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ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, 7TH EDITION (LAPRES &
KERSTEN) EXAM COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST EDITION 2026
ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, 7TH EDITION (LaPres & Kersten): QUESTIONS
WITH RATIONALES
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Human Body
Question 1
The term used to describe something pertaining to the internal organs is:
A) proximal
B) peripheral
C) visceral
D) deep
Answer: C
Rationale: The term "visceral" refers to the internal organs. "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 .
Question 2
The study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another is called:
A) physiology
B) histology
C) anatomy
D) cytology
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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 .
Question 3
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. The knee is proximal (closer to the trunk)
compared to the ankle, which is distal .
Question 4
The plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is the:
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. The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right portions .
Question 5
A feedback mechanism that returns the body to homeostasis is:
A) positive feedback
B) negative feedback
C) hormone feedback
D) nervous feedback
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Answer: B
Rationale: Negative feedback is the primary mechanism that returns the body to homeostasis
by reversing a change in a controlled condition .
Question 6
The lowest level of organization in the body is the _____ level.
A) organ
B) tissue
C) chemical
D) cellular
Answer: C
Rationale: The chemical level (atoms and molecules) is the lowest level of organization. The
hierarchy progresses from chemical → cellular → tissue → organ → organ system → organism .
Chapter 2: Chemicals of Life
Question 7
Which of the following is the primary energy-storage molecule in the body?
A) Protein
B) Carbohydrate
C) Lipid
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 to carbohydrates or proteins.
Question 8
A solution with a pH of 5 would be classified as:
A) acidic
B) neutral
C) alkaline
D) basic
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Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7 is acidic. A pH of 7 is neutral, and a pH above 7 is alkaline (basic) .
Chapter 3: Cell
Question 9
The smallest structural and functional unit of life is the:
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 .
Question 10
The plasma membrane is primarily composed of:
A) proteins and carbohydrates
B) phospholipids and proteins
C) cholesterol and nucleic acids
D) triglycerides and steroids
Answer: B
Rationale: The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, forming
the fluid mosaic model.
Chapter 4: Tissues and Membranes
Question 11
A tissue is:
A) an organ with specific functions
B) organs grouped together
C) the structural and functional units of the body
D) a group of cells that perform similar functions
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ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, 7TH EDITION (LAPRES &
KERSTEN) EXAM COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST EDITION 2026
ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, 7TH EDITION (LaPres & Kersten): QUESTIONS
WITH RATIONALES
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Human Body
Question 1
The term used to describe something pertaining to the internal organs is:
A) proximal
B) peripheral
C) visceral
D) deep
Answer: C
Rationale: The term "visceral" refers to the internal organs. "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 .
Question 2
The study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another is called:
A) physiology
B) histology
C) anatomy
D) cytology
1|Page
,Page 2 of 33
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 .
Question 3
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. The knee is proximal (closer to the trunk)
compared to the ankle, which is distal .
Question 4
The plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is the:
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. The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right portions .
Question 5
A feedback mechanism that returns the body to homeostasis is:
A) positive feedback
B) negative feedback
C) hormone feedback
D) nervous feedback
2|Page
,Page 3 of 33
Answer: B
Rationale: Negative feedback is the primary mechanism that returns the body to homeostasis
by reversing a change in a controlled condition .
Question 6
The lowest level of organization in the body is the _____ level.
A) organ
B) tissue
C) chemical
D) cellular
Answer: C
Rationale: The chemical level (atoms and molecules) is the lowest level of organization. The
hierarchy progresses from chemical → cellular → tissue → organ → organ system → organism .
Chapter 2: Chemicals of Life
Question 7
Which of the following is the primary energy-storage molecule in the body?
A) Protein
B) Carbohydrate
C) Lipid
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 to carbohydrates or proteins.
Question 8
A solution with a pH of 5 would be classified as:
A) acidic
B) neutral
C) alkaline
D) basic
3|Page
, Page 4 of 33
Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7 is acidic. A pH of 7 is neutral, and a pH above 7 is alkaline (basic) .
Chapter 3: Cell
Question 9
The smallest structural and functional unit of life is the:
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 .
Question 10
The plasma membrane is primarily composed of:
A) proteins and carbohydrates
B) phospholipids and proteins
C) cholesterol and nucleic acids
D) triglycerides and steroids
Answer: B
Rationale: The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, forming
the fluid mosaic model.
Chapter 4: Tissues and Membranes
Question 11
A tissue is:
A) an organ with specific functions
B) organs grouped together
C) the structural and functional units of the body
D) a group of cells that perform similar functions
4|Page
