of the nervous system includes the femoral , radial, and ulnar nerves?
A. Somatic
B. Autonomic
C. Sympathetic
D. Parasympathetic . CORRECT ANSWER: A. The symphathetic and
parasympathetic systems (choice C and D) are part of the autonomic nervous
system (choice B), which controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles,
glands, and heart. The somatic nervous system (choice A) has to do with reception
of external stimuli and voluntary control of the muscles.
• Where might a herniated lumbar disc be most likely to create pain?
A. Along the radial nerve
B. Within the spinal cord
C. Along the sciatic nerve
D. Along the tibial nerve . CORRECT ANSWER: C. Damage to a disc in the
lower back will most likely cause pain radiating downward along the sciatic nerve.
• What is the name of the bone in the human thigh?
A. Ulna
, B. Femur
C. Radius
D. Humerus . CORRECT ANSWER: B. The ulna (choice A), radius (choice C),
and humerus (choice D) are arm bones.
• The ovaries are part of the ___________.
A. skeletal system
B. nervous system
C. lymphatic system
D. reproductive system . CORRECT ANSWER: D. The ovaries are the egg-
producing reproductive organs.
• Of the following processes, which one is a different level of defense from the
others?
A. A low pH in the stomach
B. Cilia present in the trachea
C. Body cells recognizing a pathogen
D. Mucus present in the nasal cavity . CORRECT ANSWER: C. A low pH in the
stomach (choice A), cilia in the trachea (choice B), and mucus (D) are primary
defenses. Cells recognizing a pathogen (choice C) is a third line of defense.
• Which organ system is primarily responsible for regulating muscle growth?
A. The skeletal system
B. The endocrine system
C. The nervous system
D. The reproductive system . CORRECT ANSWER: B. Hormones from the
endocrine system, particularly from the pituitary gland, regulate growth.
