BIOL 252 Human Anatomy & Physiology
II w/Lab | Module 1 Exam Review real
2025\26
Format: Multiple Choice, True/False, Fill-in-the-Blank, Matching, and Essay Questions
Instructor Notes
This exam review is designed to assess your understanding of the endocrine system, including hormone
classification, gland anatomy, feedback loops, and pathology. Each question is followed by the correct
answer and a detailed rationale to support your study for the 2025 academic year.
Part I: Multiple Choice Questions (1-45)
1. Which of the following is a primary function of the endocrine system?
a) Rapid communication via nerve impulses
b) Transport of oxygen to tissues
c) Regulation of metabolic processes via hormones
d) Physical protection of internal organs
Answer: c) Regulation of metabolic processes via hormones
Rationale: The endocrine system uses hormones as chemical messengers to regulate slow, prolonged
processes like metabolism, growth, and development. The nervous system is responsible for rapid
communication.
2. The term "autocrine signaling" refers to a hormone acting on:
a) Adjacent cells
b) The same cell that secreted it
c) Distant target cells via the bloodstream
d) Nerve cells only
Answer: b) The same cell that secreted it
Rationale: Autocrine signals affect the very cells that release them. Paracrine signals act on neighboring
cells, while endocrine signals travel through the blood to distant targets.
3. Which class of hormones is lipid-soluble and can cross the plasma membrane directly?
a) Peptide hormones
b) Steroid hormones
,c) Amino acid derivatives (modified)
d) Protein hormones
Answer: b) Steroid hormones
Rationale: Steroid hormones (e.g., cortisol, estrogen) are derived from cholesterol and are lipid-soluble,
allowing them to diffuse through the phospholipid bilayer of target cells.
4. How do water-soluble hormones typically initiate a response in a target cell?
a) Diffusing through the nuclear membrane
b) Binding to intracellular cytoplasmic receptors
c) Binding to receptors on the cell surface, activating a second messenger system
d) Directly activating DNA transcription
Answer: c) Binding to receptors on the cell surface, activating a second messenger system
Rationale: Water-soluble hormones (peptides/proteins) cannot cross the membrane. They bind to
external receptors, which then trigger a second messenger cascade (like cAMP) inside the cell.
5. The hypophyseal portal system connects the:
a) Hypothalamus and posterior pituitary
b) Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
c) Anterior pituitary and thyroid gland
d) Posterior pituitary and kidneys
Answer: b) Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
Rationale: This specialized blood supply carries releasing and inhibiting hormones directly from the
hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary for rapid regulation of hormone secretion.
6. Which hormone is stored in the posterior pituitary but produced by the hypothalamus?
a) Growth Hormone (GH)
b) Prolactin (PRL)
c) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
d) Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
Answer: c) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
Rationale: The posterior pituitary does not synthesize hormones; it stores and releases ADH and
oxytocin, both of which are manufactured in the hypothalamus.
7. A patient presents with excessive thirst (polydipsia) and urination (polyuria). This is most indicative
of a deficiency in:
a) Insulin
b) Aldosterone
c) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
d) Cortisol
Answer: c) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
Rationale: ADH signals the kidneys to reabsorb water. A deficiency (Diabetes Insipidus) leads to water
loss in urine, triggering thirst to compensate for dehydration.
, 8. Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) targets the:
a) Thyroid gland
b) Posterior pituitary
c) Hypothalamus
d) Anterior pituitary
Answer: d) Anterior pituitary
Rationale: TRH is a hypothalamic releasing hormone that stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
9. Which hormone acts to lower blood calcium levels?
a) Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
b) Calcitonin
c) Vitamin D
d) Thyroxine (T4)
Answer: b) Calcitonin
Rationale: Calcitonin, released by the parafollicular cells (C-cells) of the thyroid, inhibits osteoclast
activity and promotes calcium deposition in bone, lowering blood Ca²⁺.
10. The parathyroid glands are primarily responsible for regulating blood levels of:
a) Sodium
b) Glucose
c) Calcium
d) Potassium
Answer: c) Calcium
Rationale: Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) is the primary regulator of blood calcium. It increases Ca²⁺ by
stimulating bone resorption, kidney reabsorption, and activation of Vitamin D.
11. The "beta cells" of the pancreatic islets secrete:
a) Glucagon
b) Insulin
c) Somatostatin
d) Pancreatic polypeptide
Answer: b) Insulin
Rationale: Beta cells are sensitive to high blood glucose and respond by secreting insulin to lower blood
sugar. Alpha cells secrete glucagon to raise blood sugar.
