Page 1 of 101
ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, 7TH EDITION BY JASON
LAPRES AND BETH KERSTEN EXAM 1— COMPREHENSIVE —EXAM
QUESTIONS LATEST EDITION 2026 – 2027 VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
1. Which term is used in anatomy and physiology to describe something that
pertains to the internal organs of the body?
A. Proximal
B. Peripheral
C. Visceral
D. Deep
Answer: C
Rationale: The term “visceral” refers to the internal organs, whereas “proximal” means
closer to the point of attachment, “peripheral” means away from the center of the body,
and “deep” means farther from the body surface .
2. Which discipline is defined as the study of the structure of body parts and their
relationships to one another?
A. Physiology
B. Histology
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C. Anatomy
D. Cytology
Answer: C
Rationale: Anatomy is the study of body structure, while physiology is the study of body
function. Histology is the study of tissues, and cytology is the study of cells .
3. Which directional term correctly completes the statement: “The chin is _____ to
the mouth, and the knee is _____ to the ankle”?
A. Anterior; distal
B. Inferior; distal
C. Superior; proximal
D. Inferior; proximal
Answer: D
Rationale: The chin is inferior (below) to the mouth, and the knee is proximal (closer to
the trunk) compared with the ankle, which is distal .
4. Which body plane divides the body into superior and inferior portions?
A. Sagittal plane
B. Transverse (horizontal) plane
C. Frontal (coronal) plane
D. Paramedian plane
Answer: B
Rationale: The transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into superior (upper) and
inferior (lower) portions, whereas the sagittal plane divides the body into left and right
portions .
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5. Which type of feedback mechanism is the primary mechanism that returns the
body to homeostasis by reversing a change in a controlled condition?
A. Positive feedback
B. Negative feedback
C. Hormone feedback
D. Nervous feedback
Answer: B
Rationale: Negative feedback is the primary homeostatic mechanism that reverses a
change in a controlled condition, returning the body to its set point .
6. Which level of structural organization is the lowest and most fundamental level
in the human body?
A. Organ level
B. Tissue level
C. Chemical level
D. Cellular level
Answer: C
Rationale: The chemical level (atoms and molecules) is the lowest level of organization,
progressing from chemical → cellular → tissue → organ → organ system → organism .
7. Which of the following is the primary energy-storage molecule in the human
body?
A. Protein
B. Carbohydrate
C. Lipid
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D. Nucleic acid
Answer: C
Rationale: Lipids, particularly triglycerides, are the primary form of energy storage in
the body, providing more than twice the energy per gram compared with carbohydrates
or proteins .
8. A solution with a pH of 5 would be classified as which of the following?
A. Acidic
B. Neutral
C. Alkaline
D. Basic
Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7 is acidic, a pH of 7 is neutral, and a pH above 7 is alkaline
(basic) .
9. Which structure is the smallest structural and functional unit of life capable of
carrying out all life processes?
A. Organ
B. Cell
C. Tissue
D. Molecule
Answer: B
Rationale: The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms,
capable of carrying out life processes .
ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, 7TH EDITION BY JASON
LAPRES AND BETH KERSTEN EXAM 1— COMPREHENSIVE —EXAM
QUESTIONS LATEST EDITION 2026 – 2027 VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
1. Which term is used in anatomy and physiology to describe something that
pertains to the internal organs of the body?
A. Proximal
B. Peripheral
C. Visceral
D. Deep
Answer: C
Rationale: The term “visceral” refers to the internal organs, whereas “proximal” means
closer to the point of attachment, “peripheral” means away from the center of the body,
and “deep” means farther from the body surface .
2. Which discipline is defined as the study of the structure of body parts and their
relationships to one another?
A. Physiology
B. Histology
, Page 2 of 101
C. Anatomy
D. Cytology
Answer: C
Rationale: Anatomy is the study of body structure, while physiology is the study of body
function. Histology is the study of tissues, and cytology is the study of cells .
3. Which directional term correctly completes the statement: “The chin is _____ to
the mouth, and the knee is _____ to the ankle”?
A. Anterior; distal
B. Inferior; distal
C. Superior; proximal
D. Inferior; proximal
Answer: D
Rationale: The chin is inferior (below) to the mouth, and the knee is proximal (closer to
the trunk) compared with the ankle, which is distal .
4. Which body plane divides the body into superior and inferior portions?
A. Sagittal plane
B. Transverse (horizontal) plane
C. Frontal (coronal) plane
D. Paramedian plane
Answer: B
Rationale: The transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into superior (upper) and
inferior (lower) portions, whereas the sagittal plane divides the body into left and right
portions .
, Page 3 of 101
5. Which type of feedback mechanism is the primary mechanism that returns the
body to homeostasis by reversing a change in a controlled condition?
A. Positive feedback
B. Negative feedback
C. Hormone feedback
D. Nervous feedback
Answer: B
Rationale: Negative feedback is the primary homeostatic mechanism that reverses a
change in a controlled condition, returning the body to its set point .
6. Which level of structural organization is the lowest and most fundamental level
in the human body?
A. Organ level
B. Tissue level
C. Chemical level
D. Cellular level
Answer: C
Rationale: The chemical level (atoms and molecules) is the lowest level of organization,
progressing from chemical → cellular → tissue → organ → organ system → organism .
7. Which of the following is the primary energy-storage molecule in the human
body?
A. Protein
B. Carbohydrate
C. Lipid
, Page 4 of 101
D. Nucleic acid
Answer: C
Rationale: Lipids, particularly triglycerides, are the primary form of energy storage in
the body, providing more than twice the energy per gram compared with carbohydrates
or proteins .
8. A solution with a pH of 5 would be classified as which of the following?
A. Acidic
B. Neutral
C. Alkaline
D. Basic
Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7 is acidic, a pH of 7 is neutral, and a pH above 7 is alkaline
(basic) .
9. Which structure is the smallest structural and functional unit of life capable of
carrying out all life processes?
A. Organ
B. Cell
C. Tissue
D. Molecule
Answer: B
Rationale: The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms,
capable of carrying out life processes .
