APHY 101 MIDTERM EXAM – IVY TECH (PDF) | 2026
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE |
100% CORRECT
1. A patient presents with a blood pH of 7.28. Which of the following best describes this
condition?
A) Alkalosis
B) Acidosis
C) Homeostasis
D) Neutrality
Correct Answer: Acidosis
Rationale: Normal blood pH ranges from 7.35 to 7.45. A pH of 7.28 is below 7.35, indicating
acidosis. Alkalosis occurs when pH rises above 7.45, while homeostasis refers to maintaining
stable internal conditions within normal ranges .
2. Which level of structural organization is composed of similar cells that perform a specific
function?
A) Chemical level
B) Cellular level
C) Tissue level
D) Organ level
Correct Answer: Tissue level
Rationale: The tissue level consists of groups of similar cells that work together to perform a
specific function. The chemical level involves atoms and molecules, the cellular level involves
individual cells, and the organ level consists of two or more tissue types working together .
3. A molecule binds to a receptor site and is enclosed in a vesicle during the process of:
A) Exocytosis
B) Receptor-mediated endocytosis
C) Simple diffusion
D) Phagocytosis
Correct Answer: Receptor-mediated endocytosis
Rationale: Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a specific process where molecules bind to receptor
proteins on the cell membrane, triggering the formation of a vesicle that brings the molecules
into the cell. Exocytosis is the release of materials, simple diffusion requires no vesicle, and
phagocytosis involves large particles .
4. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of phospholipids?
A) The tail groups are nonpolar
, B) They are a major form of energy storage
C) They contain a phosphate group
D) They form the bilayer of cell membranes
Correct Answer: They are a major form of energy storage
Rationale: Phospholipids are not a major form of energy storage; that role belongs to
triglycerides (fats). Phospholipids have nonpolar tails, contain a phosphate group, and form the
bilayer of cell membranes as essential structural components .
5. The secondary structure of a protein molecule is the result of:
A) Covalent bonds between amino acids
B) Hydrogen bonds between amino acids
C) Peptide bonds between nucleotides
D) Ionic bonds between carboxyl groups
Correct Answer: Hydrogen bonds between amino acids
Rationale: The secondary structure of a protein (alpha helix or beta-pleated sheet) is stabilized by
hydrogen bonds between the amino and carboxyl groups of the polypeptide backbone. Covalent
peptide bonds form the primary structure, and nucleotides are not involved in protein structure .
6. Which of the following molecules is formed from nucleotides?
A) Glucose
B) DNA
C) Cholesterol
D) Triglyceride
Correct Answer: DNA
Rationale: DNA is formed from nucleotides, which consist of a phosphate group, a deoxyribose
sugar, and a nitrogenous base. Glucose is a monosaccharide, cholesterol is a lipid, and
triglycerides are fats .
7. Homeostasis exists if concentrations of water, nutrients, and oxygen in the body are
balanced and heat and pressure:
A) Decrease steadily
B) Increase when the body is stressed
C) Remain within certain limited ranges
D) Fluctuate greatly between very high and low values
Correct Answer: Remain within certain limited ranges
Rationale: Homeostasis is the body's maintenance of a stable internal environment despite
external changes. This means concentrations of water, nutrients, and oxygen, as well as heat and
pressure, must remain within certain limited ranges for optimal function .
8. Which of the following statements is true concerning feedback mechanisms?
A) Positive feedback mechanisms always result in excessive damage to the host
, B) Negative feedback mechanisms tend to increase the original stimulus
C) Negative feedback mechanisms work to prevent sudden, severe changes within the
body
D) Blood glucose levels are regulated by positive feedback mechanisms
Correct Answer: Negative feedback mechanisms work to prevent sudden, severe changes within
the body
Rationale: Negative feedback mechanisms reverse the direction of a change to return a variable
toward its set point, preventing sudden, severe changes. Positive feedback amplifies changes and
is less common, but not always damaging .
9. A student is reviewing directional terms before a lab practical. The instructor asks the
student to describe the relationship of the elbow to the wrist when the arm is in
anatomical position. Which description is correct?
A) The elbow is proximal to the wrist
B) The elbow is distal to the wrist
C) The elbow is inferior to the wrist
D) The elbow is lateral to the wrist
Correct Answer: The elbow is proximal to the wrist
Rationale: In anatomical position, proximal means closer to the point of attachment or trunk. The
elbow is closer to the shoulder than the wrist is, making it proximal. Distal would describe the
wrist relative to the elbow .
10. A patient is described as having a cut on the anterior surface of the right leg. Using
anatomical terminology, the nurse documents the location. Which term best matches the
description?
A) A wound on the front surface of the right lower limb
B) A wound on the back surface of the left upper limb
C) A wound on the medial surface of the left thigh
D) A wound on the superior surface of the right arm
Correct Answer: A wound on the front surface of the right lower limb
Rationale: Anterior refers to the front surface, and the leg is the lower limb distal to the knee.
This matches a front-of-right-leg location. Posterior would be the back, and arm refers to the
upper limb .
