NLN NEX SCIENCE EXAM NEWEST 2026 –
+ REAL EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS (PRE-NURSING & ALLIED
HEALTH)
SECTION 1: ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1-40)
Question 1
A patient presents with an elevated PaCO₂ level. This condition directly indicates:
A) Metabolic alkalosis
B) Hypoventilation
C) Hyperventilation
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: PaCO₂ (partial pressure of carbon dioxide) is regulated by the lungs.
Hypoventilation (slow/shallow breathing) leads to retention of CO₂, increasing
PaCO₂ .
Question 2
The medical term "renal" refers to which part of the body?
A) The heart
B) The lungs
,C) The kidneys
D) The liver
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: "Renal" derives from the Latin renes, meaning kidney. It is used to
describe structures and functions related to the kidneys .
Question 3
Which structure separates the left and right sides of the heart, preventing
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood from mixing?
A) The septum
B) The valve
C) The aorta
D) The pericardium
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: The interventricular and interatrial septa are muscular walls dividing
the heart into right and left chambers .
Question 4
The larynx is covered by a specific flap of tissue that prevents food from entering
the trachea during swallowing. This structure is the:
A) Pharynx
B) Epiglottis
C) Trachea
D) Esophagus
,Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage that covers the larynx during
swallowing, directing food to the esophagus.
Question 5
Which type of tissue makes up the myocardium (heart muscle)?
A) Skeletal muscle
B) Smooth muscle
C) Cardiac muscle
D) Adipose tissue
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: The myocardium is composed of cardiac muscle tissue—striated like
skeletal muscle but contracts involuntarily .
Question 6
Ligaments function to connect:
A) Muscle to bone
B) Bone to bone
C) Nerve to muscle
D) Tendon to bone
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Ligaments are dense fibrous connective tissue that attach bone to bone,
stabilizing joints. Sprains occur when ligaments are torn .
, Question 7
Blood pressure is recorded as two values. The pressure exerted on arterial walls
during ventricular contraction is known as:
A) Diastolic pressure
B) Pulse pressure
C) Systolic pressure
D) Mean arterial pressure
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Systolic pressure is the peak pressure during ventricular contraction
(systole). Diastolic is the minimum during relaxation .
Question 8
The primary function of the urinary system in relation to red blood cells is:
A) Producing white blood cells
B) Secreting erythropoietin (EPO)
C) Filtering plasma proteins
D) Reabsorbing platelets
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Kidneys secrete erythropoietin in response to low oxygen levels,
stimulating bone marrow to produce red blood cells .
Question 9
The "master gland" of the endocrine system, responsible for controlling other
glands like the thyroid and adrenals, is the:
A) Hypothalamus
+ REAL EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS (PRE-NURSING & ALLIED
HEALTH)
SECTION 1: ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1-40)
Question 1
A patient presents with an elevated PaCO₂ level. This condition directly indicates:
A) Metabolic alkalosis
B) Hypoventilation
C) Hyperventilation
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: PaCO₂ (partial pressure of carbon dioxide) is regulated by the lungs.
Hypoventilation (slow/shallow breathing) leads to retention of CO₂, increasing
PaCO₂ .
Question 2
The medical term "renal" refers to which part of the body?
A) The heart
B) The lungs
,C) The kidneys
D) The liver
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: "Renal" derives from the Latin renes, meaning kidney. It is used to
describe structures and functions related to the kidneys .
Question 3
Which structure separates the left and right sides of the heart, preventing
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood from mixing?
A) The septum
B) The valve
C) The aorta
D) The pericardium
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: The interventricular and interatrial septa are muscular walls dividing
the heart into right and left chambers .
Question 4
The larynx is covered by a specific flap of tissue that prevents food from entering
the trachea during swallowing. This structure is the:
A) Pharynx
B) Epiglottis
C) Trachea
D) Esophagus
,Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage that covers the larynx during
swallowing, directing food to the esophagus.
Question 5
Which type of tissue makes up the myocardium (heart muscle)?
A) Skeletal muscle
B) Smooth muscle
C) Cardiac muscle
D) Adipose tissue
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: The myocardium is composed of cardiac muscle tissue—striated like
skeletal muscle but contracts involuntarily .
Question 6
Ligaments function to connect:
A) Muscle to bone
B) Bone to bone
C) Nerve to muscle
D) Tendon to bone
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Ligaments are dense fibrous connective tissue that attach bone to bone,
stabilizing joints. Sprains occur when ligaments are torn .
, Question 7
Blood pressure is recorded as two values. The pressure exerted on arterial walls
during ventricular contraction is known as:
A) Diastolic pressure
B) Pulse pressure
C) Systolic pressure
D) Mean arterial pressure
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Systolic pressure is the peak pressure during ventricular contraction
(systole). Diastolic is the minimum during relaxation .
Question 8
The primary function of the urinary system in relation to red blood cells is:
A) Producing white blood cells
B) Secreting erythropoietin (EPO)
C) Filtering plasma proteins
D) Reabsorbing platelets
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Kidneys secrete erythropoietin in response to low oxygen levels,
stimulating bone marrow to produce red blood cells .
Question 9
The "master gland" of the endocrine system, responsible for controlling other
glands like the thyroid and adrenals, is the:
A) Hypothalamus
