APHY 101 MIDTERM EXAM
150 Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Each question is followed immediately by its correct answer and
rationale.
Unit 1: Introduction to the Human Body and Homeostasis
1. The study of the structure of body parts and their
relationships to one another is called
A. Physiology
B. Anatomy
C. Pathology
D. Immunology
Answer: B. Anatomy
Rationale: Anatomy deals with structure; physiology deals with
function.
2. The study of how body parts function is called
A. Anatomy
B. Histology
C. Embryology
D. Physiology
Answer: D. Physiology
Rationale: Physiology explains how structures work and carry out
their roles.
,3. What is the lowest level of structural organization that is
considered alive?
A. Cellular level
B. Chemical level
C. Tissue level
D. Organ level
Answer: A. Cellular level
Rationale: Atoms and molecules are not alive; the cell is the
smallest unit of life.
4. Which sequence correctly lists levels of organization from
simplest to most complex?
A. Cellular, chemical, tissue, organ system, organ, organism
B. Chemical, tissue, cellular, organ, organ system, organism
C. Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
D. Tissue, cellular, chemical, organ, organism, organ system
Answer: C. Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system,
organism
Rationale: Atoms form molecules, which form cells, then tissues,
organs, organ systems, and finally the organism.
5. Homeostasis is best defined as
A. the study of body structure
B. a rapid increase in metabolic rate
C. maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
D. the breakdown of nutrients for energy
Answer: C. maintenance of a relatively stable internal
environment
Rationale: Homeostasis is a dynamic state of equilibrium in
which internal conditions stay within normal limits.
,6. Which is an example of negative feedback?
A. Body temperature regulation
B. Blood clot formation
C. Uterine contractions during labor
D. Platelet plug enlargement
Answer: A. Body temperature regulation
Rationale: Negative feedback reverses a change; when body
temperature rises, sweating cools the body back to normal.
7. Which is an example of positive feedback?
A. Regulation of blood glucose
B. Regulation of body temperature
C. Regulation of blood pressure by baroreceptors
D. Oxytocin increasing uterine contractions during childbirth
Answer: D. Oxytocin increasing uterine contractions during
childbirth
Rationale: Positive feedback amplifies the original stimulus, as in
labor and blood clotting.
8. In a feedback loop, the structure that detects a change
(stimulus) is the
A. effector
B. receptor
C. control center
D. target organ
Answer: B. receptor
Rationale: The receptor senses the stimulus and sends input to
the control center.
, 9. In a feedback loop, the structure that carries out the
response is the
A. effector
B. receptor
C. afferent pathway
D. stimulus
Answer: A. effector
Rationale: The effector (muscle or gland) produces the response
that changes the stimulus.
10. Which brain region acts as the control center for body
temperature?
A. Cerebellum
B. Medulla oblongata
C. Hypothalamus
D. Pons
Answer: C. Hypothalamus
Rationale: The hypothalamus acts as the body's thermostat.
11. In the anatomical position, the body is
A. lying face down with palms up
B. standing erect, facing forward, with palms facing forward
C. standing with palms facing the thighs
D. sitting with arms crossed
Answer: B. standing erect, facing forward, with palms facing
forward
Rationale: Anatomical position is the standard reference posture
for directional terms.
150 Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Each question is followed immediately by its correct answer and
rationale.
Unit 1: Introduction to the Human Body and Homeostasis
1. The study of the structure of body parts and their
relationships to one another is called
A. Physiology
B. Anatomy
C. Pathology
D. Immunology
Answer: B. Anatomy
Rationale: Anatomy deals with structure; physiology deals with
function.
2. The study of how body parts function is called
A. Anatomy
B. Histology
C. Embryology
D. Physiology
Answer: D. Physiology
Rationale: Physiology explains how structures work and carry out
their roles.
,3. What is the lowest level of structural organization that is
considered alive?
A. Cellular level
B. Chemical level
C. Tissue level
D. Organ level
Answer: A. Cellular level
Rationale: Atoms and molecules are not alive; the cell is the
smallest unit of life.
4. Which sequence correctly lists levels of organization from
simplest to most complex?
A. Cellular, chemical, tissue, organ system, organ, organism
B. Chemical, tissue, cellular, organ, organ system, organism
C. Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
D. Tissue, cellular, chemical, organ, organism, organ system
Answer: C. Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system,
organism
Rationale: Atoms form molecules, which form cells, then tissues,
organs, organ systems, and finally the organism.
5. Homeostasis is best defined as
A. the study of body structure
B. a rapid increase in metabolic rate
C. maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
D. the breakdown of nutrients for energy
Answer: C. maintenance of a relatively stable internal
environment
Rationale: Homeostasis is a dynamic state of equilibrium in
which internal conditions stay within normal limits.
,6. Which is an example of negative feedback?
A. Body temperature regulation
B. Blood clot formation
C. Uterine contractions during labor
D. Platelet plug enlargement
Answer: A. Body temperature regulation
Rationale: Negative feedback reverses a change; when body
temperature rises, sweating cools the body back to normal.
7. Which is an example of positive feedback?
A. Regulation of blood glucose
B. Regulation of body temperature
C. Regulation of blood pressure by baroreceptors
D. Oxytocin increasing uterine contractions during childbirth
Answer: D. Oxytocin increasing uterine contractions during
childbirth
Rationale: Positive feedback amplifies the original stimulus, as in
labor and blood clotting.
8. In a feedback loop, the structure that detects a change
(stimulus) is the
A. effector
B. receptor
C. control center
D. target organ
Answer: B. receptor
Rationale: The receptor senses the stimulus and sends input to
the control center.
, 9. In a feedback loop, the structure that carries out the
response is the
A. effector
B. receptor
C. afferent pathway
D. stimulus
Answer: A. effector
Rationale: The effector (muscle or gland) produces the response
that changes the stimulus.
10. Which brain region acts as the control center for body
temperature?
A. Cerebellum
B. Medulla oblongata
C. Hypothalamus
D. Pons
Answer: C. Hypothalamus
Rationale: The hypothalamus acts as the body's thermostat.
11. In the anatomical position, the body is
A. lying face down with palms up
B. standing erect, facing forward, with palms facing forward
C. standing with palms facing the thighs
D. sitting with arms crossed
Answer: B. standing erect, facing forward, with palms facing
forward
Rationale: Anatomical position is the standard reference posture
for directional terms.
