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HESI A2 Anatomy and Physiology
2026-authentic exam questions with
verified solutions
What are the bones of the arm? - correct-answer -Humerus
Radius
Ulna
Carpals (wrist bones)
Metacarpals (hand bones)
phalanges (finger bones)
What bones make the lower part of the appendicular skeleton? - correct-answer -
The pelvic girdle or os coxae
What bones make the os coxae? - correct-answer -fused ilium
ischium
pubis
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What bones make up the lower extremities? - correct-answer -femur
tibia
fibula
tarsals (ankle bones)
metatarsals (foot bones)
phalanges (toe bones)
How do muscles make movement? - correct-answer -Contraction in response to
nervous stimulation.
What occurs in muscle fibers during contraction? - correct-answer -Myosin & actin
filaments slide together.
What structures make up muscle cells? - correct-answer -Myofibrils made up of
sarcomeres.
What must be present for a muscle cell to contract? - correct-answer -Calcium
and ATP
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What does nervous stimulation from motor neurons cause in the muscles? -
correct-answer -Release of calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
What is the function of calcium in muscle contraction? - correct-answer -Attach to
inhibitory proteins on the actin filaments of the muscle cell, moving them aside.
This forms cross bridges between actin and myosin filaments.
Why are the skeletal muscles of the muscular system considered voluntary? -
correct-answer -Because they are under conscious control.
How do skeletal muscles work? - correct-answer -In pairs: the prime mover and
the antagonist.
What is the function of the prime mover? - correct-answer -The muscle that
executes a given movement.
What is the function of the antagonist? - correct-answer -The muscles that
executes the opposite movement of the prime mover.
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What are synergists? - correct-answer -Muscles that work together with the prime
mover.
How are muscles classified? - correct-answer -According to the movements they
elicit
What are the two classifications of muscles? - correct-answer -Flexors and
extensors.
What is the function of flexors? - correct-answer -Reduce the angle at the joint.
What is the function of extensors? - correct-answer -Increase the angle at the
joint.
What is the function of an abductor muscle? - correct-answer -Draw a limb away
from the midline of the body.
What is the function of adductors? - correct-answer -Return the limb back toward
the body.
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HESI A2 Anatomy and Physiology
2026-authentic exam questions with
verified solutions
What are the bones of the arm? - correct-answer -Humerus
Radius
Ulna
Carpals (wrist bones)
Metacarpals (hand bones)
phalanges (finger bones)
What bones make the lower part of the appendicular skeleton? - correct-answer -
The pelvic girdle or os coxae
What bones make the os coxae? - correct-answer -fused ilium
ischium
pubis
1|Page
,2|Page
What bones make up the lower extremities? - correct-answer -femur
tibia
fibula
tarsals (ankle bones)
metatarsals (foot bones)
phalanges (toe bones)
How do muscles make movement? - correct-answer -Contraction in response to
nervous stimulation.
What occurs in muscle fibers during contraction? - correct-answer -Myosin & actin
filaments slide together.
What structures make up muscle cells? - correct-answer -Myofibrils made up of
sarcomeres.
What must be present for a muscle cell to contract? - correct-answer -Calcium
and ATP
2|Page
,3|Page
What does nervous stimulation from motor neurons cause in the muscles? -
correct-answer -Release of calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
What is the function of calcium in muscle contraction? - correct-answer -Attach to
inhibitory proteins on the actin filaments of the muscle cell, moving them aside.
This forms cross bridges between actin and myosin filaments.
Why are the skeletal muscles of the muscular system considered voluntary? -
correct-answer -Because they are under conscious control.
How do skeletal muscles work? - correct-answer -In pairs: the prime mover and
the antagonist.
What is the function of the prime mover? - correct-answer -The muscle that
executes a given movement.
What is the function of the antagonist? - correct-answer -The muscles that
executes the opposite movement of the prime mover.
3|Page
, 4|Page
What are synergists? - correct-answer -Muscles that work together with the prime
mover.
How are muscles classified? - correct-answer -According to the movements they
elicit
What are the two classifications of muscles? - correct-answer -Flexors and
extensors.
What is the function of flexors? - correct-answer -Reduce the angle at the joint.
What is the function of extensors? - correct-answer -Increase the angle at the
joint.
What is the function of an abductor muscle? - correct-answer -Draw a limb away
from the midline of the body.
What is the function of adductors? - correct-answer -Return the limb back toward
the body.
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