HESI A2 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY V1 & V2
LATEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM TEST BANK| COMPLETE
350 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1. Which term describes the maintenance of a relatively stable
internal environment despite external changes?
A) Metabolism
B) Homeostasis
C) Adaptation
D) Anabolism
Answer: B) Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain
stable internal conditions (temperature, pH, blood glucose, etc.).
Metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions; anabolism is the
building phase of metabolism.
2. Which body plane divides the body into equal left and right
halves?
A) Coronal (frontal) plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Sagittal plane
D) Midsagittal plane
1
,Answer: D) Midsagittal plane
Rationale: The midsagittal (median) plane divides the body into
equal left and right halves. A sagittal plane divides into left and
right but not necessarily equal halves.
3. The term "proximal" means:
A) Closer to the point of attachment or trunk
B) Farther from the point of attachment
C) Toward the midline
D) Away from the midline
Answer: A) Closer to the point of attachment or trunk
Rationale: Proximal means nearer to the trunk or point of origin.
Distal means farther away. Medial is toward the midline; lateral
is away from midline.
4. Which cavity contains the lungs and heart?
A) Abdominal cavity
B) Pelvic cavity
C) Thoracic cavity
D) Cranial cavity
Answer: C) Thoracic cavity
Rationale: The thoracic cavity contains the lungs (pleural cavities)
2
,and heart (pericardial cavity). The abdominal cavity contains
digestive organs.
5. Which feedback mechanism amplifies a change, moving
the body away from homeostasis?
A) Negative feedback
B) Positive feedback
C) Homeostatic feedback
D) Neutral feedback
Answer: B) Positive feedback
Rationale: Positive feedback amplifies the initial stimulus, e.g.,
childbirth (oxytocin release increases contractions) and blood
clotting.
6. Which hand position describes the anatomical position?
A) Palms facing posterior
B) Palms facing anterior
C) Palms facing medial
D) Palms facing lateral
Answer: B) Palms facing anterior
Rationale: In anatomical position, the body stands erect, feet
forward, arms at sides, and palms facing forward (anterior).
3
, 7. The dorsal body cavity includes which two subdivisions?
A) Thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities
B) Cranial and vertebral (spinal) cavities
C) Abdominal and pelvic cavities
D) Pleural and pericardial cavities
Answer: B) Cranial and vertebral (spinal) cavities
Rationale: The dorsal cavity is located toward the back and
includes the cranial cavity (brain) and vertebral cavity (spinal
cord).
8. The mediastinum is located within which cavity?
A) Abdominal
B) Pelvic
C) Cranial
D) Thoracic
Answer: D) Thoracic
Rationale: The mediastinum is the central compartment of the
thoracic cavity, containing the heart, great vessels, trachea, and
esophagus.
9. Which term means "toward the head or upper part of the
body"?
A) Inferior
4
LATEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM TEST BANK| COMPLETE
350 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1. Which term describes the maintenance of a relatively stable
internal environment despite external changes?
A) Metabolism
B) Homeostasis
C) Adaptation
D) Anabolism
Answer: B) Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain
stable internal conditions (temperature, pH, blood glucose, etc.).
Metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions; anabolism is the
building phase of metabolism.
2. Which body plane divides the body into equal left and right
halves?
A) Coronal (frontal) plane
B) Transverse plane
C) Sagittal plane
D) Midsagittal plane
1
,Answer: D) Midsagittal plane
Rationale: The midsagittal (median) plane divides the body into
equal left and right halves. A sagittal plane divides into left and
right but not necessarily equal halves.
3. The term "proximal" means:
A) Closer to the point of attachment or trunk
B) Farther from the point of attachment
C) Toward the midline
D) Away from the midline
Answer: A) Closer to the point of attachment or trunk
Rationale: Proximal means nearer to the trunk or point of origin.
Distal means farther away. Medial is toward the midline; lateral
is away from midline.
4. Which cavity contains the lungs and heart?
A) Abdominal cavity
B) Pelvic cavity
C) Thoracic cavity
D) Cranial cavity
Answer: C) Thoracic cavity
Rationale: The thoracic cavity contains the lungs (pleural cavities)
2
,and heart (pericardial cavity). The abdominal cavity contains
digestive organs.
5. Which feedback mechanism amplifies a change, moving
the body away from homeostasis?
A) Negative feedback
B) Positive feedback
C) Homeostatic feedback
D) Neutral feedback
Answer: B) Positive feedback
Rationale: Positive feedback amplifies the initial stimulus, e.g.,
childbirth (oxytocin release increases contractions) and blood
clotting.
6. Which hand position describes the anatomical position?
A) Palms facing posterior
B) Palms facing anterior
C) Palms facing medial
D) Palms facing lateral
Answer: B) Palms facing anterior
Rationale: In anatomical position, the body stands erect, feet
forward, arms at sides, and palms facing forward (anterior).
3
, 7. The dorsal body cavity includes which two subdivisions?
A) Thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities
B) Cranial and vertebral (spinal) cavities
C) Abdominal and pelvic cavities
D) Pleural and pericardial cavities
Answer: B) Cranial and vertebral (spinal) cavities
Rationale: The dorsal cavity is located toward the back and
includes the cranial cavity (brain) and vertebral cavity (spinal
cord).
8. The mediastinum is located within which cavity?
A) Abdominal
B) Pelvic
C) Cranial
D) Thoracic
Answer: D) Thoracic
Rationale: The mediastinum is the central compartment of the
thoracic cavity, containing the heart, great vessels, trachea, and
esophagus.
9. Which term means "toward the head or upper part of the
body"?
A) Inferior
4
