BIOL251 Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/Lab
Final Exam Review | 80+ Questions and Answers
with Rationales 2025\26
Part I: Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology and Basic Chemistry
1. Which of the following best describes the anatomical position?
A. Body lying face down, arms at sides.
B. Body standing erect, feet parallel, palms facing forward.
C. Body lying face up, arms crossed.
D. Body standing erect, feet together, palms facing posteriorly.
Answer: B
Rationale: The anatomical position is a standardized reference point where the body is erect, feet
slightly apart, and palms face forward. All directional terms (superior, inferior, medial, lateral) are based
on this position .
2. The study of the body's internal structures as they relate to the overlying skin surface is called
_____ .
A. Cytology
B. Systemic anatomy
C. Surface anatomy
D. Regional anatomy
Answer: C
Rationale: Surface anatomy focuses on internal structures in relation to the skin surface (e.g., feeling a
pulse point). Cytology is the study of cells, while systemic and regional anatomy are different
approaches to studying body structures.
3. A cut that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is a _____ plane.
A. Sagittal
B. Frontal (coronal)
C. Transverse (horizontal)
D. Parasagittal
Answer: C
Rationale: A transverse (or horizontal) plane runs horizontally, dividing the body into top (superior) and
bottom (inferior) parts .
,4. The heart is _____ to the lungs.
A. Lateral
B. Distal
C. Medial
D. Anterior
Answer: C
Rationale: Medial means toward the midline of the body. The heart is located between the two lungs,
making it medial to them.
5. Maintaining a stable internal environment is called _____ .
A. Metabolism
B. Homeostasis
C. Responsiveness
D. Differentiation
Answer: B
Rationale: Homeostasis is the dynamic state of equilibrium or balance within the body's internal
environment, maintained through feedback loops .
6. Which feedback mechanism amplifies a change away from the set point?
A. Negative feedback
B. Homeostatic feedback
C. Neutral feedback
D. Positive feedback
Answer: D
Rationale: Positive feedback enhances the initial stimulus, moving the system further away from
homeostasis. Examples include childbirth (oxytocin release) and blood clotting .
7. Match the following elements to their approximate percentage of body mass:
1. Oxygen (O) A. 18.5%
2. Carbon (C) B. 65%
3. Hydrogen (H) C. 3.2%
4. Nitrogen (N) D. 9.5%
Answer: 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C
Rationale: Oxygen (65%) and Carbon (18.5%) are the two most abundant elements in the body, followed
by Hydrogen (9.5%) and Nitrogen (3.2%) .
8. The smallest structural and functional unit of life is the _____ .
A. Atom
B. Molecule
C. Cell
D. Tissue
, Answer: C
Rationale: The cell is the basic unit of life. Atoms and molecules are chemical levels, and tissues are
groups of similar cells .
Part II: Cellular Biology & Histology
9. What type of cells build the tissues of the human body?
A. Prokaryotic cells
B. Eukaryotic cells
C. Viral particles
D. Bacterial cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Human cells are eukaryotic, meaning they possess a true nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles .
10. Which organelle is responsible for converting chemical energy from food into ATP?
A. Nucleus
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Golgi apparatus
Answer: C
Rationale: The mitochondria are often called the "powerhouses" of the cell because they generate ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) through aerobic cellular respiration .
11. Where does protein synthesis occur?
A. In the nucleus
B. On ribosomes
C. In lysosomes
D. On the Golgi apparatus
Answer: B
Rationale: Ribosomes, which can be free in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough ER, are the sites
where mRNA is translated into proteins .
12. Tay-Sachs disease results from a malfunctioning lysosome that cannot break down a specific lipid.
This leads to a buildup of toxic lipids in brain cells. Which organelle is primarily affected?
A. Mitochondria
B. Nucleus
C. Lysosome
D. Peroxisome
Answer: C
Rationale: Lysosomes are membranous sacs containing digestive enzymes to break down old organelles
and foreign bodies. In Tay-Sachs, a missing enzyme causes toxic lipid accumulation .
