NURSING 1002
ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
FINAL EXAM REVIEW 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS
(Chapters 1-16; with the exception of Chapter 14.)
Anatomy - ANSWER-the study of body structure and how they are related to one another.
Physiology - ANSWER-the study of body function; how the body parts work and perform life-
sustaining functions.
Homeostasis - ANSWER-the core of bodily functions; the dynamic state of equilibrium of the
body; its ability to maintain a stable environment relative to its internal conditions.
Negative Feedback Loop - ANSWER-results in a variable to change in such a way that is opposite
to the initial change, the ultimate goal of this mechanism is to prevent severe changes in the
body.
Positive Feedback Loop - ANSWER-enhances/amplifies changes, the variable will push further
and further away from the set-point. Typically, these mechanisms will have local effects, usually
at the site of the stimulus.
Axial Portion - ANSWER-refers to the head, neck, and trunk
Appendicular Portion - ANSWER-refers to the appendages; the upper and lower limbs.
Cervical - ANSWER-refers to the neck region
Sternal - ANSWER-refers to the breastbone region in the central part of the chest
Axillary - ANSWER-refers to the underarm area
Mammary - ANSWER-refers to the breast region, near the nipple
Umbilical - ANSWER-refers to the navel region; belly button
Inguinal - ANSWER-refers to the groin region
Acromial - ANSWER-refers to the top/point of the shoulder
Antecubital - ANSWER-refers to the anterior surface of the elbow
Patellar - ANSWER-refers to the kneecap; ventral area of the knee
Popliteal - ANSWER-refers to the posterior surface of the knee
,Crural - ANSWER-refers to the lower leg region
Calcaneal - ANSWER-refers to the heel of the foot
Plantar - ANSWER-refers to the sole (bottom) of the foot
Scapular - ANSWER-refers to the shoulder blade region
Vertebral - ANSWER-refers to the area of the spinal column
Lumbar - ANSWER-refers to the lower back region
Sacral - ANSWER-refers to the area above the tailbone and between the hip bones
Gluteal - ANSWER-refers to the buttock region
Perineal - ANSWER-refers to the region between the anus and external genitalia
Superior - ANSWER-toward the head or upper body regions
Inferior - ANSWER-away from the head, toward the lower part/structure of the body regions
Medial - ANSWER-toward or at the midline of the body; inner side of
Lateral - ANSWER-away from the midline of the body; outer side of
Proximal - ANSWER-closer to the point of attachment (of a body part) to the body trunk
Distal - ANSWER-farther from the point of attachment (of a body part) to the body trunk.
Median Plane - ANSWER-also known as the midsagittal plane; divides the body into equal right
and left halves.
Parasagittal plane - ANSWER-divides body into unequal right and left sides
Frontal Plane - ANSWER-also known as the coronal plane, divides the body into front and back
halves
Transverse Plane - ANSWER-also known as a cross-section; divides the body into upper and
lower halves.
Ventral cavity - ANSWER-Consists of the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities; contains all the
internal organs, collectively called viscera.
Serous Membrane - ANSWER-lines organs and cavities on the closed internal part of the body
Passive Transport - ANSWER-the movement of substances across the cell membrane without
the use of energy
, Diffusion - ANSWER-Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of
lower concentration, this will continue until an equilibrium is established.
Simple Diffusion - ANSWER-a process by which fat soluble substances pass directly through the
phospholipid bilayer; substances include oxygen, carbon dioxide, steroid hormones, and water.
Carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion - ANSWER-happens via a protein carrier that is specific to
one chemical; it changes shape to move the binding site from one face of the membrane to the
other.
Channel-mediated facilitated diffusion - ANSWER-happens via a channel protein, mostly
through ions that are selected on the basis of size and charge.
Osmosis - ANSWER-the movement of a solvent (usually water) across the plasma membrane.
This process occurs when there is a difference in solvent concentration of both sides of the
membrane.
Tonicity - ANSWER-refers to a solutions ability to change the shape of a cell, by changing the
internal water volume.
Hypotonic solution - ANSWER-considered to be dilute/weak since solute concentration inside
the cell is much higher than the solute concentration outside of the cell.
Cells present in these solutions will take on water and may eventually burst.
Hypertonic solution - ANSWER-considered to be more-so concentrated since the solute
concentration inside the cell is lower than the solute concentration outside the cell.
Cells present in these solutions will lose water and will shrink.
Isotonic Solution - ANSWER-considered to be neutral since the flow of solute in and out of the
cell is equal
Cells present in these solutions will remain the same and will retain their normal shape and size.
Active Transport - ANSWER-the process by which substances are moved across the membrane
against the concentration gradient, therefore energy (in the form of ATP) is required.
Hint: branches down into primary and secondary
Vesicular Transport - ANSWER-Involves transport of large particles, macromolecules, and fluids
across the membrane in membranous sacs called vesicles.
Exocytotsis - ANSWER-used by cells to excrete substances and is typically stimulated by a cell-
surface signal such as the binding of a hormone to a membrane receptor.
ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
FINAL EXAM REVIEW 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS
(Chapters 1-16; with the exception of Chapter 14.)
Anatomy - ANSWER-the study of body structure and how they are related to one another.
Physiology - ANSWER-the study of body function; how the body parts work and perform life-
sustaining functions.
Homeostasis - ANSWER-the core of bodily functions; the dynamic state of equilibrium of the
body; its ability to maintain a stable environment relative to its internal conditions.
Negative Feedback Loop - ANSWER-results in a variable to change in such a way that is opposite
to the initial change, the ultimate goal of this mechanism is to prevent severe changes in the
body.
Positive Feedback Loop - ANSWER-enhances/amplifies changes, the variable will push further
and further away from the set-point. Typically, these mechanisms will have local effects, usually
at the site of the stimulus.
Axial Portion - ANSWER-refers to the head, neck, and trunk
Appendicular Portion - ANSWER-refers to the appendages; the upper and lower limbs.
Cervical - ANSWER-refers to the neck region
Sternal - ANSWER-refers to the breastbone region in the central part of the chest
Axillary - ANSWER-refers to the underarm area
Mammary - ANSWER-refers to the breast region, near the nipple
Umbilical - ANSWER-refers to the navel region; belly button
Inguinal - ANSWER-refers to the groin region
Acromial - ANSWER-refers to the top/point of the shoulder
Antecubital - ANSWER-refers to the anterior surface of the elbow
Patellar - ANSWER-refers to the kneecap; ventral area of the knee
Popliteal - ANSWER-refers to the posterior surface of the knee
,Crural - ANSWER-refers to the lower leg region
Calcaneal - ANSWER-refers to the heel of the foot
Plantar - ANSWER-refers to the sole (bottom) of the foot
Scapular - ANSWER-refers to the shoulder blade region
Vertebral - ANSWER-refers to the area of the spinal column
Lumbar - ANSWER-refers to the lower back region
Sacral - ANSWER-refers to the area above the tailbone and between the hip bones
Gluteal - ANSWER-refers to the buttock region
Perineal - ANSWER-refers to the region between the anus and external genitalia
Superior - ANSWER-toward the head or upper body regions
Inferior - ANSWER-away from the head, toward the lower part/structure of the body regions
Medial - ANSWER-toward or at the midline of the body; inner side of
Lateral - ANSWER-away from the midline of the body; outer side of
Proximal - ANSWER-closer to the point of attachment (of a body part) to the body trunk
Distal - ANSWER-farther from the point of attachment (of a body part) to the body trunk.
Median Plane - ANSWER-also known as the midsagittal plane; divides the body into equal right
and left halves.
Parasagittal plane - ANSWER-divides body into unequal right and left sides
Frontal Plane - ANSWER-also known as the coronal plane, divides the body into front and back
halves
Transverse Plane - ANSWER-also known as a cross-section; divides the body into upper and
lower halves.
Ventral cavity - ANSWER-Consists of the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities; contains all the
internal organs, collectively called viscera.
Serous Membrane - ANSWER-lines organs and cavities on the closed internal part of the body
Passive Transport - ANSWER-the movement of substances across the cell membrane without
the use of energy
, Diffusion - ANSWER-Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of
lower concentration, this will continue until an equilibrium is established.
Simple Diffusion - ANSWER-a process by which fat soluble substances pass directly through the
phospholipid bilayer; substances include oxygen, carbon dioxide, steroid hormones, and water.
Carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion - ANSWER-happens via a protein carrier that is specific to
one chemical; it changes shape to move the binding site from one face of the membrane to the
other.
Channel-mediated facilitated diffusion - ANSWER-happens via a channel protein, mostly
through ions that are selected on the basis of size and charge.
Osmosis - ANSWER-the movement of a solvent (usually water) across the plasma membrane.
This process occurs when there is a difference in solvent concentration of both sides of the
membrane.
Tonicity - ANSWER-refers to a solutions ability to change the shape of a cell, by changing the
internal water volume.
Hypotonic solution - ANSWER-considered to be dilute/weak since solute concentration inside
the cell is much higher than the solute concentration outside of the cell.
Cells present in these solutions will take on water and may eventually burst.
Hypertonic solution - ANSWER-considered to be more-so concentrated since the solute
concentration inside the cell is lower than the solute concentration outside the cell.
Cells present in these solutions will lose water and will shrink.
Isotonic Solution - ANSWER-considered to be neutral since the flow of solute in and out of the
cell is equal
Cells present in these solutions will remain the same and will retain their normal shape and size.
Active Transport - ANSWER-the process by which substances are moved across the membrane
against the concentration gradient, therefore energy (in the form of ATP) is required.
Hint: branches down into primary and secondary
Vesicular Transport - ANSWER-Involves transport of large particles, macromolecules, and fluids
across the membrane in membranous sacs called vesicles.
Exocytotsis - ANSWER-used by cells to excrete substances and is typically stimulated by a cell-
surface signal such as the binding of a hormone to a membrane receptor.
