NURS 301 UW EXAM 1 2026/2027 – COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW
Human Anatomy - ✔✔The study of the structural basis of the body function.
Physiology - ✔✔The study of the functional relevance of that structure.
Functional Morphology - ✔✔The structure of the organs, and the functional reasons behind it.
Cadaver - ✔✔Deceased Body
Gross Anatomy - ✔✔The study structure visible to the naked eye, using methods such as surface
observations, dissection, X-rays, and MRI scans.
Surface Anatomy - ✔✔The external structure of the body.
*Important for physical examination of the patient
Radiologic Anatomy - ✔✔The study of the internal structure, using X-rays and other medical imaging
techniques.
Systemic Anatomy - ✔✔The study of one organ system at a time.
*Most Textbooks
Regional Anatomy - ✔✔The study of multiple organ systems at once given region of the body
Ex: head, chest
Histology - ✔✔The microscopic examination of tissues for signs of disease.
Cytology - ✔✔The study of the structure and function of individual cells.
histo - ✔✔tissue
cyto - ✔✔cell
Comparative Anatomy - ✔✔The study of more than one species in order to examine structural
similarities and differences and analyze evolutionary trends.
Inspection - ✔✔Looking at the body's appearance in careful detail
ex: physical examination
Palpation - ✔✔Feeling a structure with the hands
ex: palpating a swollen lymph node, or taking a pulse
Percussion - ✔✔The examiner taps on the body, feels for abnormal resistance, and listens to emitted
sounds for signs or abnormalities.
ex: pockets of fluid or air
, Exploratory Surgery - ✔✔Opening the body and taking a look inside to see what is wrong and what
could be done
Medical Imaging - ✔✔Methods of viewing the inside of the body without surgery
Radiology - ✔✔Branch of medicine concerned with imaging
X-rays
Computed Tomography (CT scan) - ✔✔A more sophisticated application of X-rays.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - ✔✔A technique superior t CT scan for visualizing soft tissues.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) - ✔✔Used to access the metabolic state of tissue and to
distinguish which tissues are most active at a given moment.
-Nuclear Medicine
-Diagnose cancer
-Evaluate tumor status
Sonography - ✔✔A handheld device pressed against the skin emits high-frequency ultrasound waves
and receives the signals reflected back from organs.
Organism - ✔✔A single , complete individual capable of acting separately from there individuals
Organ System - ✔✔A group of organs that carries out a basic function of the organism such as
circulation, respiration, or digestion.
Organ - ✔✔Any structure that has definite anatomical boundaries, is visually distinguishable form
adjacent organs and is composed of two or more tissue types working together to carry out a particular
function.
Tissue - ✔✔A mass of similar cells and cell products that forms a discrete region of an organ and
performs a specific function.
4 Types:
-Epithelial
-Connective
-Nervous
-Muscular
Cells - ✔✔Smallest units or an organism.
Organelles - ✔✔Microscopic structures in a cell that carry out is individual functions.
Systems of Protection, Support, and Movement - ✔✔-Integumentary System
-Skeletal Sytem
-Muscular System
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW
Human Anatomy - ✔✔The study of the structural basis of the body function.
Physiology - ✔✔The study of the functional relevance of that structure.
Functional Morphology - ✔✔The structure of the organs, and the functional reasons behind it.
Cadaver - ✔✔Deceased Body
Gross Anatomy - ✔✔The study structure visible to the naked eye, using methods such as surface
observations, dissection, X-rays, and MRI scans.
Surface Anatomy - ✔✔The external structure of the body.
*Important for physical examination of the patient
Radiologic Anatomy - ✔✔The study of the internal structure, using X-rays and other medical imaging
techniques.
Systemic Anatomy - ✔✔The study of one organ system at a time.
*Most Textbooks
Regional Anatomy - ✔✔The study of multiple organ systems at once given region of the body
Ex: head, chest
Histology - ✔✔The microscopic examination of tissues for signs of disease.
Cytology - ✔✔The study of the structure and function of individual cells.
histo - ✔✔tissue
cyto - ✔✔cell
Comparative Anatomy - ✔✔The study of more than one species in order to examine structural
similarities and differences and analyze evolutionary trends.
Inspection - ✔✔Looking at the body's appearance in careful detail
ex: physical examination
Palpation - ✔✔Feeling a structure with the hands
ex: palpating a swollen lymph node, or taking a pulse
Percussion - ✔✔The examiner taps on the body, feels for abnormal resistance, and listens to emitted
sounds for signs or abnormalities.
ex: pockets of fluid or air
, Exploratory Surgery - ✔✔Opening the body and taking a look inside to see what is wrong and what
could be done
Medical Imaging - ✔✔Methods of viewing the inside of the body without surgery
Radiology - ✔✔Branch of medicine concerned with imaging
X-rays
Computed Tomography (CT scan) - ✔✔A more sophisticated application of X-rays.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - ✔✔A technique superior t CT scan for visualizing soft tissues.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) - ✔✔Used to access the metabolic state of tissue and to
distinguish which tissues are most active at a given moment.
-Nuclear Medicine
-Diagnose cancer
-Evaluate tumor status
Sonography - ✔✔A handheld device pressed against the skin emits high-frequency ultrasound waves
and receives the signals reflected back from organs.
Organism - ✔✔A single , complete individual capable of acting separately from there individuals
Organ System - ✔✔A group of organs that carries out a basic function of the organism such as
circulation, respiration, or digestion.
Organ - ✔✔Any structure that has definite anatomical boundaries, is visually distinguishable form
adjacent organs and is composed of two or more tissue types working together to carry out a particular
function.
Tissue - ✔✔A mass of similar cells and cell products that forms a discrete region of an organ and
performs a specific function.
4 Types:
-Epithelial
-Connective
-Nervous
-Muscular
Cells - ✔✔Smallest units or an organism.
Organelles - ✔✔Microscopic structures in a cell that carry out is individual functions.
Systems of Protection, Support, and Movement - ✔✔-Integumentary System
-Skeletal Sytem
-Muscular System
