TEST BANK FOR ANATOMY
& PHYSIOLOGY: THE UNITY
OF FORM AND FUNCTION
10th Edition | Updated 2026/2027 Assessment Resource
Based on the works of Kenneth S. Saladin, Eric Wise, & Robin McFarland Comprehensive
Anatomical and Physiological Exam Suite
Introduction to the Assessment Architecture
This document serves as an elite-level assessment resource designed to rigorously evaluate
student mastery of Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function (10th Edition). The
following 55 items are constructed not merely to test recall, but to demand the synthesis of
complex physiological mechanisms, the application of anatomical relationships to clinical
scenarios, and the detailed understanding of homeostatic regulation. Each item includes a
comprehensive physiological analysis, serving as a high-density learning resource that
integrates the core themes of the text: the interdependence of structure and function, the
maintenance of internal stability through feedback loops, and the cellular basis of systemic
health.
Part One: Organization of the Body
Question 1: Homeostatic Regulation and Feedback Mechanisms
Topic: Thermoregulation and Feedback Loops Difficulty: High
Question: Consider a subject exposed to an environmental temperature of 45°C (113°F). Which
of the following sequences correctly identifies the sensor, integration center, and effector
responses engaged to restore homeostasis, and how does this mechanism mechanistically
differ from the feedback loop driving parturition?
A. Peripheral thermoreceptors → Posterior Pituitary → Vasoconstriction; Positive feedback. B.
Central thermoreceptors → Hypothalamus → Vasodilation and diaphoresis; Negative feedback.
C. Baroreceptors → Medulla Oblongata → Vasodilation; Negative feedback. D. Cutaneous
thermoreceptors → Thalamus → Piloerection; Positive feedback.
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Physiological Analysis: The maintenance of body temperature is a classic example
of a negative feedback loop, a central organizing principle in Saladin’s text. In this scenario,
the stimulus is hyperthermia. The body's priority is to dissipate heat to return the core
temperature to the set point (approximately 37°C).
1. Sensing the Deviation: The afferent pathway begins with thermoreceptors. These are
located peripherally in the skin (cutaneous) and centrally in the hypothalamus itself
, (monitoring blood temperature). These receptors detect the thermal load and transmit
action potentials to the brain.
2. Integration: The hypothalamus acts as the body's thermostat. Upon processing the
input indicating elevated temperature, it initiates heat-loss mechanisms. It does not utilize
the thalamus as the primary integration center for autonomic thermoregulation, nor does it
involve the posterior pituitary in this specific context (which releases ADH and oxytocin).
3. Effector Response: The hypothalamus sends efferent autonomic signals to two primary
effectors:
○ Cutaneous Vasculature: Blood vessels in the dermis undergo vasodilation. This
increases blood flow to the body surface, facilitating heat loss via radiation and
convection.
○ Sudoriferous Glands: Sympathetic cholinergic fibers stimulate these glands to
secrete sweat. The evaporation of water removes significant thermal energy (latent
heat of vaporization) from the body.
Differentiation from Parturition: The question requires contrasting this with childbirth
(parturition). Parturition is governed by a positive feedback loop, a mechanism that amplifies
the stimulus rather than negating it. In childbirth, the fetus’s head pushes against the cervix
(stimulus), triggering the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin causes uterine contractions, which
pushes the fetus harder against the cervix, causing more stretch and more oxytocin release.
This self-amplifying cycle continues until the external stimulus (the fetus) is expelled. In contrast,
the thermoregulatory response (Answer B) is negative feedback because the response (cooling)
negates the original stimulus (heat).
Question 2: Membrane Transport Physiology
Topic: Secondary Active Transport Difficulty: High
Question: The absorption of glucose from the intestinal lumen into the enterocyte occurs
against the glucose concentration gradient. Which transport protein mediates this specific influx,
and what is the immediate source of energy driving this transport?
