Page 1 of 55
BIOD 151 Essential Human Anatomy & Physiology I: Endocrine
System | Latest 2026 Edition | Comprehensive Study Guide, Practice
1. A patient presents with excessive growth of bones in the hands, feet, and face. Which
endocrine disorder should the healthcare provider suspect based on these clinical
manifestations?
A. Gigantism
B. Acromegaly
C. Cushing syndrome
D. Addison disease
Correct Answer: B. Acromegaly
Rationale: Acromegaly results from hypersecretion of growth hormone in adults after epiphyseal
plates have closed, causing overgrowth of bones in the hands, feet, and face. Gigantism occurs in
children before plate closure, Cushing syndrome involves cortisol excess, and Addison disease
involves adrenal insufficiency.
2. A nurse is teaching a patient about hormone classification. Which statement correctly
describes how steroid hormones differ from protein hormones in their mechanism of
action?
A. Steroid hormones use the twomessenger model while protein hormones use the onemessenger
model
B. Steroid hormones can pass through the cell membrane and use the onemessenger model
C. Protein hormones can pass through the cell membrane and bind directly to DNA
D. Both steroid and protein hormones use the same receptor mechanism on the cell surface
Correct Answer: B. Steroid hormones can pass through the cell membrane and use the
onemessenger model
Rationale: Steroid hormones are lipidsoluble and can pass through the cell membrane to bind
directly to intracellular receptors, using the onemessenger model. Protein hormones are
watersoluble and cannot cross the membrane, requiring the twomessenger model with cell
surface receptors to activate intracellular enzymes.
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3. A patient with a thyroid disorder is prescribed medication to regulate calcium levels.
Which hormone produced by the thyroid gland decreases blood calcium levels by
stimulating calcium deposition in bones?
A. Thyroxine
B. Triiodothyronine
C. Calcitonin
D. Parahormone
Correct Answer: C. Calcitonin
Rationale: Calcitonin is produced by the thyroid gland and decreases blood calcium levels by
promoting calcium deposition in bones. Thyroxine and triiodothyronine regulate metabolism,
and parahormone (PTH) is secreted by the parathyroid glands and increases blood calcium
levels, acting as the antagonist to calcitonin.
4. A client with severe muscle spasms is diagnosed with hypocalcemia. Which endocrine
condition is most likely responsible for this patient's symptoms?
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. Hypoparathyroidism
C. Hyperparathyroidism
D. Hypothyroidism
Correct Answer: B. Hypoparathyroidism
Rationale: Hypoparathyroidism results in decreased parahormone secretion, leading to low
blood calcium levels which causes tetany characterized by muscle spasms. Hyperthyroidism
affects metabolism, hyperparathyroidism causes elevated calcium levels, and hypothyroidism
affects metabolic rate, not calcium regulation.
5. A patient is experiencing excessive thirst, frequent urination, and unexplained weight
loss. Which pancreatic hormone deficiency is most likely causing these symptoms?
A. Glucagon deficiency
B. Insulin deficiency
C. Somatostatin deficiency
D. Pancreatic polypeptide deficiency
Correct Answer: B. Insulin deficiency
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Rationale: Insulin deficiency or resistance leads to diabetes mellitus, characterized by polydipsia
(excessive thirst), polyuria (frequent urination), and weight loss due to impaired glucose
utilization. Glucagon deficiency would cause hypoglycemia, somatostatin affects growth
hormone, and pancreatic polypeptide regulates pancreatic secretions.
6. A nurse is explaining the function of the hypothalamus to a patient. Which statement
accurately describes the relationship between the hypothalamus and the endocrine system?
A. The hypothalamus produces all hormones directly released from the pituitary gland
B. The hypothalamus links the nervous and endocrine systems and controls the pituitary gland
C. The hypothalamus is solely responsible for producing growth hormone
D. The hypothalamus has no direct role in endocrine function regulation
Correct Answer: B. The hypothalamus links the nervous and endocrine systems and controls the
pituitary gland
Rationale: The hypothalamus serves as the critical link between the nervous and endocrine
systems, controlling the pituitary gland through releasing and inhibiting hormones. It does not
produce all pituitary hormones, does not solely produce growth hormone, and is essential for
endocrine function regulation.
7. A patient with Addison disease is experiencing low cortisol levels. Which gland is
primarily affected in this condition?
A. Pituitary gland
B. Thyroid gland
C. Adrenal cortex
D. Adrenal medulla
Correct Answer: C. Adrenal cortex
Rationale: Addison disease results from adrenal cortex insufficiency causing deficient cortisol
and aldosterone production. The pituitary gland regulates ACTH, thyroid gland affects
metabolism, and adrenal medulla produces epinephrine and norepinephrine, not cortisol.
8. A female patient is having difficulty conceiving and is found to have abnormal ovulation.
Which anterior pituitary hormone is most directly responsible for stimulating ovulation?
A. Folliclestimulating hormone
B. Luteinizing hormone
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C. Prolactin
D. Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Correct Answer: B. Luteinizing hormone
Rationale: Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates ovulation in females and androgen production
in males. FSH stimulates follicle development, prolactin promotes lactation, and ACTH
stimulates adrenal cortex hormone production.
