WA HOSA Anatomy & Physiology Exam 2026/2027 | Complete
Practice Questions, Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–30: Foundations of Anatomy & Physiology
1. What is the primary difference between anatomy and physiology?
A. Anatomy studies disease; physiology studies treatment
B. Anatomy studies structure; physiology studies function
C. Anatomy studies cells; physiology studies tissues
D. Anatomy studies chemistry; physiology studies genetics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Anatomy focuses on body structures and their relationships,
while physiology focuses on how those structures function.
2. Which level of organization is immediately above the cellular level?
A. Organ
B. Tissue
C. Organ system
D. Organism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Similar cells organized to perform a common function form
tissues.
3. Which term means toward the head?
A. Inferior
B. Lateral
C. Superior
D. Distal
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Superior means toward the head or upper part of a
structure.
4. Which directional term means toward the body's midline?
A. Lateral
B. Medial
C. Distal
D. Superficial
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Medial describes a position closer to the body's midline.
5. The sternum is ______ to the vertebral column.
A. Posterior
B. Inferior
C. Anterior
D. Lateral
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The sternum lies in front of the vertebral column, making it
anterior.
6. Which term describes a structure farther from the point of
attachment?
A. Proximal
B. Distal
C. Medial
D. Deep
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Distal means farther from the point of attachment or origin.
,7. Which plane divides the body into right and left portions?
A. Transverse
B. Frontal
C. Sagittal
D. Oblique
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A sagittal plane divides the body into right and left portions.
8. A transverse section divides the body into:
A. Anterior and posterior portions
B. Superior and inferior portions
C. Right and left portions
D. Medial and lateral portions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A transverse plane separates superior and inferior regions.
9. Which plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions?
A. Frontal
B. Sagittal
C. Transverse
D. Median
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The frontal, or coronal, plane separates anterior and
posterior portions.
10. Which cavity contains the brain?
A. Vertebral cavity
B. Cranial cavity
, C. Thoracic cavity
D. Abdominal cavity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The brain is protected within the cranial cavity.
11. The spinal cord is located in the:
A. Cranial cavity
B. Thoracic cavity
C. Vertebral cavity
D. Pelvic cavity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The vertebral cavity surrounds and protects the spinal cord.
12. Which cavity contains the heart and lungs?
A. Thoracic cavity
B. Abdominal cavity
C. Pelvic cavity
D. Cranial cavity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The thoracic cavity contains the lungs and heart.
13. Which organ is primarily located in the abdominal cavity?
A. Brain
B. Heart
C. Stomach
D. Urinary bladder
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The stomach is an abdominal organ.
Practice Questions, Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–30: Foundations of Anatomy & Physiology
1. What is the primary difference between anatomy and physiology?
A. Anatomy studies disease; physiology studies treatment
B. Anatomy studies structure; physiology studies function
C. Anatomy studies cells; physiology studies tissues
D. Anatomy studies chemistry; physiology studies genetics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Anatomy focuses on body structures and their relationships,
while physiology focuses on how those structures function.
2. Which level of organization is immediately above the cellular level?
A. Organ
B. Tissue
C. Organ system
D. Organism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Similar cells organized to perform a common function form
tissues.
3. Which term means toward the head?
A. Inferior
B. Lateral
C. Superior
D. Distal
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Superior means toward the head or upper part of a
structure.
4. Which directional term means toward the body's midline?
A. Lateral
B. Medial
C. Distal
D. Superficial
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Medial describes a position closer to the body's midline.
5. The sternum is ______ to the vertebral column.
A. Posterior
B. Inferior
C. Anterior
D. Lateral
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The sternum lies in front of the vertebral column, making it
anterior.
6. Which term describes a structure farther from the point of
attachment?
A. Proximal
B. Distal
C. Medial
D. Deep
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Distal means farther from the point of attachment or origin.
,7. Which plane divides the body into right and left portions?
A. Transverse
B. Frontal
C. Sagittal
D. Oblique
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A sagittal plane divides the body into right and left portions.
8. A transverse section divides the body into:
A. Anterior and posterior portions
B. Superior and inferior portions
C. Right and left portions
D. Medial and lateral portions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A transverse plane separates superior and inferior regions.
9. Which plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions?
A. Frontal
B. Sagittal
C. Transverse
D. Median
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The frontal, or coronal, plane separates anterior and
posterior portions.
10. Which cavity contains the brain?
A. Vertebral cavity
B. Cranial cavity
, C. Thoracic cavity
D. Abdominal cavity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The brain is protected within the cranial cavity.
11. The spinal cord is located in the:
A. Cranial cavity
B. Thoracic cavity
C. Vertebral cavity
D. Pelvic cavity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The vertebral cavity surrounds and protects the spinal cord.
12. Which cavity contains the heart and lungs?
A. Thoracic cavity
B. Abdominal cavity
C. Pelvic cavity
D. Cranial cavity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The thoracic cavity contains the lungs and heart.
13. Which organ is primarily located in the abdominal cavity?
A. Brain
B. Heart
C. Stomach
D. Urinary bladder
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The stomach is an abdominal organ.