A. GLUT2; Hydrolysis of ATP by the transporter itself. B. SGLT1; The electrochemical gradient
of sodium established by the Na+/K+ pump. C. GLUT5; Facilitated diffusion down the glucose
gradient. D. SGLT2; Direct phosphorylation of glucose during transport.
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Physiological Analysis: This item tests the understanding of secondary active
transport, a critical concept in both digestive and renal physiology.
● The Transporter (SGLT1): The Sodium-Glucose Linked Transporter 1 (SGLT1) is the
specific protein responsible for glucose (and galactose) uptake across the apical (luminal)
membrane of the small intestine. This process often requires moving glucose "uphill"
against its concentration gradient.
● Energy Coupling: SGLT1 is a symporter. It does not possess ATPase activity and cannot
hydrolyze ATP directly. Instead, it couples the transport of glucose to the transport of
sodium (Na+). Sodium moves "down" its steep electrochemical gradient into the cell.
SGLT1 harnesses the kinetic energy of this sodium influx to pull glucose into the cell
against its gradient.
● The Origin of the Energy: While SGLT1 uses the sodium gradient, that gradient must be
maintained by the Na+/K+ ATPase located on the basolateral membrane. This pump
actively expels Na+ from the cell using ATP. Thus, glucose absorption is indirectly
powered by ATP, characterizing it as secondary active transport.
, ● Distractor Analysis: GLUT5 is a fructose transporter that operates via facilitated
diffusion (passive transport). GLUT2 facilitates the exit of glucose from the basolateral
side into the blood, also via facilitated diffusion.
Question 3: Cellular Biology and Protein Secretion
Topic: The Endomembrane System Difficulty: Moderate
Question: A pancreatic beta cell synthesizes the protein hormone insulin for secretion into the
bloodstream. Which of the following sequences correctly traces the path of this protein from
synthesis to exocytosis?
A. Free ribosome → Cytosol → Mitochondria → Plasma membrane. B. Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum (RER) → Transport Vesicle → Golgi Apparatus → Secretory Vesicle. C. Nucleus →
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) → Golgi Apparatus → Lysosome. D. Rough
Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) → Lysosome → Golgi Apparatus → Exocytosis.
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Physiological Analysis: The synthesis of secretory proteins follows a strictly
regulated pathway known as the secretory pathway or the endomembrane system function.
1. Synthesis (RER): Proteins destined for secretion are synthesized by ribosomes docked
to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER). The nascent polypeptide chain is
threaded into the lumen of the RER, where it folds and undergoes initial modifications
(e.g., N-linked glycosylation).
2. Transport: The protein is packaged into a transport vesicle that buds from the RER and
travels to the cis face of the Golgi apparatus.
3. Processing (Golgi): Within the Golgi apparatus, the protein undergoes further
post-translational modification (e.g., cleavage of proinsulin to insulin, carbohydrate
remodeling). The Golgi sorts and packages the final product.
4. Secretion: The protein leaves the trans face of the Golgi in a secretory vesicle. This
vesicle migrates to the plasma membrane and fuses with it in response to a signal (e.g.,
high blood glucose), releasing the insulin into the extracellular space via exocytosis.
● Correction of Distractors: Free ribosomes (A) synthesize cytosolic proteins, not
secretory ones. The Smooth ER (C) handles lipid synthesis and detoxification, not protein
synthesis. Proteins do not pass through lysosomes (D) on the way to secretion;
lysosomes are for degradation.
Question 4: Histology of Epithelial Tissue
Topic: Epithelial Classification and Function Difficulty: Moderate
Question: Which type of epithelial tissue is characterized by multiple layers of cells that can
change shape from cuboidal to squamous when stretched, and is exclusively found lining the
urinary bladder and ureters?
A. Stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. B. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium. C.
Transitional epithelium (Urothelium). D. Simple columnar epithelium with microvilli.
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Physiological Analysis: Histological identification relies on understanding the
relationship between cell morphology and organ function.
