HESI A2 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
1. What is histology?
A) The study of cells
B) The study of tissues
C) The study of organs
D) The study of systems
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Histology is the microscopic study of tissues. Cytology is the study of
cells (A), and organology is the study of organs (C).
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2. What is a tissue?
A) A single cell that performs multiple functions
B) A group of cells that act together to perform a specific function
C) A structure composed of multiple organs
D) A liquid that circulates in the body
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tissues are collections of similar cells working together. Organs are
made of multiple tissues (C), not the other way around.
,---
3. What are the fundamental tissues?
A) Squamous, Cuboidal, Columnar, Transitional
B) Cardiac, Smooth, Skeletal, Nervous
C) Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, Nerve
D) Dense, Loose, Adipose, Cartilage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The four primary tissue types are Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, and
Nerve (mnemonic: "Elephants Can Make News"). A describes cell shapes, B
describes muscle types, and D describes connective tissue subtypes.
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4. What is the function of epithelial cells?
A) Provide framework and support
B) Cover, line, and protect the body and internal organs
C) Contract to produce movement
D) Transmit nerve impulses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Epithelial tissue forms protective barriers and linings. Connective tissue
provides support (A), muscle contracts (C), and nerve tissue transmits impulses
(D).
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,5. What is the function of connective tissue?
A) Cover and protect body surfaces
B) Transmit electrical signals
C) Framework of the body; provides support and structure to organs
D) Produce hormones
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Connective tissue supports, binds, and protects organs. A describes
epithelium, B describes nerve tissue, and D is a function of glands.
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6. What is neuroglia?
A) The neurons only
B) The neurons and connective tissue cells that compose nerve tissue
C) The fat cells in the brain
D) The blood vessels in the nervous system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Neuroglia are the supportive (connective) cells of nervous tissue that
surround and protect neurons, along with the neurons themselves.
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7. What ability does muscle tissue have?
A) Ability to conduct electricity
, B) Ability to secrete hormones
C) Ability to contract and shorten
D) Ability to filter waste
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Contractility is the defining characteristic of muscle tissue, enabling
movement. Conductivity is for nerves (A), and filtration is for kidneys (D).
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8. How is muscle tissue classified?
A) Striated and non-striated
B) Voluntary (skeletal) and involuntary (smooth & cardiac)
C) Red and white
D) Fast-twitch and slow-twitch
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Skeletal muscle is under conscious (voluntary) control; smooth and
cardiac muscles are involuntary. A and D are other classification methods, but B is
the primary functional classification.
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9. What is meiosis?
A) Cell division that occurs in all body cells
B) Cell division that takes place in the gonads (ovaries and testes)
C) Cell division that produces identical daughter cells
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
1. What is histology?
A) The study of cells
B) The study of tissues
C) The study of organs
D) The study of systems
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Histology is the microscopic study of tissues. Cytology is the study of
cells (A), and organology is the study of organs (C).
---
2. What is a tissue?
A) A single cell that performs multiple functions
B) A group of cells that act together to perform a specific function
C) A structure composed of multiple organs
D) A liquid that circulates in the body
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tissues are collections of similar cells working together. Organs are
made of multiple tissues (C), not the other way around.
,---
3. What are the fundamental tissues?
A) Squamous, Cuboidal, Columnar, Transitional
B) Cardiac, Smooth, Skeletal, Nervous
C) Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, Nerve
D) Dense, Loose, Adipose, Cartilage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The four primary tissue types are Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, and
Nerve (mnemonic: "Elephants Can Make News"). A describes cell shapes, B
describes muscle types, and D describes connective tissue subtypes.
---
4. What is the function of epithelial cells?
A) Provide framework and support
B) Cover, line, and protect the body and internal organs
C) Contract to produce movement
D) Transmit nerve impulses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Epithelial tissue forms protective barriers and linings. Connective tissue
provides support (A), muscle contracts (C), and nerve tissue transmits impulses
(D).
---
,5. What is the function of connective tissue?
A) Cover and protect body surfaces
B) Transmit electrical signals
C) Framework of the body; provides support and structure to organs
D) Produce hormones
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Connective tissue supports, binds, and protects organs. A describes
epithelium, B describes nerve tissue, and D is a function of glands.
---
6. What is neuroglia?
A) The neurons only
B) The neurons and connective tissue cells that compose nerve tissue
C) The fat cells in the brain
D) The blood vessels in the nervous system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Neuroglia are the supportive (connective) cells of nervous tissue that
surround and protect neurons, along with the neurons themselves.
---
7. What ability does muscle tissue have?
A) Ability to conduct electricity
, B) Ability to secrete hormones
C) Ability to contract and shorten
D) Ability to filter waste
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Contractility is the defining characteristic of muscle tissue, enabling
movement. Conductivity is for nerves (A), and filtration is for kidneys (D).
---
8. How is muscle tissue classified?
A) Striated and non-striated
B) Voluntary (skeletal) and involuntary (smooth & cardiac)
C) Red and white
D) Fast-twitch and slow-twitch
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Skeletal muscle is under conscious (voluntary) control; smooth and
cardiac muscles are involuntary. A and D are other classification methods, but B is
the primary functional classification.
---
9. What is meiosis?
A) Cell division that occurs in all body cells
B) Cell division that takes place in the gonads (ovaries and testes)
C) Cell division that produces identical daughter cells
