Structure & Function of the Body
17th Edition — Kevin T. Patton et al.
400 Original Practice Questions with Answers
Chapters 1–22 | Mixed Difficulty | Multiple Choice (A–D)
─────────────────────────────────
,Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Structure and Function of the
Body
Q1. [Easy] Which term refers to the study of the functions of living organisms and their parts?
A) Anatomy
B) Physiology
C) Cytology
D) Histology
Answer: B) Physiology
Q2. [Easy] The anatomical position is described as the body standing erect with palms facing:
A) Posteriorly
B) Inferiorly
C) Anteriorly
D) Medially
Answer: C) Anteriorly
Q3. [Easy] Which body cavity contains the heart and lungs?
A) Abdominal cavity
B) Pelvic cavity
C) Thoracic cavity
D) Cranial cavity
Answer: C) Thoracic cavity
Q4. [Easy] The term 'superior' in anatomical terminology means:
A) Below another structure
B) Above another structure
C) Toward the midline
D) Away from the midline
Answer: B) Above another structure
Q5. [Easy] Which plane divides the body into right and left halves?
A) Frontal plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Oblique plane
D) Sagittal plane
Answer: D) Sagittal plane
Q6. [Easy] Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to:
A) Grow and develop
B) Maintain a relatively stable internal environment
C) Reproduce new cells
D) Respond to external stimuli only
Answer: B) Maintain a relatively stable internal environment
Q7. [Medium] The dorsal body cavity includes which of the following?
A) Thoracic and abdominal cavities
B) Cranial and spinal cavities
, C) Pelvic and abdominal cavities
D) Pleural and pericardial cavities
Answer: B) Cranial and spinal cavities
Q8. [Medium] Which feedback mechanism is most commonly used to maintain homeostasis?
A) Positive feedback
B) Neutral feedback
C) Negative feedback
D) Lateral feedback
Answer: C) Negative feedback
Q9. [Medium] A cut that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions is made along which
plane?
A) Sagittal plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Frontal (coronal) plane
D) Median plane
Answer: C) Frontal (coronal) plane
Q10. [Medium] Which of the following is the correct order of structural organization from simplest to
most complex?
A) Cell → Organ → Tissue → Organ system
B) Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ system
C) Tissue → Cell → Organ → Organ system
D) Organ → Tissue → Cell → Organ system
Answer: B) Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ system
Q11. [Hard] In a negative feedback loop, when blood glucose rises above normal, insulin is released to
lower it. What serves as the control center in this scenario?
A) The pancreatic beta cells only
B) The bloodstream
C) The hypothalamus exclusively
D) The pancreas integrating sensor and effector roles
Answer: D) The pancreas integrating sensor and effector roles
Q12. [Hard] Which of the following is an example of positive feedback in the body?
A) Blood pressure regulation
B) Temperature regulation by sweating
C) Uterine contractions during childbirth
D) Insulin release in response to high blood sugar
Answer: C) Uterine contractions during childbirth
Q13. [Easy] The term 'lateral' means:
A) Toward the midline of the body
B) Away from the midline of the body
C) Closer to the point of attachment
D) Further from the surface
Answer: B) Away from the midline of the body
Q14. [Medium] What is the correct term for the region of the abdomen located in the upper right area?
, A) Hypogastric region
B) Left iliac region
C) Right hypochondriac region
D) Umbilical region
Answer: C) Right hypochondriac region
Q15. [Easy] Which body system is primarily responsible for hormone production and regulation?
A) Nervous system
B) Endocrine system
C) Lymphatic system
D) Integumentary system
Answer: B) Endocrine system
Q16. [Easy] The term 'proximal' describes a structure that is:
A) Farther from the trunk
B) On the surface of the body
C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin
D) Below another structure
Answer: C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin
Q17. [Medium] Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of life?
A) Metabolism
B) Ossification
C) Responsiveness
D) Reproduction
Answer: B) Ossification
Q18. [Hard] The mediastinum is located:
A) In the pelvic cavity
B) Between the lungs in the thoracic cavity
C) In the abdominal cavity
D) Within the spinal canal
Answer: B) Between the lungs in the thoracic cavity
17th Edition — Kevin T. Patton et al.
