1
HESI A2 Anatomy & Physiology (A&P)
2025–2026 – Complete Practice
Questions and Detailed Answers
Which is an anterior muscle?
A. Gluteus maximus
B. Quadriceps femoris
C. Biceps femoris
D. Adductor magnus - Correct Answer-B. An anterior
muscle is located near the front of the body. Of those
listed, the quadriceps( frontal thigh muscle) is the most
anterior.
How might the headrest on a car prevent traumatic
injury?
A. By limiting hyperflexion of the neck
B. By limiting hyperextension of the neck
C. By reducing vertebral compression
D. By preventing disc degeneration - Correct Answer-B.
The headrest prevents the head from moving too far
backward, or hyperextending the neck beyond its normal
range.
Which might you expect to see in a whiplash injury?
1
, 2
A. Cardiopulmonary problems
B. Side-to-side spinal curvature
C. Eventual herniation of discs
D. Traumatic injury to ligaments - Correct Answer-D.
Because of the hyperflexion and hyperextension caused
by such a collision, it is not uncommon to find tears or
stretching of the ligaments of the spine. The injury is
front-to-back, making choice B unlikely, and a herniated
disc (choice C) is more of a compression injury.
Muscle contractions that normally move food along the
human digestive system are known as ________.
A. defecation
B. osmosis
C. peristalsis
D. circulation - Correct Answer-C. Defecation(choice A) is
the elimination of waste. Osmosis (choice B) is the
movement of molecules across a membrane. Circulation
(choice D) is the movement of blood through the body.
Peristalsis (choice C) is the involuntary, wavelike
movement of muscles in the intestine and elsewhere that
pushes food along.
Which type of nutrient does not provide the body with
energy?
A. Vitamin
B. Carbohydrate
2
, 3
C. Fat
D. Protein - Correct Answer-A. Some nutrients supply
energy, and others support metabolism. Nutrients in the
first set include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Those
in the secound set include vitamins, minerals, and water.
Where would you be likely to find a Schwann cell?
A. In the digestive system
B. In the nervous system
C. In the skeletal system
D. In the muscular system - Correct Answer-B. Schwann
cells wrap around the nerve fibers and form the myelin
sheath in the peripheral nervous system.
How does the nervous system work with the muscular
system?
A. The muscles of the body produce chemicals that feed
the nerves.
B. The nervous system tells the muscles how to respond
to the environment.
C. The nervous system releases chemicals that remove
excess waste from the muscles.
D. The muscular system provides input that allows the
nerves to make decisions. - Correct Answer-B. The
nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and
nerves. It receives and transmits signals from the
3
, 4
environment that regulate voluntary and involuntary
movement.
Which part of the nervous system includes the femoral ,
radial, and ulnar nerves?
A. Somatic
B. Autonomic
C. Sympathetic
D. Parasympathetic - Correct Answer-A. The
symphathetic and parasympathetic systems (choice C and
D) are part of the autonomic nervous system (choice B),
which controls involuntary actions of the smooth
muscles, glands, and heart. The somatic nervous system
(choice A) has to do with reception of external stimuli
and voluntary control of the muscles.
Where might a herniated lumbar disc be most likely to
create pain?
A. Along the radial nerve
B. Within the spinal cord
C. Along the sciatic nerve
D. Along the tibial nerve - Correct Answer-C. Damage to a
disc in the lower back will most likely cause pain
radiating downward along the sciatic nerve.
What is the name of the bone in the human thigh?
4
HESI A2 Anatomy & Physiology (A&P)
2025–2026 – Complete Practice
Questions and Detailed Answers
Which is an anterior muscle?
A. Gluteus maximus
B. Quadriceps femoris
C. Biceps femoris
D. Adductor magnus - Correct Answer-B. An anterior
muscle is located near the front of the body. Of those
listed, the quadriceps( frontal thigh muscle) is the most
anterior.
How might the headrest on a car prevent traumatic
injury?
A. By limiting hyperflexion of the neck
B. By limiting hyperextension of the neck
C. By reducing vertebral compression
D. By preventing disc degeneration - Correct Answer-B.
The headrest prevents the head from moving too far
backward, or hyperextending the neck beyond its normal
range.
Which might you expect to see in a whiplash injury?
1
, 2
A. Cardiopulmonary problems
B. Side-to-side spinal curvature
C. Eventual herniation of discs
D. Traumatic injury to ligaments - Correct Answer-D.
Because of the hyperflexion and hyperextension caused
by such a collision, it is not uncommon to find tears or
stretching of the ligaments of the spine. The injury is
front-to-back, making choice B unlikely, and a herniated
disc (choice C) is more of a compression injury.
Muscle contractions that normally move food along the
human digestive system are known as ________.
A. defecation
B. osmosis
C. peristalsis
D. circulation - Correct Answer-C. Defecation(choice A) is
the elimination of waste. Osmosis (choice B) is the
movement of molecules across a membrane. Circulation
(choice D) is the movement of blood through the body.
Peristalsis (choice C) is the involuntary, wavelike
movement of muscles in the intestine and elsewhere that
pushes food along.
Which type of nutrient does not provide the body with
energy?
A. Vitamin
B. Carbohydrate
2
, 3
C. Fat
D. Protein - Correct Answer-A. Some nutrients supply
energy, and others support metabolism. Nutrients in the
first set include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Those
in the secound set include vitamins, minerals, and water.
Where would you be likely to find a Schwann cell?
A. In the digestive system
B. In the nervous system
C. In the skeletal system
D. In the muscular system - Correct Answer-B. Schwann
cells wrap around the nerve fibers and form the myelin
sheath in the peripheral nervous system.
How does the nervous system work with the muscular
system?
A. The muscles of the body produce chemicals that feed
the nerves.
B. The nervous system tells the muscles how to respond
to the environment.
C. The nervous system releases chemicals that remove
excess waste from the muscles.
D. The muscular system provides input that allows the
nerves to make decisions. - Correct Answer-B. The
nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and
nerves. It receives and transmits signals from the
3
, 4
environment that regulate voluntary and involuntary
movement.
Which part of the nervous system includes the femoral ,
radial, and ulnar nerves?
A. Somatic
B. Autonomic
C. Sympathetic
D. Parasympathetic - Correct Answer-A. The
symphathetic and parasympathetic systems (choice C and
D) are part of the autonomic nervous system (choice B),
which controls involuntary actions of the smooth
muscles, glands, and heart. The somatic nervous system
(choice A) has to do with reception of external stimuli
and voluntary control of the muscles.
Where might a herniated lumbar disc be most likely to
create pain?
A. Along the radial nerve
B. Within the spinal cord
C. Along the sciatic nerve
D. Along the tibial nerve - Correct Answer-C. Damage to a
disc in the lower back will most likely cause pain
radiating downward along the sciatic nerve.
What is the name of the bone in the human thigh?
4
