HESI A2 Entrance Exam ACTUAL
EXAM 2023-2027 | Anatomy &
Physiology | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Q1: Which directional term describes the position of the wrist relative to the elbow?
A. Proximal
B. Distal [CORRECT]
C. Superior
D. Medial
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Distal means farther from the point of attachment or origin. The wrist is farther from the
shoulder (the point of attachment for the upper limb) than the elbow is, making the wrist distal to the
elbow. Proximal would mean closer to the point of attachment.
Q2: A patient has a laceration on the anterior surface of the right thigh. Which plane divides the body to
show both the anterior and posterior portions of this wound?
A. Sagittal plane
B. Frontal (coronal) plane [CORRECT]
C. Transverse plane
D. Midsagittal plane
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The frontal (coronal) plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back)
portions. This plane would clearly demonstrate the depth and extent of an anterior surface wound
relative to posterior structures.
Q3: The dorsal body cavity contains which of the following organs?
,A. Heart and lungs
B. Brain and spinal cord [CORRECT]
C. Liver and stomach
D. Kidneys and ureters
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The dorsal body cavity is subdivided into the cranial cavity (housing the brain) and the
vertebral canal (housing the spinal cord). It is the most posteriorly located body cavity and is continuous
along the posterior axis.
Q4: Which tissue type forms the epidermis of the skin?
A. Simple squamous epithelium
B. Stratified squamous epithelium [CORRECT]
C. Simple cuboidal epithelium
D. Transitional epithelium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The epidermis consists of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, which provides
protection against abrasion, dehydration, and microbial invasion. The multiple cell layers with keratin in
superficial layers make this tissue ideal for the body's outer protective barrier.
Q5: Which of the following is a function of simple cuboidal epithelium?
A. Gas exchange in the alveoli
B. Secretion and absorption in kidney tubules [CORRECT]
C. Protection against mechanical abrasion
D. Facilitating diffusion in blood vessels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Simple cuboidal epithelium lines kidney tubules and glandular ducts, where its cube-shaped
cells provide adequate cytoplasmic volume for active secretion and absorption processes. A single layer
allows efficient transport while the cuboidal shape supports metabolic activity.
Q6: Which connective tissue type stores energy in the form of triglycerides?
A. Dense regular connective tissue
, B. Areolar connective tissue
C. Adipose tissue [CORRECT]
D. Reticular connective tissue
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adipose tissue consists of adipocytes specialized for lipid storage. Each adipocyte contains a
large lipid droplet that occupies most of the cell volume, serving as the body's primary energy reserve
depot and providing insulation and cushioning.
Q7: Cardiac muscle tissue is characterized by which structural feature?
A. Multinucleated, nonstriated fibers
B. Striated, involuntary, single-nucleated cells with intercalated discs [CORRECT]
C. Striated, voluntary, multinucleated fibers
D. Nonstriated, involuntary, spindle-shaped cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac muscle cells are striated due to organized sarcomeres, involuntarily controlled by the
autonomic nervous system, typically contain one central nucleus, and are joined by intercalated discs.
These discs contain desmosomes and gap junctions that mechanically and electrically couple cardiac
cells for coordinated contraction.
Q8: Which organelle is responsible for synthesizing proteins destined for secretion from the cell?
A. Mitochondria
B. Lysosomes
C. Rough endoplasmic reticulum [CORRECT]
D. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The rough endoplasmic reticulum is studded with ribosomes that synthesize proteins. These
proteins enter the ER lumen for folding and modification, then travel through the Golgi apparatus for
further processing before secretion via exocytosis.
Q9: Which transport mechanism moves glucose across the cell membrane against its concentration
gradient using ATP?
A. Simple diffusion
EXAM 2023-2027 | Anatomy &
Physiology | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Q1: Which directional term describes the position of the wrist relative to the elbow?
A. Proximal
B. Distal [CORRECT]
C. Superior
D. Medial
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Distal means farther from the point of attachment or origin. The wrist is farther from the
shoulder (the point of attachment for the upper limb) than the elbow is, making the wrist distal to the
elbow. Proximal would mean closer to the point of attachment.
Q2: A patient has a laceration on the anterior surface of the right thigh. Which plane divides the body to
show both the anterior and posterior portions of this wound?
A. Sagittal plane
B. Frontal (coronal) plane [CORRECT]
C. Transverse plane
D. Midsagittal plane
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The frontal (coronal) plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back)
portions. This plane would clearly demonstrate the depth and extent of an anterior surface wound
relative to posterior structures.
Q3: The dorsal body cavity contains which of the following organs?
,A. Heart and lungs
B. Brain and spinal cord [CORRECT]
C. Liver and stomach
D. Kidneys and ureters
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The dorsal body cavity is subdivided into the cranial cavity (housing the brain) and the
vertebral canal (housing the spinal cord). It is the most posteriorly located body cavity and is continuous
along the posterior axis.
Q4: Which tissue type forms the epidermis of the skin?
A. Simple squamous epithelium
B. Stratified squamous epithelium [CORRECT]
C. Simple cuboidal epithelium
D. Transitional epithelium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The epidermis consists of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, which provides
protection against abrasion, dehydration, and microbial invasion. The multiple cell layers with keratin in
superficial layers make this tissue ideal for the body's outer protective barrier.
Q5: Which of the following is a function of simple cuboidal epithelium?
A. Gas exchange in the alveoli
B. Secretion and absorption in kidney tubules [CORRECT]
C. Protection against mechanical abrasion
D. Facilitating diffusion in blood vessels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Simple cuboidal epithelium lines kidney tubules and glandular ducts, where its cube-shaped
cells provide adequate cytoplasmic volume for active secretion and absorption processes. A single layer
allows efficient transport while the cuboidal shape supports metabolic activity.
Q6: Which connective tissue type stores energy in the form of triglycerides?
A. Dense regular connective tissue
, B. Areolar connective tissue
C. Adipose tissue [CORRECT]
D. Reticular connective tissue
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adipose tissue consists of adipocytes specialized for lipid storage. Each adipocyte contains a
large lipid droplet that occupies most of the cell volume, serving as the body's primary energy reserve
depot and providing insulation and cushioning.
Q7: Cardiac muscle tissue is characterized by which structural feature?
A. Multinucleated, nonstriated fibers
B. Striated, involuntary, single-nucleated cells with intercalated discs [CORRECT]
C. Striated, voluntary, multinucleated fibers
D. Nonstriated, involuntary, spindle-shaped cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac muscle cells are striated due to organized sarcomeres, involuntarily controlled by the
autonomic nervous system, typically contain one central nucleus, and are joined by intercalated discs.
These discs contain desmosomes and gap junctions that mechanically and electrically couple cardiac
cells for coordinated contraction.
Q8: Which organelle is responsible for synthesizing proteins destined for secretion from the cell?
A. Mitochondria
B. Lysosomes
C. Rough endoplasmic reticulum [CORRECT]
D. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The rough endoplasmic reticulum is studded with ribosomes that synthesize proteins. These
proteins enter the ER lumen for folding and modification, then travel through the Golgi apparatus for
further processing before secretion via exocytosis.
Q9: Which transport mechanism moves glucose across the cell membrane against its concentration
gradient using ATP?
A. Simple diffusion
