BIOS 256 – Human Physiology Final Exam
Review (2025–2026 Study Guide) Focus:
Endocrine, cardiovascular, renal, and
nervous system physiology with applied
clinical examples.
BIOS 256 – Human Physiology Final Exam Review (100 Q&A)
Section 1: Endocrine System (25 Questions)
1. What is the primary function of hormones secreted by the endocrine system?
a) To provide structural support
b) To act as chemical messengers that regulate distant target organs ✓
c) To transmit electrical signals rapidly
d) To digest food particles
2. Which gland is often referred to as the "master gland" because it regulates other endocrine
glands?
a) Thyroid gland
b) Adrenal gland
c) Pancreas
d) Pituitary gland ✓
3. The hormone Oxytocin is synthesized in the hypothalamus and released from the:
a) Anterior pituitary
b) Posterior pituitary ✓
c) Adrenal cortex
d) Thyroid gland
4. A patient presents with chronic high blood glucose, polyuria, and polydipsia. This is most
indicative of:
a) Addison's disease
b) Diabetes Insipidus
c) Diabetes Mellitus ✓
d) Cushing's syndrome
,5. Which hormone is antagonistic to Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)?
a) Calcitonin ✓
b) Thyroxine (T4)
c) Aldosterone
d) Cortisol
6. The "fight or flight" response is primarily mediated by which hormone?
a) Insulin
b) Estrogen
c) Epinephrine ✓
d) Thyroxine
7. Which of the following is a tropic hormone?
a) Prolactin
b) Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) ✓
c) Insulin
d) Cortisol
8. The primary mineralocorticoid, responsible for sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, is:
a) Cortisol
b) Aldosterone ✓
c) Adrenaline
d) Androgens
9. Graves' disease, characterized by exophthalmos and hyperactivity, is caused by:
a) Hyposecretion of thyroid hormone
b) Hypersecretion of thyroid hormone ✓
c) Hyposecretion of parathyroid hormone
d) A tumor in the adrenal medulla
10. The primary target for Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) is the:
a) Liver
b) Pancreas
c) Collecting ducts of the nephron ✓
d) Anterior pituitary
11. Which pancreatic cells secrete glucagon?
a) Alpha cells ✓
b) Beta cells
,c) Delta cells
d) Acinar cells
12. The negative feedback loop for cortisol secretion involves the:
a) Hypothalamus and Anterior Pituitary ✓
b) Posterior Pituitary and Kidneys
c) Adrenal Medulla and Sympathetic Nerves
d) Pancreas and Liver
13. Which hormone is crucial for the development of T-lymphocytes?
a) Thymosin ✓
b) Melatonin
c) Progesterone
d) Erythropoietin
14. A patient with low blood calcium levels would be expected to have high levels of:
a) Calcitonin
b) Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) ✓
c) Thyroxine
d) Insulin
15. What is the primary effect of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)?
a) To raise blood pressure
b) To lower blood pressure by promoting sodium and water excretion ✓
c) To stimulate red blood cell production
d) To increase blood glucose levels
16. The zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex produces:
a) Glucocorticoids
b) Mineralocorticoids ✓
c) Sex hormones
d) Catecholamines
17. Which hormone directly regulates the menstrual cycle and prepares the uterus for
pregnancy?
a) Prolactin
b) Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
c) Progesterone ✓
d) Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
, 18. Insulin-dependent diabetes (Type 1) is characterized by:
a) Insulin resistance
b) Destruction of pancreatic beta cells ✓
c) Overproduction of glucagon
d) A result of obesity
19. The hormone that stimulates milk production in the mammary glands is:
a) Oxytocin
b) Prolactin ✓
c) Progesterone
d) Estrogen
20. Which of the following is a lipid-soluble hormone derived from cholesterol?
a) Epinephrine
b) Insulin
c) Cortisol ✓
d) Growth Hormone
21. The second-messenger system is most commonly associated with which type of hormone?
a) Steroid hormones
b) Thyroid hormones
c) Water-soluble hormones ✓
d) All of the above
22. Cretinism is a condition resulting from the hyposecretion of thyroid hormone in:
a) Adults
b) Adolescents
c) Infants ✓
d) The elderly
23. What is the role of Leptin?
a) To stimulate appetite
b) To inhibit appetite and increase energy expenditure ✓
c) To lower blood sugar
d) To regulate the sleep-wake cycle
24. The presence of glucose in the urine is known as:
a) Proteinuria
b) Hematuria
Review (2025–2026 Study Guide) Focus:
Endocrine, cardiovascular, renal, and
nervous system physiology with applied
clinical examples.