Final Exam Review | 80+ Questions and Answers
with Rationales 2025\26
Part I: Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology and Basic Chemistry
1. Which of the following best describes the anatomical position?
A. Body lying face down, arms at sides.
B. Body standing erect, feet parallel, palms facing forward.
C. Body lying face up, arms crossed.
D. Body standing erect, feet together, palms facing posteriorly.
Answer: B
Rationale: The anatomical position is a standardized reference point where the body is erect, feet
slightly apart, and palms face forward. All directional terms (superior, inferior, medial, lateral) are based
on this position .
2. The study of the body's internal structures as they relate to the overlying skin surface is called
_____ .
A. Cytology
B. Systemic anatomy
C. Surface anatomy
D. Regional anatomy
Answer: C
Rationale: Surface anatomy focuses on internal structures in relation to the skin surface (e.g., feeling a
pulse point). Cytology is the study of cells, while systemic and regional anatomy are different
approaches to studying body structures.
3. A cut that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is a _____ plane.
A. Sagittal
B. Frontal (coronal)
C. Transverse (horizontal)
D. Parasagittal
Answer: C
Rationale: A transverse (or horizontal) plane runs horizontally, dividing the body into top (superior) and
bottom (inferior) parts .
,4. The heart is _____ to the lungs.
A. Lateral
B. Distal
C. Medial
D. Anterior
Answer: C
Rationale: Medial means toward the midline of the body. The heart is located between the two lungs,
making it medial to them.
5. Maintaining a stable internal environment is called _____ .
A. Metabolism
B. Homeostasis
C. Responsiveness
D. Differentiation
Answer: B
Rationale: Homeostasis is the dynamic state of equilibrium or balance within the body's internal
environment, maintained through feedback loops .
6. Which feedback mechanism amplifies a change away from the set point?
A. Negative feedback
B. Homeostatic feedback
C. Neutral feedback
D. Positive feedback
Answer: D
Rationale: Positive feedback enhances the initial stimulus, moving the system further away from
homeostasis. Examples include childbirth (oxytocin release) and blood clotting .
7. Match the following elements to their approximate percentage of body mass:
1. Oxygen (O) A. 18.5%
2. Carbon (C) B. 65%
3. Hydrogen (H) C. 3.2%
4. Nitrogen (N) D. 9.5%
Answer: 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C
Rationale: Oxygen (65%) and Carbon (18.5%) are the two most abundant elements in the body, followed
by Hydrogen (9.5%) and Nitrogen (3.2%) .
8. The smallest structural and functional unit of life is the _____ .
A. Atom
B. Molecule
C. Cell
D. Tissue
, Answer: C
Rationale: The cell is the basic unit of life. Atoms and molecules are chemical levels, and tissues are
groups of similar cells .
Part II: Cellular Biology & Histology
9. What type of cells build the tissues of the human body?
A. Prokaryotic cells
B. Eukaryotic cells
C. Viral particles
D. Bacterial cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Human cells are eukaryotic, meaning they possess a true nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles .
10. Which organelle is responsible for converting chemical energy from food into ATP?
A. Nucleus
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Golgi apparatus
Answer: C
Rationale: The mitochondria are often called the "powerhouses" of the cell because they generate ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) through aerobic cellular respiration .
11. Where does protein synthesis occur?
A. In the nucleus
B. On ribosomes
C. In lysosomes
D. On the Golgi apparatus
Answer: B
Rationale: Ribosomes, which can be free in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough ER, are the sites
where mRNA is translated into proteins .
12. Tay-Sachs disease results from a malfunctioning lysosome that cannot break down a specific lipid.
This leads to a buildup of toxic lipids in brain cells. Which organelle is primarily affected?
A. Mitochondria
B. Nucleus
C. Lysosome
D. Peroxisome
Answer: C
Rationale: Lysosomes are membranous sacs containing digestive enzymes to break down old organelles
and foreign bodies. In Tay-Sachs, a missing enzyme causes toxic lipid accumulation .
