HESI A2 Anatomy & Physiology V1/V2
2026| Actual Exam Questions and Verified
Answers
1. What is a characteristic of viral herpes?
Correct Answer: Skin Eruption
Explanation: Herpes viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) characteristically cause vesicular skin
eruptions or cold sores/blisters on the skin or mucous membranes.
2. When a boxer gets hit & has a deviated septum?
Correct Answer: Vomer (in nose)
Explanation: The vomer bone forms the inferior part of the nasal septum. Trauma can fracture or
displace it, causing a deviated septum.
3. Which of the following is a structure found in the upper respiratory?
Correct Answer: Pharynx
Explanation: The pharynx (throat) is part of the upper respiratory tract, serving as a common
passageway for air and food.
4. A person who has damage to their ulnar nerve will have decreased sensation in?
Correct Answer: Arm, inability to abduct arms and fingers
Explanation: Ulnar nerve damage (often at the elbow) causes sensory loss on the medial hand
and weakness in finger abduction/adduction (intrinsic hand muscles).
5. Which bone does not articulate with any other bone?
Correct Answer: Hyoid Bone
Explanation: The hyoid bone is unique because it is suspended by ligaments and muscles in the
neck and does not form a joint with any other bone.
6. Which of the following statements best describes endocrine glands?
Correct Answer: They secrete chemicals into the blood, growth, metabolism, sexual
development and function
,Explanation: Endocrine glands are ductless and release hormones directly into the bloodstream
to regulate growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
7. Diet is important because bone are storage places for?
Correct Answer: Calcium & Phosphorus
Explanation: Bones act as a reservoir for calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for bone
strength, muscle contraction, and nerve function.
8. Which organ is part of both the male reproductive system and urinary system?
Correct Answer: Urethra
Explanation: In males, the urethra carries both urine from the bladder and semen from the
reproductive tract.
9. Ligaments provide which connection?
Correct Answer: Bone to bone
Explanation: Ligaments are strong fibrous bands that connect bone to bone and stabilize joints.
10. Which structure conducts urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder?
Correct Answer: Ureter
Explanation: The ureters are muscular tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder
via peristalsis.
11. Anaerobic respiration can lead to a burning sensation cause by which molecule?
Correct Answer: Lactic Acid
Explanation: During intense exercise, anaerobic glycolysis produces lactic acid, which
accumulates and causes muscle burning/fatigue.
12. As a part of the negative feedback system, which type of cell is stimulated to re-absorb bone
matrix in response to a decrease in calcium in the blood?
Correct Answer: Osteoclasts (break down bone so it can release Ca+ into interstitial fluid)
Explanation: Low blood calcium triggers parathyroid hormone, which stimulates osteoclasts to
break down bone and release calcium.
13. Sweat on the skin's surface cools the body through which process?
Correct Answer: Evaporation
Explanation: Evaporation of sweat from the skin surface removes heat, providing
thermoregulation.
, 14. When assessing a female client who describes herself as a vegetarian and the nurse notes that
she has a unusual skin color. The nurse should ask the client if she has eaten a large amount of?
Correct Answer: Carrot and squash
Explanation: Excessive intake of carotene-rich foods (carrots, squash) can cause harmless
orange-yellow skin discoloration (carotenemia).
15. Which hand position describes an anatomical position of a person who is standing erect with
feet forward?
Correct Answer: Palms facing anterior
Explanation: In anatomical position, the body stands erect, feet forward, arms at sides with
palms facing forward (anteriorly).
16. Which structure is a ball & socket joint?
Correct Answer: Shoulder
Explanation: The shoulder (glenohumeral) joint is a ball-and-socket joint allowing wide range
of motion.
17. Which anatomical structure houses the malleus, incus & stapes?
Correct Answer: Skull & Ear
Explanation: The middle ear cavity in the temporal bone of the skull contains the three ossicles:
malleus, incus, and stapes.
18. What are like cells grouped together called?
Correct Answer: Tissue
Explanation: Groups of similar cells performing a common function form a tissue (e.g., muscle
tissue, epithelial tissue).
19. The pulse point located behind the knee is palpated over which artery?
Correct Answer: Popliteal
Explanation: The popliteal artery is located in the popliteal fossa behind the knee.
20. Ceruminous (aprocrine) glands secrete?
Correct Answer: Earwax
Explanation: Ceruminous glands in the external ear canal produce cerumen (earwax) to protect
and lubricate the ear.
