APHY 101 Midterm Exam Questions and Answers– Ivy
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1. Which term describes the maintenance of a relatively stable internal
environment despite changes in external conditions?
A. Homeostasis
B. Metabolism
C. Catabolism
D. Differentiation
Answer: A. Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis is the dynamic process by which the body keeps
variables such as temperature, pH, blood glucose and fluid balance within
a narrow normal range.
2. Which sequence correctly lists the components of a feedback loop
in order?
A. Effector, receptor, stimulus, control center
B. Stimulus, receptor, control center, effector, response
C. Control center, stimulus, effector, receptor
D. Receptor, effector, control center, stimulus
Answer: B. Stimulus, receptor, control center, effector, response
Rationale: A change (stimulus) is detected by a receptor, which sends
input to the control center. The control center sends output to an effector,
which produces a response that changes the original condition.
APHY 101 Midterm– Page 1
,3. A negative feedback loop:
A. Amplifies the original change
B. Stops all body functions
C. Reverses a change and returns a variable toward its set point
D. Operates only during disease
Answer: C. Reverses a change and returns a variable toward its set
point
Rationale: Negative feedback opposes the stimulus, keeping the variable
near its set point. Most homeostatic mechanisms, such as temperature and
blood glucose regulation, use it.
4. Which of the following is an example of negative feedback?
A. Uterine contractions increasing during labor
B. Platelet plug formation during clotting
C. Milk ejection during nursing
D. Sweating and skin vasodilation when body temperature rises
Answer: D. Sweating and skin vasodilation when body temperature
rises
Rationale: Sweating and vasodilation release heat, lowering body
temperature back toward normal. The other examples are positive
feedback loops.
5. Which is an example of positive feedback?
A. Oxytocin release intensifying uterine contractions during childbirth
B. Insulin lowering blood glucose
C. Shivering to raise body temperature
D. Breathing rate rising with CO₂
Answer: A. Oxytocin release intensifying uterine contractions during
childbirth
Rationale: In positive feedback, the response amplifies the original
stimulus until an endpoint is reached (delivery of the baby). Blood clotting is
another example.
APHY 101 Midterm– Page 2
,6. Which is NOT considered a basic characteristic of life?
A. Metabolism
B. Homogeneity
C. Responsiveness
D. Reproduction
Answer: B. Homogeneity
Rationale: Characteristics of life include organization, metabolism,
responsiveness, movement, growth, differentiation, reproduction and
excretion. Homogeneity is not one.
7. Which is the correct order of structural organization from simplest
to most complex?
A. Cellular, chemical, organ, tissue, organism, organ system
B. Tissue, cellular, chemical, organ system, organ, organism
C. Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
D. Organ, tissue, cell, chemical, organism, organ system
Answer: C. Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
Rationale: Atoms and molecules form cells, cells form tissues, tissues form
organs, organs work in organ systems, and systems together form the
organism.
8. In anatomical position, the body is:
A. Lying face down with arms crossed
B. Sitting with palms facing backward
C. Standing with palms facing the body
D. Standing erect, facing forward, arms at the sides with palms facing
forward
Answer: D. Standing erect, facing forward, arms at the sides with
palms facing forward
Rationale: Anatomical position is the standard reference posture, so
directional terms are always used as though the body is in this position,
regardless of actual posture.
APHY 101 Midterm– Page 3
, 9. Which term means 'toward the head' or 'above'?
A. Superior (cranial)
B. Inferior (caudal)
C. Distal
D. Posterior
Answer: A. Superior (cranial)
Rationale: Superior means toward the upper part of the body. Inferior
(caudal) means toward the lower part.
10. The wrist is ___ to the elbow.
A. Proximal
B. Distal
C. Superficial
D. Medial
Answer: B. Distal
Rationale: Distal means farther from the point of attachment of a limb to
the trunk. Proximal means closer to the attachment point.
11. Which plane divides the body into right and left portions?
A. Frontal (coronal) plane
B. Transverse plane
C. Sagittal plane
D. Oblique plane
Answer: C. Sagittal plane
Rationale: A midsagittal plane divides the body into equal right and left
halves. A frontal plane creates anterior and posterior parts. A transverse
plane creates superior and inferior parts.
