WGU D312 Anatomy & Physiology 1 OA Exam| Practice
Questions And Answers 2026/2027 | Complete
Questions And Answers (Verified Answers) | Exam Prep
| Comprehensive Exam Guide 2026&2027
1. A patient sustains an injury that damages the plasma membrane of several cells. Which
cellular function would be most directly impaired by this injury?
A. Storage of genetic information
B. Regulation of substances entering and leaving the cell
C. Production of ribosomal RNA
D. Synthesis of DNA
Answer: B
The plasma membrane forms the selectively permeable boundary of the cell and regulates
movement of substances between the intracellular and extracellular environments.
2. A student examines a tissue composed of tightly packed cells with very little extracellular
material. The tissue forms the lining of the small intestine. Which tissue type is most likely
being observed?
A. Epithelial tissue
B. Connective tissue
C. Muscle tissue
D. Nervous tissue
Answer: A
Epithelial tissue consists of closely packed cells and commonly forms protective and
absorptive linings, including the lining of the digestive tract.
3. During a laboratory experiment, a cell is placed in a solution with a lower solute
concentration than the cytoplasm. What will most likely happen to the cell?
A. Water will leave the cell and it will shrink
B. Solutes will immediately leave the cell
C. Water will enter the cell and it may swell
D. No movement of water will occur
Answer: C
A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration outside the cell, causing water to move
into the cell by osmosis.
,4. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing ATP through aerobic cellular
respiration?
A. Lysosome
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Nucleus
D. Mitochondrion
Answer: D
Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through aerobic cellular respiration, providing
energy for numerous cellular processes.
5. A researcher observes a cell with abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum. Which activity
is most likely occurring at a high rate in this cell?
A. Synthesis of proteins destined for secretion
B. Breakdown of worn-out organelles
C. Storage of calcium in the cytoplasm
D. Replication of mitochondrial DNA
Answer: A
Ribosomes attached to rough endoplasmic reticulum synthesize proteins that commonly enter
the secretory pathway or become membrane proteins.
6. A cell needs to move a substance from an area of low concentration to an area of high
concentration. Which process is required?
A. Simple diffusion
B. Osmosis
C. Active transport
D. Filtration
Answer: C
Active transport moves substances against their concentration gradients and requires cellular
energy, usually ATP.
7. Which characteristic best distinguishes a eukaryotic cell from a prokaryotic cell?
A. Presence of cytoplasm
B. Presence of a cell membrane
C. Presence of ribosomes
D. Presence of a membrane-bound nucleus
Answer: D
Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, including a distinct nucleus, whereas
prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus.
,8. A patient develops a disorder that prevents lysosomes from functioning properly. Which
cellular process would be most directly affected?
A. Intracellular digestion of cellular waste
B. DNA transcription
C. ATP production
D. Protein transcription
Answer: A
Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that digest cellular debris, worn-out organelles, and
certain materials taken into the cell.
9. Which level of organization represents the highest level listed below?
A. Tissue
B. Cell
C. Organ
D. Organ system
Answer: D
An organ system consists of multiple organs working together to perform major physiological
functions.
10. A patient has a disorder affecting the extracellular matrix and structural support
surrounding cells. Which tissue type is most directly associated with this function?
A. Nervous tissue
B. Connective tissue
C. Epithelial tissue
D. Muscle tissue
Answer: B
Connective tissue is characterized by cells distributed within an extracellular matrix and
provides support, protection, storage, and transport.
11. Which statement best describes homeostasis?
A. Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
B. Elimination of all changes from the body
C. Permanent maintenance of identical physiological values
D. Prevention of all external influences on the body
Answer: A
Homeostasis maintains internal conditions within an appropriate range despite internal and
external changes.
, 12. A person's body temperature rises during exercise. The nervous system detects the
change and activates mechanisms that increase heat loss. What type of feedback is
illustrated?
A. Positive feedback
B. Feed-forward control
C. Negative feedback
D. Structural feedback
Answer: C
Negative feedback counteracts an initial change and helps restore a physiological variable
toward its normal range.
13. Which anatomical plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions?
A. Sagittal
B. Transverse
C. Oblique
D. Frontal
Answer: D
The frontal, or coronal, plane separates the body into anterior and posterior portions.
14. A physician describes an injury as occurring proximal to the wrist. What does this
mean?
A. The injury is closer to the shoulder than the wrist
B. The injury is farther from the shoulder than the wrist
C. The injury is located on the posterior side of the wrist
D. The injury is located below the wrist
Answer: A
Proximal means closer to the point of attachment or origin of a structure; therefore, an injury
proximal to the wrist is closer to the shoulder.
15. Which cavity contains the lungs?
A. Abdominal cavity
B. Thoracic cavity
C. Pelvic cavity
D. Cranial cavity
Answer: B
The lungs are located within the thoracic cavity, where they are protected by the rib cage and
separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm.
