HESI A2 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY TEST
PAPER QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026
◉ infundibulum. Answer: connection between the hypothalamus
and the posterior pituitary gland
◉ osteoblasts. Answer: cells with single nuclei that synthesize bone
◉ progesterone. Answer: stimulates the development of the
endometrium
◉ sarcomeres. Answer: basic unit of a muscle
◉ median plane. Answer: midsagittal plane, middle of the body
◉ coronal plane/frontal plane. Answer: separates the front from the
back
◉ transverse plane. Answer: horizontal cut
,◉ anatomic position. Answer: standing erect, facing directly
forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, and arms hanging
down at the sides with palms facing forward
◉ superior. Answer: above
◉ inferior. Answer: below
◉ anterior. Answer: facing forward
◉ posterior. Answer: toward the back
◉ medial. Answer: toward the midline
◉ lateral. Answer: away from the midline
◉ proximal. Answer: closer to the point of attachment
◉ distal. Answer: further away from the point of attachment
◉ dorsal cavity. Answer: cranial and spinal cavities
,◉ ventral cavity. Answer: orbit, nasal, oral, thoracic, and
abdominopelvic cavities
◉ histology. Answer: the study of tissues
◉ tissue. Answer: a group of cells that act together to perform
specific functiosn
◉ four fundamental tissues. Answer: epithelial, connective, muscle,
and nerve tissues
◉ epithelial cells. Answer: cover, line, and protect the body and its
internal organs
◉ connective tissue. Answer: framework of the body providing
support and structure for the organs; located in the lymphoid
nodules
◉ nerve tissue. Answer: composed of neurons and connective tissue
cells called neuroglia
◉ neuroglia. Answer: non-neuronal cells that maintain homeostasis,
form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons in the
brain and peripheral nervous system
, ◉ muscle tissue. Answer: has the ability to contract or shorten;
voluntary or involuntary
◉ voluntary muscles. Answer: skeletal muscles
◉ involuntary muscles. Answer: smooth muscle and cardiac muscle
tissue
◉ cell. Answer: basic unit of life and the building block of tissue and
organs
◉ organelle. Answer: each has a specific function
◉ nucleus. Answer: contains deoxyribonucleic acid; important in the
synthesis of proteins
◉ ribosomes. Answer: protein synthesis
◉ enzymes. Answer: proteins that regulate all chemical reactions
within the body
PAPER QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026
◉ infundibulum. Answer: connection between the hypothalamus
and the posterior pituitary gland
◉ osteoblasts. Answer: cells with single nuclei that synthesize bone
◉ progesterone. Answer: stimulates the development of the
endometrium
◉ sarcomeres. Answer: basic unit of a muscle
◉ median plane. Answer: midsagittal plane, middle of the body
◉ coronal plane/frontal plane. Answer: separates the front from the
back
◉ transverse plane. Answer: horizontal cut
,◉ anatomic position. Answer: standing erect, facing directly
forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, and arms hanging
down at the sides with palms facing forward
◉ superior. Answer: above
◉ inferior. Answer: below
◉ anterior. Answer: facing forward
◉ posterior. Answer: toward the back
◉ medial. Answer: toward the midline
◉ lateral. Answer: away from the midline
◉ proximal. Answer: closer to the point of attachment
◉ distal. Answer: further away from the point of attachment
◉ dorsal cavity. Answer: cranial and spinal cavities
,◉ ventral cavity. Answer: orbit, nasal, oral, thoracic, and
abdominopelvic cavities
◉ histology. Answer: the study of tissues
◉ tissue. Answer: a group of cells that act together to perform
specific functiosn
◉ four fundamental tissues. Answer: epithelial, connective, muscle,
and nerve tissues
◉ epithelial cells. Answer: cover, line, and protect the body and its
internal organs
◉ connective tissue. Answer: framework of the body providing
support and structure for the organs; located in the lymphoid
nodules
◉ nerve tissue. Answer: composed of neurons and connective tissue
cells called neuroglia
◉ neuroglia. Answer: non-neuronal cells that maintain homeostasis,
form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons in the
brain and peripheral nervous system
, ◉ muscle tissue. Answer: has the ability to contract or shorten;
voluntary or involuntary
◉ voluntary muscles. Answer: skeletal muscles
◉ involuntary muscles. Answer: smooth muscle and cardiac muscle
tissue
◉ cell. Answer: basic unit of life and the building block of tissue and
organs
◉ organelle. Answer: each has a specific function
◉ nucleus. Answer: contains deoxyribonucleic acid; important in the
synthesis of proteins
◉ ribosomes. Answer: protein synthesis
◉ enzymes. Answer: proteins that regulate all chemical reactions
within the body