21. What type of synovial joint is the elbow?
2026| Actual Exam Questions and Verified
Answers
1. What is a characteristic of viral herpes?
Correct Answer: Skin Eruption
Explanation: Herpes viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) characteristically cause vesicular skin
eruptions or cold sores/blisters on the skin or mucous membranes.
2. When a boxer gets hit & has a deviated septum?
Correct Answer: Vomer (in nose)
Explanation: The vomer bone forms the inferior part of the nasal septum. Trauma can fracture or
displace it, causing a deviated septum.
3. Which of the following is a structure found in the upper respiratory?
Correct Answer: Pharynx
Explanation: The pharynx (throat) is part of the upper respiratory tract, serving as a common
passageway for air and food.
4. A person who has damage to their ulnar nerve will have decreased sensation in?
Correct Answer: Arm, inability to abduct arms and fingers
Explanation: Ulnar nerve damage (often at the elbow) causes sensory loss on the medial hand
and weakness in finger abduction/adduction (intrinsic hand muscles).
5. Which bone does not articulate with any other bone?
Correct Answer: Hyoid Bone
Explanation: The hyoid bone is unique because it is suspended by ligaments and muscles in the
neck and does not form a joint with any other bone.
6. Which of the following statements best describes endocrine glands?
Correct Answer: They secrete chemicals into the blood, growth, metabolism, sexual
development and function
,Explanation: Endocrine glands are ductless and release hormones directly into the bloodstream
to regulate growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
7. Diet is important because bone are storage places for?
Correct Answer: Calcium & Phosphorus
Explanation: Bones act as a reservoir for calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for bone
strength, muscle contraction, and nerve function.
8. Which organ is part of both the male reproductive system and urinary system?
Correct Answer: Urethra
Explanation: In males, the urethra carries both urine from the bladder and semen from the
reproductive tract.
9. Ligaments provide which connection?
Correct Answer: Bone to bone
Explanation: Ligaments are strong fibrous bands that connect bone to bone and stabilize joints.
10. Which structure conducts urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder?
Correct Answer: Ureter
Explanation: The ureters are muscular tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder
via peristalsis.
11. Anaerobic respiration can lead to a burning sensation cause by which molecule?
Correct Answer: Lactic Acid
Explanation: During intense exercise, anaerobic glycolysis produces lactic acid, which
accumulates and causes muscle burning/fatigue.
12. As a part of the negative feedback system, which type of cell is stimulated to re-absorb bone
matrix in response to a decrease in calcium in the blood?
Correct Answer: Osteoclasts (break down bone so it can release Ca+ into interstitial fluid)
Explanation: Low blood calcium triggers parathyroid hormone, which stimulates osteoclasts to
break down bone and release calcium.
13. Sweat on the skin's surface cools the body through which process?
Correct Answer: Evaporation
Explanation: Evaporation of sweat from the skin surface removes heat, providing
thermoregulation.
, 14. When assessing a female client who describes herself as a vegetarian and the nurse notes that
she has a unusual skin color. The nurse should ask the client if she has eaten a large amount of?
Correct Answer: Carrot and squash
Explanation: Excessive intake of carotene-rich foods (carrots, squash) can cause harmless
orange-yellow skin discoloration (carotenemia).
15. Which hand position describes an anatomical position of a person who is standing erect with
feet forward?
Correct Answer: Palms facing anterior
Explanation: In anatomical position, the body stands erect, feet forward, arms at sides with
palms facing forward (anteriorly).
16. Which structure is a ball & socket joint?
Correct Answer: Shoulder
Explanation: The shoulder (glenohumeral) joint is a ball-and-socket joint allowing wide range
of motion.
17. Which anatomical structure houses the malleus, incus & stapes?
Correct Answer: Skull & Ear
Explanation: The middle ear cavity in the temporal bone of the skull contains the three ossicles:
malleus, incus, and stapes.
18. What are like cells grouped together called?
Correct Answer: Tissue
Explanation: Groups of similar cells performing a common function form a tissue (e.g., muscle
tissue, epithelial tissue).
19. The pulse point located behind the knee is palpated over which artery?
Correct Answer: Popliteal
Explanation: The popliteal artery is located in the popliteal fossa behind the knee.
20. Ceruminous (aprocrine) glands secrete?
Correct Answer: Earwax
Explanation: Ceruminous glands in the external ear canal produce cerumen (earwax) to protect
and lubricate the ear.
21. What type of synovial joint is the elbow?
