GMS 6440 Fundamentals of Medical Physiology
Practice Exam | Complete Study Guide with
Actual Exam Questions, Verified Correct
Answers and Detailed Rationales | Latest Update
2026/2027 – Already Graded A+
Question 1
What is the correct order for the levels of organization in the human body, starting
with the simplest?
A. Cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism
B. Molecule → macromolecule → organelle → cell → tissue → organ → organ
system → organism
C. Atom → molecule → cell → tissue → organ → organism
D. Organelle → cell → tissue → organ → organ system → molecule
Answer: B
Rationale: The hierarchy of biological organization begins at the molecular level
and progresses to the whole organism. This is a foundational concept in physiology
that establishes the relationship between structure and function at each level .
Question 2
What is the definition of anatomy?
A. The study of how the body works
B. The study of disease and its causes
C. The study of structure (Greek for "a cutting up")
D. The study of chemical processes within cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Anatomy is derived from Greek meaning "a cutting up" and refers to
the study of body structure. Physiology, in contrast, is the study of function .
Question 3
Which of the following is the correct definition of physiology?
A. The study of structure (Greek for "a cutting up")
B. The study of function (Greek for "relationship to nature")
1pg.
,C. The study of disease and its causes
D. The study of microscopic structures of tissues
Answer: B
Rationale: Physiology is the study of how the body functions, derived from Greek
meaning "relationship to nature." Structure is always related to function in the
human body .
Question 4
Structure is ALWAYS related to which of the following?
A. Shape
B. Size
C. Function
D. Location
Answer: C
Rationale: In anatomy and physiology, the form and arrangement of a structure
determines its functional capabilities. This is a fundamental principle of
physiology .
Question 5
What are the characteristics of life?
A. Respiration, digestion, absorption, assimilation, circulation, excretion
B. Respiration, metabolism, reproduction, growth, movement
C. Digestion, circulation, reproduction, adaptation, response
D. Absorption, assimilation, reproduction, growth, excretion
Answer: A
Rationale: The basic characteristics of life include respiration, digestion,
absorption, assimilation, circulation, and excretion .
Question 6
What are the main goals of respiration?
A. Filtering waste products from the blood
B. Obtaining oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the body
C. Digesting food and absorbing nutrients
D. Pumping blood throughout the circulatory system
Answer: B
Rationale: Respiration involves gas exchange: obtaining oxygen for cellular
metabolism and removing carbon dioxide waste from the body .
2pg.
,Question 7
What is the definition of assimilation in the body?
A. The movement of substances across cell membranes without energy
B. The breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones for energy
C. Changing absorbed substances into chemically different forms
D. The elimination of indigestible waste materials from the body
Answer: C
Rationale: Assimilation is the process by which absorbed nutrients are converted
into chemically different forms that can be used by the body's cells .
Question 8
What happens when homeostasis is disrupted?
A. Obesity occurs
B. The stomach is bypassed
C. Disease and organ system malfunction
D. Heart attack occurs
Answer: C
Rationale: When homeostasis is disrupted, disease and organ system malfunction
can result. Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment
essential for health .
Question 9
What are the different organ systems in the body?
A. Skeletal, muscular, digestive, cardiovascular/respiratory, renal/urinary,
endocrine, nervous
B. Skeletal, muscular, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, endocrine
C. Muscular, skeletal, nervous, endocrine, digestive, respiratory, circulatory
D. Skeletal, muscular, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, nervous
Answer: A
Rationale: The major organ systems include skeletal, muscular, digestive,
cardiovascular/respiratory, renal/urinary, endocrine, and nervous systems .
Question 10
What are the major organs in the skeletal system?
A. Skeletal muscles and associated tendons
3pg.
, B. Bones, cartilage, bone marrow
C. Heart, blood, blood vessels
D. Brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves
Answer: B
Rationale: The skeletal system consists of bones, cartilage, and bone marrow.
Bones provide support, protection, and mineral storage .
Question 11
How many bones are in the adult human body?
A. 106 bones
B. 206 bones
C. 300 bones
D. 500 bones
Answer: B
Rationale: The adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones, providing structure,
protection, and support .
Question 12
What are the functions of the skeletal system?
A. Provides movement and generates heat
B. Provides support, protection, stores calcium/other minerals, forms blood cells
C. Processes food and absorbs nutrients
D. Regulates breathing and blood pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: The skeletal system provides support, protects organs, stores calcium
and other minerals, and produces blood cells (hematopoiesis) .
Question 13
How is skeletal muscle organized?
A. Muscle attached directly to bone
B. Muscle attached to tendon, tendon attached to bone
C. Muscle attached to ligament, ligament attached to bone
D. Muscle attached to cartilage, cartilage attached to bone
Answer: B
Rationale: Skeletal muscle is attached to bones via tendons, which transfer force
from the muscle to the skeleton for movement .
