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BIOL251 HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I WITH LAB — FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
BIOL251 Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab — Final Exam Practice Questions
Module 1: Introduction, Homeostasis & Chemistry of Life
1. What is the study of the structure of the body?
A) Physiology
B) Anatomy
C) Histology
D) Cytology
Answer: B
Rationale: Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body and the relationship of its parts.
Physiology is the study of how body parts function .
2. Which directional term means "closer to the midline of the body"?
A) Lateral
B) Distal
C) Medial
D) Proximal
Answer: C
Rationale: Medial refers to a position closer to the midline. The heart is medial to the lungs .
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3. Which body cavity is protected by the thoracic cage and contains the heart and lungs?
A) Abdominopelvic cavity
B) Cranial cavity
C) Thoracic cavity
D) Spinal cavity
Answer: C
Rationale: The thoracic cavity is the superior portion of the ventral cavity, enclosed by the ribs,
housing the lungs and heart .
4. A patient is running a marathon and their body temperature is rising. The body initiates
sweating to cool down. What type of feedback loop is this?
A) Positive feedback, because the response amplifies the stimulus
B) Negative feedback, because the response counteracts the stimulus to return to set point
C) Positive feedback, because the body is trying to keep running
D) Negative feedback, because the temperature is increasing
Answer: B
Rationale: Negative feedback reverses a deviation from homeostasis. Sweating counteracts the
heat stimulus to restore normal body temperature .
5. Which plane divides the body into right and left halves?
A) Frontal plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Sagittal plane
D) Coronal plane
Answer: C
Rationale: The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left portions. The midsagittal
divides into equal halves .
6. The four most abundant elements in the human body, in order, are:
A) Carbon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Hydrogen
B) Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen
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C) Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen
D) Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen
Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygen (65%), Carbon (18.5%), Hydrogen (9.5%), and Nitrogen (3.2%) make up over
96% of the body's mass .
7. Which of the following is an example of a positive feedback mechanism?
A) Regulation of blood pressure
B) Regulation of blood glucose
C) Blood clotting and childbirth contractions
D) Regulation of body temperature
Answer: C
Rationale: Positive feedback amplifies the initial stimulus. Blood clotting and childbirth
contractions are classic examples .
8. A solution with a pH of 2 has how many times higher hydrogen ion concentration compared
to a solution with pH of 4?
A) 2 times higher
B) 10 times higher
C) 100 times higher
D) 1000 times higher
Answer: C
Rationale: The pH scale is logarithmic; each whole number difference represents a tenfold
difference. A difference of 2 (from 4 to 2) is 10 × 10 = 100 times higher .
9. The smallest level of structural organization that is considered living is:
A) Chemical level
B) Cellular level
C) Tissue level
D) Organ level
Answer: B
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Rationale: Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life. The chemical level (atoms,
molecules) is not considered living .
10. The heart is located in which body cavity?
A) Pleural cavity
B) Peritoneal cavity
C) Mediastinum
D) Cranial cavity
Answer: C
Rationale: The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity containing the
heart, esophagus, trachea, and great vessels .
Module 2: Cellular Level of Organization & Tissues
11. Which organelle is responsible for producing ATP (energy) in cells?
A) Ribosome
B) Lysosome
C) Mitochondrion
D) Centriole
Answer: C
Rationale: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses of the cell" because they produce ATP through
cellular respiration .
12. Which membrane structure is primarily responsible for controlling what enters and exits
the cell?
A) Cell wall
B) Plasma membrane
C) Nuclear envelope
D) Endoplasmic reticulum
Answer: B
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BIOL251 HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I WITH LAB — FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
BIOL251 Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab — Final Exam Practice Questions
Module 1: Introduction, Homeostasis & Chemistry of Life
1. What is the study of the structure of the body?
A) Physiology
B) Anatomy
C) Histology
D) Cytology
Answer: B
Rationale: Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body and the relationship of its parts.
Physiology is the study of how body parts function .
2. Which directional term means "closer to the midline of the body"?
A) Lateral
B) Distal
C) Medial
D) Proximal
Answer: C
Rationale: Medial refers to a position closer to the midline. The heart is medial to the lungs .
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,Page 2 of 43
3. Which body cavity is protected by the thoracic cage and contains the heart and lungs?
A) Abdominopelvic cavity
B) Cranial cavity
C) Thoracic cavity
D) Spinal cavity
Answer: C
Rationale: The thoracic cavity is the superior portion of the ventral cavity, enclosed by the ribs,
housing the lungs and heart .
4. A patient is running a marathon and their body temperature is rising. The body initiates
sweating to cool down. What type of feedback loop is this?
A) Positive feedback, because the response amplifies the stimulus
B) Negative feedback, because the response counteracts the stimulus to return to set point
C) Positive feedback, because the body is trying to keep running
D) Negative feedback, because the temperature is increasing
Answer: B
Rationale: Negative feedback reverses a deviation from homeostasis. Sweating counteracts the
heat stimulus to restore normal body temperature .
5. Which plane divides the body into right and left halves?
A) Frontal plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Sagittal plane
D) Coronal plane
Answer: C
Rationale: The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left portions. The midsagittal
divides into equal halves .
6. The four most abundant elements in the human body, in order, are:
A) Carbon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Hydrogen
B) Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen
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C) Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen
D) Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen
Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygen (65%), Carbon (18.5%), Hydrogen (9.5%), and Nitrogen (3.2%) make up over
96% of the body's mass .
7. Which of the following is an example of a positive feedback mechanism?
A) Regulation of blood pressure
B) Regulation of blood glucose
C) Blood clotting and childbirth contractions
D) Regulation of body temperature
Answer: C
Rationale: Positive feedback amplifies the initial stimulus. Blood clotting and childbirth
contractions are classic examples .
8. A solution with a pH of 2 has how many times higher hydrogen ion concentration compared
to a solution with pH of 4?
A) 2 times higher
B) 10 times higher
C) 100 times higher
D) 1000 times higher
Answer: C
Rationale: The pH scale is logarithmic; each whole number difference represents a tenfold
difference. A difference of 2 (from 4 to 2) is 10 × 10 = 100 times higher .
9. The smallest level of structural organization that is considered living is:
A) Chemical level
B) Cellular level
C) Tissue level
D) Organ level
Answer: B
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Rationale: Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life. The chemical level (atoms,
molecules) is not considered living .
10. The heart is located in which body cavity?
A) Pleural cavity
B) Peritoneal cavity
C) Mediastinum
D) Cranial cavity
Answer: C
Rationale: The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity containing the
heart, esophagus, trachea, and great vessels .
Module 2: Cellular Level of Organization & Tissues
11. Which organelle is responsible for producing ATP (energy) in cells?
A) Ribosome
B) Lysosome
C) Mitochondrion
D) Centriole
Answer: C
Rationale: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses of the cell" because they produce ATP through
cellular respiration .
12. Which membrane structure is primarily responsible for controlling what enters and exits
the cell?
A) Cell wall
B) Plasma membrane
C) Nuclear envelope
D) Endoplasmic reticulum
Answer: B
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