Questions And Answers 2026/2027 | Complete
Questions And Answers (Verified Answers) | Exam Prep
| Comprehensive Exam Guide 2026&2027
1. A patient sustains an injury that damages the plasma membrane of several cells. Which
cellular function would be most directly impaired by this injury?
A. Storage of genetic information
B. Regulation of substances entering and leaving the cell
C. Production of ribosomal RNA
D. Synthesis of DNA
Answer: B
The plasma membrane forms the selectively permeable boundary of the cell and regulates
movement of substances between the intracellular and extracellular environments.
2. A student examines a tissue composed of tightly packed cells with very little extracellular
material. The tissue forms the lining of the small intestine. Which tissue type is most likely
being observed?
A. Epithelial tissue
B. Connective tissue
C. Muscle tissue
D. Nervous tissue
Answer: A
Epithelial tissue consists of closely packed cells and commonly forms protective and
absorptive linings, including the lining of the digestive tract.
3. During a laboratory experiment, a cell is placed in a solution with a lower solute
concentration than the cytoplasm. What will most likely happen to the cell?
A. Water will leave the cell and it will shrink
B. Solutes will immediately leave the cell
C. Water will enter the cell and it may swell
D. No movement of water will occur
Answer: C
A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration outside the cell, causing water to move
into the cell by osmosis.
,4. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing ATP through aerobic cellular
respiration?
A. Lysosome
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Nucleus
D. Mitochondrion
Answer: D
Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through aerobic cellular respiration, providing
energy for numerous cellular processes.
5. A researcher observes a cell with abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum. Which activity
is most likely occurring at a high rate in this cell?
A. Synthesis of proteins destined for secretion
B. Breakdown of worn-out organelles
C. Storage of calcium in the cytoplasm
D. Replication of mitochondrial DNA
Answer: A
Ribosomes attached to rough endoplasmic reticulum synthesize proteins that commonly enter
the secretory pathway or become membrane proteins.
6. A cell needs to move a substance from an area of low concentration to an area of high
concentration. Which process is required?
A. Simple diffusion
B. Osmosis
C. Active transport
D. Filtration
Answer: C
Active transport moves substances against their concentration gradients and requires cellular
energy, usually ATP.
7. Which characteristic best distinguishes a eukaryotic cell from a prokaryotic cell?
A. Presence of cytoplasm
B. Presence of a cell membrane
C. Presence of ribosomes
D. Presence of a membrane-bound nucleus
Answer: D
Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, including a distinct nucleus, whereas
prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus.
,8. A patient develops a disorder that prevents lysosomes from functioning properly. Which
cellular process would be most directly affected?
A. Intracellular digestion of cellular waste
B. DNA transcription
C. ATP production
D. Protein transcription
Answer: A
Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that digest cellular debris, worn-out organelles, and
certain materials taken into the cell.
9. Which level of organization represents the highest level listed below?
A. Tissue
B. Cell
C. Organ
D. Organ system
Answer: D
An organ system consists of multiple organs working together to perform major physiological
functions.
10. A patient has a disorder affecting the extracellular matrix and structural support
surrounding cells. Which tissue type is most directly associated with this function?
A. Nervous tissue
B. Connective tissue
C. Epithelial tissue
D. Muscle tissue
Answer: B
Connective tissue is characterized by cells distributed within an extracellular matrix and
provides support, protection, storage, and transport.
11. Which statement best describes homeostasis?
A. Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
B. Elimination of all changes from the body
C. Permanent maintenance of identical physiological values
D. Prevention of all external influences on the body
Answer: A
Homeostasis maintains internal conditions within an appropriate range despite internal and
external changes.
, 12. A person's body temperature rises during exercise. The nervous system detects the
change and activates mechanisms that increase heat loss. What type of feedback is
illustrated?
A. Positive feedback
B. Feed-forward control
C. Negative feedback
D. Structural feedback
Answer: C
Negative feedback counteracts an initial change and helps restore a physiological variable
toward its normal range.
13. Which anatomical plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions?
A. Sagittal
B. Transverse
C. Oblique
D. Frontal
Answer: D
The frontal, or coronal, plane separates the body into anterior and posterior portions.
14. A physician describes an injury as occurring proximal to the wrist. What does this
mean?
A. The injury is closer to the shoulder than the wrist
B. The injury is farther from the shoulder than the wrist
C. The injury is located on the posterior side of the wrist
D. The injury is located below the wrist
Answer: A
Proximal means closer to the point of attachment or origin of a structure; therefore, an injury
proximal to the wrist is closer to the shoulder.
15. Which cavity contains the lungs?
A. Abdominal cavity
B. Thoracic cavity
C. Pelvic cavity
D. Cranial cavity
Answer: B
The lungs are located within the thoracic cavity, where they are protected by the rib cage and
separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm.