4pg.
Practice Exam | Complete Study Guide with
Actual Exam Questions, Verified Correct
Answers and Detailed Rationales | Latest Update
2026/2027 – Already Graded A+
Question 1
What is the correct order for the levels of organization in the human body, starting
with the simplest?
A. Cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism
B. Molecule → macromolecule → organelle → cell → tissue → organ → organ
system → organism
C. Atom → molecule → cell → tissue → organ → organism
D. Organelle → cell → tissue → organ → organ system → molecule
Answer: B
Rationale: The hierarchy of biological organization begins at the molecular level
and progresses to the whole organism. This is a foundational concept in physiology
that establishes the relationship between structure and function at each level .
Question 2
What is the definition of anatomy?
A. The study of how the body works
B. The study of disease and its causes
C. The study of structure (Greek for "a cutting up")
D. The study of chemical processes within cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Anatomy is derived from Greek meaning "a cutting up" and refers to
the study of body structure. Physiology, in contrast, is the study of function .
Question 3
Which of the following is the correct definition of physiology?
A. The study of structure (Greek for "a cutting up")
B. The study of function (Greek for "relationship to nature")
1pg.
,C. The study of disease and its causes
D. The study of microscopic structures of tissues
Answer: B
Rationale: Physiology is the study of how the body functions, derived from Greek
meaning "relationship to nature." Structure is always related to function in the
human body .
Question 4
Structure is ALWAYS related to which of the following?
A. Shape
B. Size
C. Function
D. Location
Answer: C
Rationale: In anatomy and physiology, the form and arrangement of a structure
determines its functional capabilities. This is a fundamental principle of
physiology .
Question 5
What are the characteristics of life?
A. Respiration, digestion, absorption, assimilation, circulation, excretion
B. Respiration, metabolism, reproduction, growth, movement
C. Digestion, circulation, reproduction, adaptation, response
D. Absorption, assimilation, reproduction, growth, excretion
Answer: A
Rationale: The basic characteristics of life include respiration, digestion,
absorption, assimilation, circulation, and excretion .
Question 6
What are the main goals of respiration?
A. Filtering waste products from the blood
B. Obtaining oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the body
C. Digesting food and absorbing nutrients
D. Pumping blood throughout the circulatory system
Answer: B
Rationale: Respiration involves gas exchange: obtaining oxygen for cellular
metabolism and removing carbon dioxide waste from the body .
2pg.
,Question 7
What is the definition of assimilation in the body?
A. The movement of substances across cell membranes without energy
B. The breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones for energy
C. Changing absorbed substances into chemically different forms
D. The elimination of indigestible waste materials from the body
Answer: C
Rationale: Assimilation is the process by which absorbed nutrients are converted
into chemically different forms that can be used by the body's cells .
Question 8
What happens when homeostasis is disrupted?
A. Obesity occurs
B. The stomach is bypassed
C. Disease and organ system malfunction
D. Heart attack occurs
Answer: C
Rationale: When homeostasis is disrupted, disease and organ system malfunction
can result. Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment
essential for health .
Question 9
What are the different organ systems in the body?
A. Skeletal, muscular, digestive, cardiovascular/respiratory, renal/urinary,
endocrine, nervous
B. Skeletal, muscular, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, endocrine
C. Muscular, skeletal, nervous, endocrine, digestive, respiratory, circulatory
D. Skeletal, muscular, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, nervous
Answer: A
Rationale: The major organ systems include skeletal, muscular, digestive,
cardiovascular/respiratory, renal/urinary, endocrine, and nervous systems .
Question 10
What are the major organs in the skeletal system?
A. Skeletal muscles and associated tendons
3pg.
, B. Bones, cartilage, bone marrow
C. Heart, blood, blood vessels
D. Brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves
Answer: B
Rationale: The skeletal system consists of bones, cartilage, and bone marrow.
Bones provide support, protection, and mineral storage .
Question 11
How many bones are in the adult human body?
A. 106 bones
B. 206 bones
C. 300 bones
D. 500 bones
Answer: B
Rationale: The adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones, providing structure,
protection, and support .
Question 12
What are the functions of the skeletal system?
A. Provides movement and generates heat
B. Provides support, protection, stores calcium/other minerals, forms blood cells
C. Processes food and absorbs nutrients
D. Regulates breathing and blood pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: The skeletal system provides support, protects organs, stores calcium
and other minerals, and produces blood cells (hematopoiesis) .
Question 13
How is skeletal muscle organized?
A. Muscle attached directly to bone
B. Muscle attached to tendon, tendon attached to bone
C. Muscle attached to ligament, ligament attached to bone
D. Muscle attached to cartilage, cartilage attached to bone
Answer: B
Rationale: Skeletal muscle is attached to bones via tendons, which transfer force
from the muscle to the skeleton for movement .
4pg.