BIOS 256 – Human Physiology Final Exam Review (100 Q&A)
Section 1: Endocrine System (25 Questions)
1. What is the primary function of hormones secreted by the endocrine system?
a) To provide structural support
b) To act as chemical messengers that regulate distant target organs ✓
c) To transmit electrical signals rapidly
d) To digest food particles
2. Which gland is often referred to as the "master gland" because it regulates other endocrine
glands?
a) Thyroid gland
b) Adrenal gland
c) Pancreas
d) Pituitary gland ✓
3. The hormone Oxytocin is synthesized in the hypothalamus and released from the:
a) Anterior pituitary
b) Posterior pituitary ✓
c) Adrenal cortex
d) Thyroid gland
4. A patient presents with chronic high blood glucose, polyuria, and polydipsia. This is most
indicative of:
a) Addison's disease
b) Diabetes Insipidus
c) Diabetes Mellitus ✓
d) Cushing's syndrome
,5. Which hormone is antagonistic to Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)?
a) Calcitonin ✓
b) Thyroxine (T4)
c) Aldosterone
d) Cortisol
6. The "fight or flight" response is primarily mediated by which hormone?
a) Insulin
b) Estrogen
c) Epinephrine ✓
d) Thyroxine
7. Which of the following is a tropic hormone?
a) Prolactin
b) Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) ✓
c) Insulin
d) Cortisol
8. The primary mineralocorticoid, responsible for sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, is:
a) Cortisol
b) Aldosterone ✓
c) Adrenaline
d) Androgens
9. Graves' disease, characterized by exophthalmos and hyperactivity, is caused by:
a) Hyposecretion of thyroid hormone
b) Hypersecretion of thyroid hormone ✓
c) Hyposecretion of parathyroid hormone
d) A tumor in the adrenal medulla
10. The primary target for Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) is the:
a) Liver
b) Pancreas
c) Collecting ducts of the nephron ✓
d) Anterior pituitary
11. Which pancreatic cells secrete glucagon?
a) Alpha cells ✓
b) Beta cells
,c) Delta cells
d) Acinar cells
12. The negative feedback loop for cortisol secretion involves the:
a) Hypothalamus and Anterior Pituitary ✓
b) Posterior Pituitary and Kidneys
c) Adrenal Medulla and Sympathetic Nerves
d) Pancreas and Liver
13. Which hormone is crucial for the development of T-lymphocytes?
a) Thymosin ✓
b) Melatonin
c) Progesterone
d) Erythropoietin
14. A patient with low blood calcium levels would be expected to have high levels of:
a) Calcitonin
b) Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) ✓
c) Thyroxine
d) Insulin
15. What is the primary effect of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)?
a) To raise blood pressure
b) To lower blood pressure by promoting sodium and water excretion ✓
c) To stimulate red blood cell production
d) To increase blood glucose levels
16. The zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex produces:
a) Glucocorticoids
b) Mineralocorticoids ✓
c) Sex hormones
d) Catecholamines
17. Which hormone directly regulates the menstrual cycle and prepares the uterus for
pregnancy?
a) Prolactin
b) Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
c) Progesterone ✓
d) Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
, 18. Insulin-dependent diabetes (Type 1) is characterized by:
a) Insulin resistance
b) Destruction of pancreatic beta cells ✓
c) Overproduction of glucagon
d) A result of obesity
19. The hormone that stimulates milk production in the mammary glands is:
a) Oxytocin
b) Prolactin ✓
c) Progesterone
d) Estrogen
20. Which of the following is a lipid-soluble hormone derived from cholesterol?
a) Epinephrine
b) Insulin
c) Cortisol ✓
d) Growth Hormone
21. The second-messenger system is most commonly associated with which type of hormone?
a) Steroid hormones
b) Thyroid hormones
c) Water-soluble hormones ✓
d) All of the above
22. Cretinism is a condition resulting from the hyposecretion of thyroid hormone in:
a) Adults
b) Adolescents
c) Infants ✓
d) The elderly
23. What is the role of Leptin?
a) To stimulate appetite
b) To inhibit appetite and increase energy expenditure ✓
c) To lower blood sugar
d) To regulate the sleep-wake cycle
24. The presence of glucose in the urine is known as:
a) Proteinuria
b) Hematuria
