,HESI Anatomy and Physiology Exam Questions And Answers |
Nursing | 2026/2027
1.** Which level of organization is the highest (most complex) in the human
body?
A) Tissue
B) Organ
C) Organ system
D) Cellular
**Correct Answer:** C) Organ system
**Rationale:** The levels from simplest to most complex are: chemical,
cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism. Organ systems are groups of
organs working together to perform major functions.
---
**2.** The dorsal body cavity contains which of the following?
A) Thoracic and abdominal cavities
B) Cranial and spinal cavities
C) Abdominal and pelvic cavities
D) Pelvic and thoracic cavities
**Correct Answer:** B) Cranial and spinal cavities
,**Rationale:** The dorsal cavity includes the cranial cavity (brain) and
vertebral/spinal cavity (spinal cord). The ventral cavity contains the thoracic,
abdominal, and pelvic cavities.
---
**3.** Which plane divides the body into equal left and right halves?
A) Frontal (coronal) plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Sagittal plane
D) Midsagittal (median) plane
**Correct Answer:** D) Midsagittal (median) plane
**Rationale:** The midsagittal (median) plane divides the body into equal left
and right halves. The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right
portions but not necessarily equal halves.
---
**4.** Which element is most abundant in the human body by mass?
A) Carbon
B) Hydrogen
C) Nitrogen
D) Oxygen
, **Correct Answer:** D) Oxygen
**Rationale:** Oxygen is the most abundant element in the human body by
mass (~65%), followed by carbon (~18.5%), hydrogen (~9.5%), and nitrogen
(~3.2%).
---
**5.** Which structure separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities?
A) Pleural membrane
B) Pericardium
C) Diaphragm
D) Peritoneum
**Correct Answer:** C) Diaphragm
**Rationale:** The diaphragm is a dome-shaped skeletal muscle that
physically divides the thoracic cavity (lungs and heart) from the abdominal
cavity (digestive organs). The pleural membrane surrounds the lungs, the
pericardium surrounds the heart, and the peritoneum lines the abdominal
cavity—none create the partition.
---
**6.** The study of the structure of the body is called:
A) Physiology
B) Anatomy
Nursing | 2026/2027
1.** Which level of organization is the highest (most complex) in the human
body?
A) Tissue
B) Organ
C) Organ system
D) Cellular
**Correct Answer:** C) Organ system
**Rationale:** The levels from simplest to most complex are: chemical,
cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism. Organ systems are groups of
organs working together to perform major functions.
---
**2.** The dorsal body cavity contains which of the following?
A) Thoracic and abdominal cavities
B) Cranial and spinal cavities
C) Abdominal and pelvic cavities
D) Pelvic and thoracic cavities
**Correct Answer:** B) Cranial and spinal cavities
,**Rationale:** The dorsal cavity includes the cranial cavity (brain) and
vertebral/spinal cavity (spinal cord). The ventral cavity contains the thoracic,
abdominal, and pelvic cavities.
---
**3.** Which plane divides the body into equal left and right halves?
A) Frontal (coronal) plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Sagittal plane
D) Midsagittal (median) plane
**Correct Answer:** D) Midsagittal (median) plane
**Rationale:** The midsagittal (median) plane divides the body into equal left
and right halves. The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right
portions but not necessarily equal halves.
---
**4.** Which element is most abundant in the human body by mass?
A) Carbon
B) Hydrogen
C) Nitrogen
D) Oxygen
, **Correct Answer:** D) Oxygen
**Rationale:** Oxygen is the most abundant element in the human body by
mass (~65%), followed by carbon (~18.5%), hydrogen (~9.5%), and nitrogen
(~3.2%).
---
**5.** Which structure separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities?
A) Pleural membrane
B) Pericardium
C) Diaphragm
D) Peritoneum
**Correct Answer:** C) Diaphragm
**Rationale:** The diaphragm is a dome-shaped skeletal muscle that
physically divides the thoracic cavity (lungs and heart) from the abdominal
cavity (digestive organs). The pleural membrane surrounds the lungs, the
pericardium surrounds the heart, and the peritoneum lines the abdominal
cavity—none create the partition.
---
**6.** The study of the structure of the body is called:
A) Physiology
B) Anatomy
