HS Anatomy & Physiology practice questions and exam guide

Which is an example of negative feedback?

1. Sweating when body temperature rises
2. Oxytocin strengthening contractions during labor
3. Platelets attracting more platelets to a cut
4. A fever rising further as infection spreads

Answer: A — Sweating when body temperature rises

A) Correct — The response (cooling) reverses the change (heating). B) Amplifies the change, which is positive feedback. C) Amplifies the change, which is positive feedback. D) A change growing larger is not a corrective response.

Which epithelium forms the outer skin, where protection from abrasion matters most?

1. Simple squamous
2. Simple columnar
3. Transitional
4. Stratified squamous

Answer: D — Stratified squamous

D) Correct — Many layers of flat cells can be worn away and replaced. A) A single thin layer would tear easily. B) Lines the stomach and intestines. C) Lines the bladder, letting it stretch.

A burn that blisters and damages the epidermis and part of the dermis is a:

1. second-degree burn
2. first-degree burn
3. third-degree burn
4. fourth-degree burn

Answer: A — second-degree burn

A) Correct — Partial-thickness burns are painful and blister. B) Affects only the epidermis, like a mild sunburn. C) Destroys the full thickness of the skin, often without pain. D) Extends into muscle or bone.

Lengthwise growth of a long bone happens at the:

1. diaphysis (shaft)
2. epiphyseal (growth) plate
3. periosteum (outer covering)
4. medullary (marrow) cavity

Answer: B — epiphyseal (growth) plate

B) Correct — Cartilage there grows and is replaced by bone until adulthood. A) The shaft grows wider, not longer. C) This outer membrane adds width. D) Is the hollow center holding marrow.

According to the sliding filament model, during contraction:

1. actin and myosin filaments each shrink in length
2. actin slides past myosin, shortening the sarcomere
3. myosin slides out of the sarcomere entirely
4. the Z lines move apart, lengthening the sarcomere

Answer: B — actin slides past myosin, shortening the sarcomere

B) Correct — The filaments keep their length; their overlap increases. A) The filaments stay the same length. C) The filaments overlap more, not less. D) Z lines move closer together.

At a chemical synapse, a signal crosses the synaptic cleft when:

1. neurotransmitters bind receptors on the next cell
2. the action potential jumps directly across the gap
3. the two neurons fuse together
4. hormones carry it through the blood

Answer: A — neurotransmitters bind receptors on the next cell

A) Correct — Ca²⁺ entry triggers their release from the axon terminal. B) At chemical synapses the signal is carried by chemicals. C) A cleft separates the cells. D) Describes endocrine signaling.

Cortisol, a long-term stress hormone, is made by the:

1. adrenal medulla
2. adrenal cortex
3. pancreas
4. posterior pituitary

Answer: B — adrenal cortex

B) Correct — The outer adrenal gland also makes aldosterone. A) Makes epinephrine and norepinephrine. C) Makes insulin and glucagon. D) Releases ADH and oxytocin.

The heart's natural pacemaker is the:

1. AV node
2. bundle of His
3. Purkinje fibers
4. SA node

Answer: D — SA node

D) Correct — The sinoatrial node starts each heartbeat in the right atrium. A) Delays the signal so the atria finish contracting. B) Carries the signal down the septum. C) Spread the signal through the ventricles.

Which blood type is called the universal recipient?

1. AB⁺
2. O⁻
3. A⁺
4. B⁻

Answer: A — AB⁺

A) Correct — It has no anti-A, anti-B, or anti-Rh antibodies to attack donor cells. B) Is the universal donor. C) Has anti-B antibodies. D) Has anti-A antibodies.

What keeps food from entering the trachea when you swallow?

1. The epiglottis
2. The diaphragm
3. The uvula
4. The vocal cords alone

Answer: A — The epiglottis

A) Correct — It folds over the opening of the larynx. B) Drives breathing. C) Helps close off the nasal cavity. D) They help but are not the main cover.

The pancreas releases bicarbonate into the small intestine to:

1. digest proteins directly
2. emulsify fats
3. neutralize stomach acid
4. absorb water

Answer: C — neutralize stomach acid

C) Correct — Intestinal enzymes work best near neutral pH. A) Trypsin and other enzymes do this. B) Bile does this. D) The large intestine does most of this.

Urine flows from the kidney to the outside in which order?

1. Urethra → bladder → ureter
2. Bladder → ureter → urethra
3. Ureter → urethra → bladder
4. Ureter → bladder → urethra

Answer: D — Ureter → bladder → urethra

D) Correct — Ureters drain each kidney into the bladder. A) Reverses the order. B) Ureters come before the bladder. C) The bladder stores urine before it leaves.

The placenta lets the mother and fetus exchange gases and nutrients while:

1. keeping their blood separate
2. fully mixing their blood
3. blocking all substances
4. pumping blood for the fetus

Answer: A — keeping their blood separate

A) Correct — Substances diffuse across thin membranes. B) Their blood does not normally mix. C) Oxygen, nutrients, and wastes cross. D) The fetal heart pumps fetal blood.

Bone cells?

Osteoblasts (build), osteoclasts (break down), osteocytes (mature).

Pituitary gland?

'Master gland.' Controls others. Anterior + posterior lobes.

Taste buds?

On tongue. Detect sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami.

Pregnancy timeline?

About 40 weeks (9 months). Three trimesters.

Spine — identify the highlighted vertebra.

C7 (vertebra prominens) — seventh and last cervical vertebra. Has a distinctively long, non-bifid spinous process you can feel at the base of the neck (the most prominent bump). Often used as a landmark for counting vertebrae during physical exams.

Glucose in urine?

Normally all filtered glucose is reabsorbed. Glucose in urine means blood glucose is so high the tubules cannot reabsorb it all, a sign of diabetes.