11. Which type of bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms?
A) Covalent bond
B) Ionic bond
C) Hydrogen bond
D) Van der Waals interaction
Correct Answer: Covalent bond
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE |
100% CORRECT
1. A patient presents with a blood pH of 7.28. Which of the following best describes this
condition?
A) Alkalosis
B) Acidosis
C) Homeostasis
D) Neutrality
Correct Answer: Acidosis
Rationale: Normal blood pH ranges from 7.35 to 7.45. A pH of 7.28 is below 7.35, indicating
acidosis. Alkalosis occurs when pH rises above 7.45, while homeostasis refers to maintaining
stable internal conditions within normal ranges .
2. Which level of structural organization is composed of similar cells that perform a specific
function?
A) Chemical level
B) Cellular level
C) Tissue level
D) Organ level
Correct Answer: Tissue level
Rationale: The tissue level consists of groups of similar cells that work together to perform a
specific function. The chemical level involves atoms and molecules, the cellular level involves
individual cells, and the organ level consists of two or more tissue types working together .
3. A molecule binds to a receptor site and is enclosed in a vesicle during the process of:
A) Exocytosis
B) Receptor-mediated endocytosis
C) Simple diffusion
D) Phagocytosis
Correct Answer: Receptor-mediated endocytosis
Rationale: Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a specific process where molecules bind to receptor
proteins on the cell membrane, triggering the formation of a vesicle that brings the molecules
into the cell. Exocytosis is the release of materials, simple diffusion requires no vesicle, and
phagocytosis involves large particles .
4. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of phospholipids?
A) The tail groups are nonpolar
, B) They are a major form of energy storage
C) They contain a phosphate group
D) They form the bilayer of cell membranes
Correct Answer: They are a major form of energy storage
Rationale: Phospholipids are not a major form of energy storage; that role belongs to
triglycerides (fats). Phospholipids have nonpolar tails, contain a phosphate group, and form the
bilayer of cell membranes as essential structural components .
5. The secondary structure of a protein molecule is the result of:
A) Covalent bonds between amino acids
B) Hydrogen bonds between amino acids
C) Peptide bonds between nucleotides
D) Ionic bonds between carboxyl groups
Correct Answer: Hydrogen bonds between amino acids
Rationale: The secondary structure of a protein (alpha helix or beta-pleated sheet) is stabilized by
hydrogen bonds between the amino and carboxyl groups of the polypeptide backbone. Covalent
peptide bonds form the primary structure, and nucleotides are not involved in protein structure .
6. Which of the following molecules is formed from nucleotides?
A) Glucose
B) DNA
C) Cholesterol
D) Triglyceride
Correct Answer: DNA
Rationale: DNA is formed from nucleotides, which consist of a phosphate group, a deoxyribose
sugar, and a nitrogenous base. Glucose is a monosaccharide, cholesterol is a lipid, and
triglycerides are fats .
7. Homeostasis exists if concentrations of water, nutrients, and oxygen in the body are
balanced and heat and pressure:
A) Decrease steadily
B) Increase when the body is stressed
C) Remain within certain limited ranges
D) Fluctuate greatly between very high and low values
Correct Answer: Remain within certain limited ranges
Rationale: Homeostasis is the body's maintenance of a stable internal environment despite
external changes. This means concentrations of water, nutrients, and oxygen, as well as heat and
pressure, must remain within certain limited ranges for optimal function .
8. Which of the following statements is true concerning feedback mechanisms?
A) Positive feedback mechanisms always result in excessive damage to the host
, B) Negative feedback mechanisms tend to increase the original stimulus
C) Negative feedback mechanisms work to prevent sudden, severe changes within the
body
D) Blood glucose levels are regulated by positive feedback mechanisms
Correct Answer: Negative feedback mechanisms work to prevent sudden, severe changes within
the body
Rationale: Negative feedback mechanisms reverse the direction of a change to return a variable
toward its set point, preventing sudden, severe changes. Positive feedback amplifies changes and
is less common, but not always damaging .
9. A student is reviewing directional terms before a lab practical. The instructor asks the
student to describe the relationship of the elbow to the wrist when the arm is in
anatomical position. Which description is correct?
A) The elbow is proximal to the wrist
B) The elbow is distal to the wrist
C) The elbow is inferior to the wrist
D) The elbow is lateral to the wrist
Correct Answer: The elbow is proximal to the wrist
Rationale: In anatomical position, proximal means closer to the point of attachment or trunk. The
elbow is closer to the shoulder than the wrist is, making it proximal. Distal would describe the
wrist relative to the elbow .
10. A patient is described as having a cut on the anterior surface of the right leg. Using
anatomical terminology, the nurse documents the location. Which term best matches the
description?
A) A wound on the front surface of the right lower limb
B) A wound on the back surface of the left upper limb
C) A wound on the medial surface of the left thigh
D) A wound on the superior surface of the right arm
Correct Answer: A wound on the front surface of the right lower limb
Rationale: Anterior refers to the front surface, and the leg is the lower limb distal to the knee.
This matches a front-of-right-leg location. Posterior would be the back, and arm refers to the
upper limb .
11. Which type of bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms?
A) Covalent bond
B) Ionic bond
C) Hydrogen bond
D) Van der Waals interaction
Correct Answer: Covalent bond