12. Which of the following is a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex?
a) Epinephrine
b) Aldosterone
c) Cortisol
d) Norepinephrine
II w/Lab | Module 1 Exam Review real
2025\26
Format: Multiple Choice, True/False, Fill-in-the-Blank, Matching, and Essay Questions
Instructor Notes
This exam review is designed to assess your understanding of the endocrine system, including hormone
classification, gland anatomy, feedback loops, and pathology. Each question is followed by the correct
answer and a detailed rationale to support your study for the 2025 academic year.
Part I: Multiple Choice Questions (1-45)
1. Which of the following is a primary function of the endocrine system?
a) Rapid communication via nerve impulses
b) Transport of oxygen to tissues
c) Regulation of metabolic processes via hormones
d) Physical protection of internal organs
Answer: c) Regulation of metabolic processes via hormones
Rationale: The endocrine system uses hormones as chemical messengers to regulate slow, prolonged
processes like metabolism, growth, and development. The nervous system is responsible for rapid
communication.
2. The term "autocrine signaling" refers to a hormone acting on:
a) Adjacent cells
b) The same cell that secreted it
c) Distant target cells via the bloodstream
d) Nerve cells only
Answer: b) The same cell that secreted it
Rationale: Autocrine signals affect the very cells that release them. Paracrine signals act on neighboring
cells, while endocrine signals travel through the blood to distant targets.
3. Which class of hormones is lipid-soluble and can cross the plasma membrane directly?
a) Peptide hormones
b) Steroid hormones
,c) Amino acid derivatives (modified)
d) Protein hormones
Answer: b) Steroid hormones
Rationale: Steroid hormones (e.g., cortisol, estrogen) are derived from cholesterol and are lipid-soluble,
allowing them to diffuse through the phospholipid bilayer of target cells.
4. How do water-soluble hormones typically initiate a response in a target cell?
a) Diffusing through the nuclear membrane
b) Binding to intracellular cytoplasmic receptors
c) Binding to receptors on the cell surface, activating a second messenger system
d) Directly activating DNA transcription
Answer: c) Binding to receptors on the cell surface, activating a second messenger system
Rationale: Water-soluble hormones (peptides/proteins) cannot cross the membrane. They bind to
external receptors, which then trigger a second messenger cascade (like cAMP) inside the cell.
5. The hypophyseal portal system connects the:
a) Hypothalamus and posterior pituitary
b) Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
c) Anterior pituitary and thyroid gland
d) Posterior pituitary and kidneys
Answer: b) Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
Rationale: This specialized blood supply carries releasing and inhibiting hormones directly from the
hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary for rapid regulation of hormone secretion.
6. Which hormone is stored in the posterior pituitary but produced by the hypothalamus?
a) Growth Hormone (GH)
b) Prolactin (PRL)
c) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
d) Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
Answer: c) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
Rationale: The posterior pituitary does not synthesize hormones; it stores and releases ADH and
oxytocin, both of which are manufactured in the hypothalamus.
7. A patient presents with excessive thirst (polydipsia) and urination (polyuria). This is most indicative
of a deficiency in:
a) Insulin
b) Aldosterone
c) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
d) Cortisol
Answer: c) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
Rationale: ADH signals the kidneys to reabsorb water. A deficiency (Diabetes Insipidus) leads to water
loss in urine, triggering thirst to compensate for dehydration.
, 8. Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) targets the:
a) Thyroid gland
b) Posterior pituitary
c) Hypothalamus
d) Anterior pituitary
Answer: d) Anterior pituitary
Rationale: TRH is a hypothalamic releasing hormone that stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
9. Which hormone acts to lower blood calcium levels?
a) Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
b) Calcitonin
c) Vitamin D
d) Thyroxine (T4)
Answer: b) Calcitonin
Rationale: Calcitonin, released by the parafollicular cells (C-cells) of the thyroid, inhibits osteoclast
activity and promotes calcium deposition in bone, lowering blood Ca²⁺.
10. The parathyroid glands are primarily responsible for regulating blood levels of:
a) Sodium
b) Glucose
c) Calcium
d) Potassium
Answer: c) Calcium
Rationale: Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) is the primary regulator of blood calcium. It increases Ca²⁺ by
stimulating bone resorption, kidney reabsorption, and activation of Vitamin D.
11. The "beta cells" of the pancreatic islets secrete:
a) Glucagon
b) Insulin
c) Somatostatin
d) Pancreatic polypeptide
Answer: b) Insulin
Rationale: Beta cells are sensitive to high blood glucose and respond by secreting insulin to lower blood
sugar. Alpha cells secrete glucagon to raise blood sugar.
12. Which of the following is a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex?
a) Epinephrine
b) Aldosterone
c) Cortisol
d) Norepinephrine