400 Original Practice Questions with Answers
Chapters 1–22 | Mixed Difficulty | Multiple Choice (A–D)
─────────────────────────────────
,Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Structure and Function of the
Body
Q1. [Easy] Which term refers to the study of the functions of living organisms and their parts?
A) Anatomy
B) Physiology
C) Cytology
D) Histology
Answer: B) Physiology
Q2. [Easy] The anatomical position is described as the body standing erect with palms facing:
A) Posteriorly
B) Inferiorly
C) Anteriorly
D) Medially
Answer: C) Anteriorly
Q3. [Easy] Which body cavity contains the heart and lungs?
A) Abdominal cavity
B) Pelvic cavity
C) Thoracic cavity
D) Cranial cavity
Answer: C) Thoracic cavity
Q4. [Easy] The term 'superior' in anatomical terminology means:
A) Below another structure
B) Above another structure
C) Toward the midline
D) Away from the midline
Answer: B) Above another structure
Q5. [Easy] Which plane divides the body into right and left halves?
A) Frontal plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Oblique plane
D) Sagittal plane
Answer: D) Sagittal plane
Q6. [Easy] Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to:
A) Grow and develop
B) Maintain a relatively stable internal environment
C) Reproduce new cells
D) Respond to external stimuli only
Answer: B) Maintain a relatively stable internal environment
Q7. [Medium] The dorsal body cavity includes which of the following?
A) Thoracic and abdominal cavities
B) Cranial and spinal cavities
, C) Pelvic and abdominal cavities
D) Pleural and pericardial cavities
Answer: B) Cranial and spinal cavities
Q8. [Medium] Which feedback mechanism is most commonly used to maintain homeostasis?
A) Positive feedback
B) Neutral feedback
C) Negative feedback
D) Lateral feedback
Answer: C) Negative feedback
Q9. [Medium] A cut that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions is made along which
plane?
A) Sagittal plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Frontal (coronal) plane
D) Median plane
Answer: C) Frontal (coronal) plane
Q10. [Medium] Which of the following is the correct order of structural organization from simplest to
most complex?
A) Cell → Organ → Tissue → Organ system
B) Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ system
C) Tissue → Cell → Organ → Organ system
D) Organ → Tissue → Cell → Organ system
Answer: B) Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ system
Q11. [Hard] In a negative feedback loop, when blood glucose rises above normal, insulin is released to
lower it. What serves as the control center in this scenario?
A) The pancreatic beta cells only
B) The bloodstream
C) The hypothalamus exclusively
D) The pancreas integrating sensor and effector roles
Answer: D) The pancreas integrating sensor and effector roles
Q12. [Hard] Which of the following is an example of positive feedback in the body?
A) Blood pressure regulation
B) Temperature regulation by sweating
C) Uterine contractions during childbirth
D) Insulin release in response to high blood sugar
Answer: C) Uterine contractions during childbirth
Q13. [Easy] The term 'lateral' means:
A) Toward the midline of the body
B) Away from the midline of the body
C) Closer to the point of attachment
D) Further from the surface
Answer: B) Away from the midline of the body
Q14. [Medium] What is the correct term for the region of the abdomen located in the upper right area?
, A) Hypogastric region
B) Left iliac region
C) Right hypochondriac region
D) Umbilical region
Answer: C) Right hypochondriac region
Q15. [Easy] Which body system is primarily responsible for hormone production and regulation?
A) Nervous system
B) Endocrine system
C) Lymphatic system
D) Integumentary system
Answer: B) Endocrine system
Q16. [Easy] The term 'proximal' describes a structure that is:
A) Farther from the trunk
B) On the surface of the body
C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin
D) Below another structure
Answer: C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin
Q17. [Medium] Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of life?
A) Metabolism
B) Ossification
C) Responsiveness
D) Reproduction
Answer: B) Ossification
Q18. [Hard] The mediastinum is located:
A) In the pelvic cavity
B) Between the lungs in the thoracic cavity
C) In the abdominal cavity
D) Within the spinal canal
Answer: B) Between the lungs in the thoracic cavity
