HESI A2 Anatomy & Physiology Practice Exam|
must know questions with verified answers 2026|
100% guaranteed pass
1. Which of the following best describes the anatomical position?
A. Standing upright, facing the observer, arms at the sides, palms facing
posteriorly.
B. Lying face up, arms at the sides, palms facing anteriorly.
C. Standing upright, facing the observer, arms at the sides, palms facing
anteriorly.
D. Standing upright, facing away from the observer, arms at the sides, palms
facing anteriorly.
Correct Answer: C. Standing upright, facing the observer, arms at the sides, palms
facing anteriorly. The anatomical position is a standardized reference point where
the body is erect, feet slightly apart, and palms face forward .
2. A cut that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is called a
_____ plane.
A. Sagittal
B. Coronal (frontal)
C. Transverse (horizontal)
D. Midsagittal
,Correct Answer: C. Transverse (horizontal). A transverse plane runs horizontally,
dividing the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) parts .
3. The term "popliteal" refers to the area _____ .
A. Behind the knee
B. In the elbow crease
C. Of the armpit
D. Of the groin
Correct Answer: A. Behind the knee. The popliteal region is the area posterior to
the knee joint .
4. If a structure is described as being "superficial," it means it is _____ .
A. Closer to the midline
B. Farther from the point of attachment
C. Closer to the surface of the body
D. Toward the back of the body
Correct Answer: C. Closer to the surface of the body. Superficial structures are
those located near the body's surface, while deep structures are internal.
5. The spinal cord is _____ to the vertebral column.
A. Anterior
B. Posterior
C. Lateral
D. Deep
,Correct Answer: A. Anterior. The spinal cord runs within the vertebral column but
is located towards the front (anterior) side of the bony canal. It is important to be
precise with directional terms.
Cells, Tissues, and Their Functions
6. What is the basic unit of life and the building block of all tissues and organs?
A. Atom
B. Organelle
C. Cell
D. Molecule
Correct Answer: C. Cell. The cell is the smallest structural and functional unit of an
organism that can be said to be alive .
7. Which organelle is responsible for ATP production, earning it the nickname
"powerhouse of the cell"?
A. Nucleus
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Mitochondrion
D. Ribosome
Correct Answer: C. Mitochondrion. Mitochondria are the sites of cellular
respiration, where glucose is broken down to produce adenosine triphosphate
(ATP), the cell's main energy currency .
8. What is the primary function of ribosomes?
A. Lipid synthesis
B. Protein synthesis
, C. DNA replication
D. Cellular transport
Correct Answer: B. Protein synthesis. Ribosomes, which can be found free in the
cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, translate genetic
information into polypeptide chains to build proteins .
9. Which process describes the movement of water across a semi-permeable
membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute
concentration?
A. Diffusion
B. Active transport
C. Osmosis
D. Facilitated diffusion
Correct Answer: C. Osmosis. Osmosis is the passive movement of water across a
membrane to equalize solute concentrations .
10. A tissue examined under a microscope reveals cells on the internal surface
of the stomach, with no extracellular matrix and no blood vessels. What type of
tissue is this?
A. Connective tissue
B. Muscle tissue
C. Epithelial tissue
D. Nervous tissue
Correct Answer: C. Epithelial tissue. Epithelial tissue lines internal and external
surfaces, is avascular (lacking blood vessels), and has a minimal extracellular
matrix .
must know questions with verified answers 2026|
100% guaranteed pass
1. Which of the following best describes the anatomical position?
A. Standing upright, facing the observer, arms at the sides, palms facing
posteriorly.
B. Lying face up, arms at the sides, palms facing anteriorly.
C. Standing upright, facing the observer, arms at the sides, palms facing
anteriorly.
D. Standing upright, facing away from the observer, arms at the sides, palms
facing anteriorly.
Correct Answer: C. Standing upright, facing the observer, arms at the sides, palms
facing anteriorly. The anatomical position is a standardized reference point where
the body is erect, feet slightly apart, and palms face forward .
2. A cut that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is called a
_____ plane.
A. Sagittal
B. Coronal (frontal)
C. Transverse (horizontal)
D. Midsagittal
,Correct Answer: C. Transverse (horizontal). A transverse plane runs horizontally,
dividing the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) parts .
3. The term "popliteal" refers to the area _____ .
A. Behind the knee
B. In the elbow crease
C. Of the armpit
D. Of the groin
Correct Answer: A. Behind the knee. The popliteal region is the area posterior to
the knee joint .
4. If a structure is described as being "superficial," it means it is _____ .
A. Closer to the midline
B. Farther from the point of attachment
C. Closer to the surface of the body
D. Toward the back of the body
Correct Answer: C. Closer to the surface of the body. Superficial structures are
those located near the body's surface, while deep structures are internal.
5. The spinal cord is _____ to the vertebral column.
A. Anterior
B. Posterior
C. Lateral
D. Deep
,Correct Answer: A. Anterior. The spinal cord runs within the vertebral column but
is located towards the front (anterior) side of the bony canal. It is important to be
precise with directional terms.
Cells, Tissues, and Their Functions
6. What is the basic unit of life and the building block of all tissues and organs?
A. Atom
B. Organelle
C. Cell
D. Molecule
Correct Answer: C. Cell. The cell is the smallest structural and functional unit of an
organism that can be said to be alive .
7. Which organelle is responsible for ATP production, earning it the nickname
"powerhouse of the cell"?
A. Nucleus
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Mitochondrion
D. Ribosome
Correct Answer: C. Mitochondrion. Mitochondria are the sites of cellular
respiration, where glucose is broken down to produce adenosine triphosphate
(ATP), the cell's main energy currency .
8. What is the primary function of ribosomes?
A. Lipid synthesis
B. Protein synthesis
, C. DNA replication
D. Cellular transport
Correct Answer: B. Protein synthesis. Ribosomes, which can be found free in the
cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, translate genetic
information into polypeptide chains to build proteins .
9. Which process describes the movement of water across a semi-permeable
membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute
concentration?
A. Diffusion
B. Active transport
C. Osmosis
D. Facilitated diffusion
Correct Answer: C. Osmosis. Osmosis is the passive movement of water across a
membrane to equalize solute concentrations .
10. A tissue examined under a microscope reveals cells on the internal surface
of the stomach, with no extracellular matrix and no blood vessels. What type of
tissue is this?
A. Connective tissue
B. Muscle tissue
C. Epithelial tissue
D. Nervous tissue
Correct Answer: C. Epithelial tissue. Epithelial tissue lines internal and external
surfaces, is avascular (lacking blood vessels), and has a minimal extracellular
matrix .