● Transitional Epithelium: Also known as urothelium, this tissue is unique to the urinary
tract (renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and part of the urethra). Its primary functional
requirement is distensibility. When the bladder is empty, the apical cells appear large and
& PHYSIOLOGY: THE UNITY
OF FORM AND FUNCTION
10th Edition | Updated 2026/2027 Assessment Resource
Based on the works of Kenneth S. Saladin, Eric Wise, & Robin McFarland Comprehensive
Anatomical and Physiological Exam Suite
Introduction to the Assessment Architecture
This document serves as an elite-level assessment resource designed to rigorously evaluate
student mastery of Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function (10th Edition). The
following 55 items are constructed not merely to test recall, but to demand the synthesis of
complex physiological mechanisms, the application of anatomical relationships to clinical
scenarios, and the detailed understanding of homeostatic regulation. Each item includes a
comprehensive physiological analysis, serving as a high-density learning resource that
integrates the core themes of the text: the interdependence of structure and function, the
maintenance of internal stability through feedback loops, and the cellular basis of systemic
health.
Part One: Organization of the Body
Question 1: Homeostatic Regulation and Feedback Mechanisms
Topic: Thermoregulation and Feedback Loops Difficulty: High
Question: Consider a subject exposed to an environmental temperature of 45°C (113°F). Which
of the following sequences correctly identifies the sensor, integration center, and effector
responses engaged to restore homeostasis, and how does this mechanism mechanistically
differ from the feedback loop driving parturition?
A. Peripheral thermoreceptors → Posterior Pituitary → Vasoconstriction; Positive feedback. B.
Central thermoreceptors → Hypothalamus → Vasodilation and diaphoresis; Negative feedback.
C. Baroreceptors → Medulla Oblongata → Vasodilation; Negative feedback. D. Cutaneous
thermoreceptors → Thalamus → Piloerection; Positive feedback.
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Physiological Analysis: The maintenance of body temperature is a classic example
of a negative feedback loop, a central organizing principle in Saladin’s text. In this scenario,
the stimulus is hyperthermia. The body's priority is to dissipate heat to return the core
temperature to the set point (approximately 37°C).
1. Sensing the Deviation: The afferent pathway begins with thermoreceptors. These are
located peripherally in the skin (cutaneous) and centrally in the hypothalamus itself
, (monitoring blood temperature). These receptors detect the thermal load and transmit
action potentials to the brain.
2. Integration: The hypothalamus acts as the body's thermostat. Upon processing the
input indicating elevated temperature, it initiates heat-loss mechanisms. It does not utilize
the thalamus as the primary integration center for autonomic thermoregulation, nor does it
involve the posterior pituitary in this specific context (which releases ADH and oxytocin).
3. Effector Response: The hypothalamus sends efferent autonomic signals to two primary
effectors:
○ Cutaneous Vasculature: Blood vessels in the dermis undergo vasodilation. This
increases blood flow to the body surface, facilitating heat loss via radiation and
convection.
○ Sudoriferous Glands: Sympathetic cholinergic fibers stimulate these glands to
secrete sweat. The evaporation of water removes significant thermal energy (latent
heat of vaporization) from the body.
Differentiation from Parturition: The question requires contrasting this with childbirth
(parturition). Parturition is governed by a positive feedback loop, a mechanism that amplifies
the stimulus rather than negating it. In childbirth, the fetus’s head pushes against the cervix
(stimulus), triggering the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin causes uterine contractions, which
pushes the fetus harder against the cervix, causing more stretch and more oxytocin release.
This self-amplifying cycle continues until the external stimulus (the fetus) is expelled. In contrast,
the thermoregulatory response (Answer B) is negative feedback because the response (cooling)
negates the original stimulus (heat).
Question 2: Membrane Transport Physiology
Topic: Secondary Active Transport Difficulty: High
Question: The absorption of glucose from the intestinal lumen into the enterocyte occurs
against the glucose concentration gradient. Which transport protein mediates this specific influx,
and what is the immediate source of energy driving this transport?
A. GLUT2; Hydrolysis of ATP by the transporter itself. B. SGLT1; The electrochemical gradient
of sodium established by the Na+/K+ pump. C. GLUT5; Facilitated diffusion down the glucose
gradient. D. SGLT2; Direct phosphorylation of glucose during transport.
