Human Anatomy & Physiology 2nd Edition (Amerman) -
Comprehensive Study Guide (2025/2026 Syllabus)
UNIT 1: The Body as a Whole
1. What are the four primary tissue types?
ANSWER: ✓ The four primary tissue types are epithelial, connective, muscle, and
nervous tissue.
2. What is the difference between anatomy and physiology?
ANSWER: ✓ Anatomy is the study of the structure of body parts and their relationships
to one another. Physiology is the study of the function of those body parts.
3. Define homeostasis and provide an example.
ANSWER: ✓ Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain a relatively stable
internal environment despite external changes. An example is the regulation of body
temperature through sweating (to cool down) or shivering (to warm up).
4. What type of feedback loop is most common in the body, and how does it
work?
ANSWER: ✓ Negative feedback loops are the most common. They work by reducing the
output or activity of a system to return it to a set point (e.g., blood glucose regulation).
5. Describe the anatomical position.
ANSWER: ✓ The body is erect, feet slightly apart, head and toes pointed forward, and
arms hanging at the sides with palms facing forward.
6. What plane divides the body into superior and inferior parts?
ANSWER: ✓ The transverse (horizontal) plane.
7. Which body cavity houses the brain?
ANSWER: ✓ The cranial cavity.
8. What is the role of a receptor in a feedback loop?
ANSWER: ✓ The receptor monitors the environment and responds to changes (stimuli)
by sending information to the control center.
9. Which organ system is responsible for producing blood cells?
ANSWER: ✓ The skeletal system (in the red bone marrow).
, 10. What is the difference between a sagittal and a midsagittal plane?
ANSWER: ✓ A sagittal plane divides the body into left and right parts. A midsagittal
plane divides the body into equal left and right halves.
UNIT 2: The Chemical, Cellular, and Tissue Levels of Organization
11. What are the three main components of a eukaryotic cell?
ANSWER: ✓ The nucleus, the cytoplasm, and the plasma membrane.
12. What is the function of the mitochondria?
ANSWER: ✓ Mitochondria are the "powerhouses of the cell" and are responsible for
producing ATP through cellular respiration.
13. Describe the process of diffusion.
ANSWER: ✓ Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of their higher
concentration to an area of their lower concentration, down their concentration
gradient.
14. What is osmosis?
ANSWER: ✓ Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.
15. What happens to a red blood cell placed in a hypotonic solution?
ANSWER: ✓ Water will rush into the cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst (lyse).
16. What is the role of the ribosome?
ANSWER: ✓ Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis.
17. Define active transport and how it differs from passive transport.
ANSWER: ✓ Active transport requires cellular energy (ATP) to move substances against
their concentration gradient. Passive transport requires no energy and moves
substances down their concentration gradient.
18. What are the three main steps of the cell cycle?
ANSWER: ✓ Interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis.
19. What are the four phases of mitosis?
ANSWER: ✓ Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
20. What is the function of epithelial tissue?
ANSWER: ✓ Epithelial tissue functions in protection, absorption, filtration, excretion,
and secretion.
Comprehensive Study Guide (2025/2026 Syllabus)
UNIT 1: The Body as a Whole
1. What are the four primary tissue types?
ANSWER: ✓ The four primary tissue types are epithelial, connective, muscle, and
nervous tissue.
2. What is the difference between anatomy and physiology?
ANSWER: ✓ Anatomy is the study of the structure of body parts and their relationships
to one another. Physiology is the study of the function of those body parts.
3. Define homeostasis and provide an example.
ANSWER: ✓ Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain a relatively stable
internal environment despite external changes. An example is the regulation of body
temperature through sweating (to cool down) or shivering (to warm up).
4. What type of feedback loop is most common in the body, and how does it
work?
ANSWER: ✓ Negative feedback loops are the most common. They work by reducing the
output or activity of a system to return it to a set point (e.g., blood glucose regulation).
5. Describe the anatomical position.
ANSWER: ✓ The body is erect, feet slightly apart, head and toes pointed forward, and
arms hanging at the sides with palms facing forward.
6. What plane divides the body into superior and inferior parts?
ANSWER: ✓ The transverse (horizontal) plane.
7. Which body cavity houses the brain?
ANSWER: ✓ The cranial cavity.
8. What is the role of a receptor in a feedback loop?
ANSWER: ✓ The receptor monitors the environment and responds to changes (stimuli)
by sending information to the control center.
9. Which organ system is responsible for producing blood cells?
ANSWER: ✓ The skeletal system (in the red bone marrow).
, 10. What is the difference between a sagittal and a midsagittal plane?
ANSWER: ✓ A sagittal plane divides the body into left and right parts. A midsagittal
plane divides the body into equal left and right halves.
UNIT 2: The Chemical, Cellular, and Tissue Levels of Organization
11. What are the three main components of a eukaryotic cell?
ANSWER: ✓ The nucleus, the cytoplasm, and the plasma membrane.
12. What is the function of the mitochondria?
ANSWER: ✓ Mitochondria are the "powerhouses of the cell" and are responsible for
producing ATP through cellular respiration.
13. Describe the process of diffusion.
ANSWER: ✓ Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of their higher
concentration to an area of their lower concentration, down their concentration
gradient.
14. What is osmosis?
ANSWER: ✓ Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.
15. What happens to a red blood cell placed in a hypotonic solution?
ANSWER: ✓ Water will rush into the cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst (lyse).
16. What is the role of the ribosome?
ANSWER: ✓ Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis.
17. Define active transport and how it differs from passive transport.
ANSWER: ✓ Active transport requires cellular energy (ATP) to move substances against
their concentration gradient. Passive transport requires no energy and moves
substances down their concentration gradient.
18. What are the three main steps of the cell cycle?
ANSWER: ✓ Interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis.
19. What are the four phases of mitosis?
ANSWER: ✓ Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
20. What is the function of epithelial tissue?
ANSWER: ✓ Epithelial tissue functions in protection, absorption, filtration, excretion,
and secretion.