APHY 101 Midterm– Page 4
Tech Community College Indianapolis| Pass
Guaranteed| Updated
1. Which term describes the maintenance of a relatively stable internal
environment despite changes in external conditions?
A. Homeostasis
B. Metabolism
C. Catabolism
D. Differentiation
Answer: A. Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis is the dynamic process by which the body keeps
variables such as temperature, pH, blood glucose and fluid balance within
a narrow normal range.
2. Which sequence correctly lists the components of a feedback loop
in order?
A. Effector, receptor, stimulus, control center
B. Stimulus, receptor, control center, effector, response
C. Control center, stimulus, effector, receptor
D. Receptor, effector, control center, stimulus
Answer: B. Stimulus, receptor, control center, effector, response
Rationale: A change (stimulus) is detected by a receptor, which sends
input to the control center. The control center sends output to an effector,
which produces a response that changes the original condition.
APHY 101 Midterm– Page 1
,3. A negative feedback loop:
A. Amplifies the original change
B. Stops all body functions
C. Reverses a change and returns a variable toward its set point
D. Operates only during disease
Answer: C. Reverses a change and returns a variable toward its set
point
Rationale: Negative feedback opposes the stimulus, keeping the variable
near its set point. Most homeostatic mechanisms, such as temperature and
blood glucose regulation, use it.
4. Which of the following is an example of negative feedback?
A. Uterine contractions increasing during labor
B. Platelet plug formation during clotting
C. Milk ejection during nursing
D. Sweating and skin vasodilation when body temperature rises
Answer: D. Sweating and skin vasodilation when body temperature
rises
Rationale: Sweating and vasodilation release heat, lowering body
temperature back toward normal. The other examples are positive
feedback loops.
5. Which is an example of positive feedback?
A. Oxytocin release intensifying uterine contractions during childbirth
B. Insulin lowering blood glucose
C. Shivering to raise body temperature
D. Breathing rate rising with CO₂
Answer: A. Oxytocin release intensifying uterine contractions during
childbirth
Rationale: In positive feedback, the response amplifies the original
stimulus until an endpoint is reached (delivery of the baby). Blood clotting is
another example.
APHY 101 Midterm– Page 2
,6. Which is NOT considered a basic characteristic of life?
A. Metabolism
B. Homogeneity
C. Responsiveness
D. Reproduction
Answer: B. Homogeneity
Rationale: Characteristics of life include organization, metabolism,
responsiveness, movement, growth, differentiation, reproduction and
excretion. Homogeneity is not one.
7. Which is the correct order of structural organization from simplest
to most complex?
A. Cellular, chemical, organ, tissue, organism, organ system
B. Tissue, cellular, chemical, organ system, organ, organism
C. Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
D. Organ, tissue, cell, chemical, organism, organ system
Answer: C. Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
Rationale: Atoms and molecules form cells, cells form tissues, tissues form
organs, organs work in organ systems, and systems together form the
organism.
8. In anatomical position, the body is:
A. Lying face down with arms crossed
B. Sitting with palms facing backward
C. Standing with palms facing the body
D. Standing erect, facing forward, arms at the sides with palms facing
forward
Answer: D. Standing erect, facing forward, arms at the sides with
palms facing forward
Rationale: Anatomical position is the standard reference posture, so
directional terms are always used as though the body is in this position,
regardless of actual posture.
APHY 101 Midterm– Page 3
, 9. Which term means 'toward the head' or 'above'?
A. Superior (cranial)
B. Inferior (caudal)
C. Distal
D. Posterior
Answer: A. Superior (cranial)
Rationale: Superior means toward the upper part of the body. Inferior
(caudal) means toward the lower part.
10. The wrist is ___ to the elbow.
A. Proximal
B. Distal
C. Superficial
D. Medial
Answer: B. Distal
Rationale: Distal means farther from the point of attachment of a limb to
the trunk. Proximal means closer to the attachment point.
11. Which plane divides the body into right and left portions?
A. Frontal (coronal) plane
B. Transverse plane
C. Sagittal plane
D. Oblique plane
Answer: C. Sagittal plane
Rationale: A midsagittal plane divides the body into equal right and left
halves. A frontal plane creates anterior and posterior parts. A transverse
plane creates superior and inferior parts.
APHY 101 Midterm– Page 4