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Physiological Analysis: This item tests the understanding of secondary active
transport, a critical concept in both digestive and renal physiology.
● The Transporter (SGLT1): The Sodium-Glucose Linked Transporter 1 (SGLT1) is the
specific protein responsible for glucose (and galactose) uptake across the apical (luminal)
membrane of the small intestine. This process often requires moving glucose "uphill"
against its concentration gradient.
● Energy Coupling: SGLT1 is a symporter. It does not possess ATPase activity and cannot
hydrolyze ATP directly. Instead, it couples the transport of glucose to the transport of
sodium (Na+). Sodium moves "down" its steep electrochemical gradient into the cell.
SGLT1 harnesses the kinetic energy of this sodium influx to pull glucose into the cell
against its gradient.
● The Origin of the Energy: While SGLT1 uses the sodium gradient, that gradient must be
maintained by the Na+/K+ ATPase located on the basolateral membrane. This pump
actively expels Na+ from the cell using ATP. Thus, glucose absorption is indirectly
powered by ATP, characterizing it as secondary active transport.
, ● Distractor Analysis: GLUT5 is a fructose transporter that operates via facilitated
diffusion (passive transport). GLUT2 facilitates the exit of glucose from the basolateral
side into the blood, also via facilitated diffusion.
Question 3: Cellular Biology and Protein Secretion
Topic: The Endomembrane System Difficulty: Moderate
Question: A pancreatic beta cell synthesizes the protein hormone insulin for secretion into the
bloodstream. Which of the following sequences correctly traces the path of this protein from
synthesis to exocytosis?
A. Free ribosome → Cytosol → Mitochondria → Plasma membrane. B. Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum (RER) → Transport Vesicle → Golgi Apparatus → Secretory Vesicle. C. Nucleus →
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) → Golgi Apparatus → Lysosome. D. Rough
Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) → Lysosome → Golgi Apparatus → Exocytosis.
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Physiological Analysis: The synthesis of secretory proteins follows a strictly
regulated pathway known as the secretory pathway or the endomembrane system function.
1. Synthesis (RER): Proteins destined for secretion are synthesized by ribosomes docked
to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER). The nascent polypeptide chain is
threaded into the lumen of the RER, where it folds and undergoes initial modifications
(e.g., N-linked glycosylation).
2. Transport: The protein is packaged into a transport vesicle that buds from the RER and
travels to the cis face of the Golgi apparatus.
3. Processing (Golgi): Within the Golgi apparatus, the protein undergoes further
post-translational modification (e.g., cleavage of proinsulin to insulin, carbohydrate
remodeling). The Golgi sorts and packages the final product.
4. Secretion: The protein leaves the trans face of the Golgi in a secretory vesicle. This
vesicle migrates to the plasma membrane and fuses with it in response to a signal (e.g.,
high blood glucose), releasing the insulin into the extracellular space via exocytosis.
● Correction of Distractors: Free ribosomes (A) synthesize cytosolic proteins, not
secretory ones. The Smooth ER (C) handles lipid synthesis and detoxification, not protein
synthesis. Proteins do not pass through lysosomes (D) on the way to secretion;
lysosomes are for degradation.
Question 4: Histology of Epithelial Tissue
Topic: Epithelial Classification and Function Difficulty: Moderate
Question: Which type of epithelial tissue is characterized by multiple layers of cells that can
change shape from cuboidal to squamous when stretched, and is exclusively found lining the
urinary bladder and ureters?
A. Stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. B. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium. C.
Transitional epithelium (Urothelium). D. Simple columnar epithelium with microvilli.
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Physiological Analysis: Histological identification relies on understanding the
relationship between cell morphology and organ function.
● Transitional Epithelium: Also known as urothelium, this tissue is unique to the urinary
tract (renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and part of the urethra). Its primary functional
requirement is distensibility. When the bladder is empty, the apical cells appear large and
