APHY 101 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2026 | Human Anatomy and
Physiology I | 100 Questions & Correct Answers | Ivy Tech
Indianapolis | Brand New | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Introduction to A&P / Homeostasis / Chemistry (Questions 1–12)
Q1: A patient is running a fever of 102°F. The hypothalamus triggers sweating and
vasodilation to lower body temperature. Which type of feedback mechanism is being
described?
A. Positive feedback
B. Negative feedback [CORRECT]
C. Neutral feedback
D. Feed-forward mechanism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For the APHY 101 final exam at Ivy Tech, remember that negative feedback is
the most common homeostatic mechanism—it's like a thermostat that shuts off the
heater when the room gets warm enough. Here, the body is responding to high
temperature by activating cooling mechanisms to bring temperature back down to
,normal. Positive feedback would amplify the change (like childbirth or blood clotting),
which is the opposite of what's happening here.
Q2: A cell is placed in a solution where water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink.
Which term describes this solution relative to the cell?
A. Hypotonic
B. Isotonic
C. Hypertonic [CORRECT]
D. Osmotic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than the cell, so
water moves out of the cell by osmosis to balance the concentration gradient. This
causes the cell to shrink or crenate. A hypotonic solution would make the cell swell and
possibly burst, and isotonic means equal concentrations with no net water movement.
A common final exam trap is confusing which direction water moves—remember water
follows the solutes.
,Q3: During childbirth, uterine contractions stimulate oxytocin release, which causes
stronger contractions, which stimulate more oxytocin. Which feedback mechanism is
this?
A. Negative feedback
B. Positive feedback [CORRECT]
C. Neutral feedback
D. Adaptive feedback
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: That's right because positive feedback amplifies the initial stimulus rather
than reversing it. Childbirth is the classic example—contractions build on each other
until the baby is delivered. Blood clotting is another positive feedback example where
platelets keep recruiting more platelets. Most homeostatic processes use negative
feedback, but positive feedback is used when the goal is to complete a process quickly
rather than maintain stability.
Q4: Which plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions?
A. Sagittal plane
B. Coronal (frontal) plane [CORRECT]
, C. Transverse plane
D. Median plane
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The coronal or frontal plane divides the body into front (anterior) and back
(posterior) portions. The sagittal plane divides left from right, the transverse plane
divides superior from inferior, and the median plane is a specific sagittal plane right
down the midline. When studying for the final, try visualizing each plane with your
hand—it's easier to remember when you can picture it.
Q5: Which inorganic compound is the most abundant in the human body and serves as
the universal solvent for biochemical reactions?
A. Oxygen
B. Carbon dioxide
C. Water [CORRECT]
D. Sodium chloride
Correct Answer: C
Physiology I | 100 Questions & Correct Answers | Ivy Tech
Indianapolis | Brand New | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Introduction to A&P / Homeostasis / Chemistry (Questions 1–12)
Q1: A patient is running a fever of 102°F. The hypothalamus triggers sweating and
vasodilation to lower body temperature. Which type of feedback mechanism is being
described?
A. Positive feedback
B. Negative feedback [CORRECT]
C. Neutral feedback
D. Feed-forward mechanism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For the APHY 101 final exam at Ivy Tech, remember that negative feedback is
the most common homeostatic mechanism—it's like a thermostat that shuts off the
heater when the room gets warm enough. Here, the body is responding to high
temperature by activating cooling mechanisms to bring temperature back down to
,normal. Positive feedback would amplify the change (like childbirth or blood clotting),
which is the opposite of what's happening here.
Q2: A cell is placed in a solution where water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink.
Which term describes this solution relative to the cell?
A. Hypotonic
B. Isotonic
C. Hypertonic [CORRECT]
D. Osmotic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than the cell, so
water moves out of the cell by osmosis to balance the concentration gradient. This
causes the cell to shrink or crenate. A hypotonic solution would make the cell swell and
possibly burst, and isotonic means equal concentrations with no net water movement.
A common final exam trap is confusing which direction water moves—remember water
follows the solutes.
,Q3: During childbirth, uterine contractions stimulate oxytocin release, which causes
stronger contractions, which stimulate more oxytocin. Which feedback mechanism is
this?
A. Negative feedback
B. Positive feedback [CORRECT]
C. Neutral feedback
D. Adaptive feedback
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: That's right because positive feedback amplifies the initial stimulus rather
than reversing it. Childbirth is the classic example—contractions build on each other
until the baby is delivered. Blood clotting is another positive feedback example where
platelets keep recruiting more platelets. Most homeostatic processes use negative
feedback, but positive feedback is used when the goal is to complete a process quickly
rather than maintain stability.
Q4: Which plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions?
A. Sagittal plane
B. Coronal (frontal) plane [CORRECT]
, C. Transverse plane
D. Median plane
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The coronal or frontal plane divides the body into front (anterior) and back
(posterior) portions. The sagittal plane divides left from right, the transverse plane
divides superior from inferior, and the median plane is a specific sagittal plane right
down the midline. When studying for the final, try visualizing each plane with your
hand—it's easier to remember when you can picture it.
Q5: Which inorganic compound is the most abundant in the human body and serves as
the universal solvent for biochemical reactions?
A. Oxygen
B. Carbon dioxide
C. Water [CORRECT]
D. Sodium chloride
Correct Answer: C