9. A patient is diagnosed with a condition characterized by abnormal fat deposits in the
face and trunk with muscle wasting. Which endocrine disorder should the nurse suspect?
A. Acromegaly
B. Cushing syndrome
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Tetany
Correct Answer: B. Cushing syndrome
Rationale: Cushing syndrome results from excessive cortisol production by the adrenal cortex,
causing abnormal fat deposits (moon face, buffalo hump), muscle wasting, and other metabolic
changes. Acromegaly involves growth hormone excess, diabetes affects glucose metabolism, and
tetany involves calcium imbalance.
10. A healthcare provider is assessing a patient with suspected hypothyroidism. Which
hormone should be evaluated to assess the metabolic function of the thyroid gland?
A. Calcitonin
B. Parahormone
C. Thyroxine
D. Aldosterone
Correct Answer: C. Thyroxine
Rationale: Thyroxine (T4) is the primary hormone produced by the thyroid gland that regulates
metabolism and should be evaluated in suspected thyroid disorders. Calcitonin regulates
calcium, parahormone is from parathyroid, and aldosterone is from adrenal cortex.
BIOD 151 Essential Human Anatomy & Physiology I: Endocrine
System | Latest 2026 Edition | Comprehensive Study Guide, Practice
1. A patient presents with excessive growth of bones in the hands, feet, and face. Which
endocrine disorder should the healthcare provider suspect based on these clinical
manifestations?
A. Gigantism
B. Acromegaly
C. Cushing syndrome
D. Addison disease
Correct Answer: B. Acromegaly
Rationale: Acromegaly results from hypersecretion of growth hormone in adults after epiphyseal
plates have closed, causing overgrowth of bones in the hands, feet, and face. Gigantism occurs in
children before plate closure, Cushing syndrome involves cortisol excess, and Addison disease
involves adrenal insufficiency.
2. A nurse is teaching a patient about hormone classification. Which statement correctly
describes how steroid hormones differ from protein hormones in their mechanism of
action?
A. Steroid hormones use the twomessenger model while protein hormones use the onemessenger
model
B. Steroid hormones can pass through the cell membrane and use the onemessenger model
C. Protein hormones can pass through the cell membrane and bind directly to DNA
D. Both steroid and protein hormones use the same receptor mechanism on the cell surface
Correct Answer: B. Steroid hormones can pass through the cell membrane and use the
onemessenger model
Rationale: Steroid hormones are lipidsoluble and can pass through the cell membrane to bind
directly to intracellular receptors, using the onemessenger model. Protein hormones are
watersoluble and cannot cross the membrane, requiring the twomessenger model with cell
surface receptors to activate intracellular enzymes.
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3. A patient with a thyroid disorder is prescribed medication to regulate calcium levels.
Which hormone produced by the thyroid gland decreases blood calcium levels by
stimulating calcium deposition in bones?
A. Thyroxine
B. Triiodothyronine
C. Calcitonin
D. Parahormone
Correct Answer: C. Calcitonin
Rationale: Calcitonin is produced by the thyroid gland and decreases blood calcium levels by
promoting calcium deposition in bones. Thyroxine and triiodothyronine regulate metabolism,
and parahormone (PTH) is secreted by the parathyroid glands and increases blood calcium
levels, acting as the antagonist to calcitonin.
4. A client with severe muscle spasms is diagnosed with hypocalcemia. Which endocrine
condition is most likely responsible for this patient's symptoms?
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. Hypoparathyroidism
C. Hyperparathyroidism
D. Hypothyroidism
Correct Answer: B. Hypoparathyroidism
Rationale: Hypoparathyroidism results in decreased parahormone secretion, leading to low
blood calcium levels which causes tetany characterized by muscle spasms. Hyperthyroidism
affects metabolism, hyperparathyroidism causes elevated calcium levels, and hypothyroidism
affects metabolic rate, not calcium regulation.
5. A patient is experiencing excessive thirst, frequent urination, and unexplained weight
loss. Which pancreatic hormone deficiency is most likely causing these symptoms?
A. Glucagon deficiency
B. Insulin deficiency
C. Somatostatin deficiency
D. Pancreatic polypeptide deficiency
Correct Answer: B. Insulin deficiency
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Rationale: Insulin deficiency or resistance leads to diabetes mellitus, characterized by polydipsia
(excessive thirst), polyuria (frequent urination), and weight loss due to impaired glucose
utilization. Glucagon deficiency would cause hypoglycemia, somatostatin affects growth
hormone, and pancreatic polypeptide regulates pancreatic secretions.
6. A nurse is explaining the function of the hypothalamus to a patient. Which statement
accurately describes the relationship between the hypothalamus and the endocrine system?
A. The hypothalamus produces all hormones directly released from the pituitary gland
B. The hypothalamus links the nervous and endocrine systems and controls the pituitary gland
C. The hypothalamus is solely responsible for producing growth hormone
D. The hypothalamus has no direct role in endocrine function regulation
Correct Answer: B. The hypothalamus links the nervous and endocrine systems and controls the
pituitary gland
Rationale: The hypothalamus serves as the critical link between the nervous and endocrine
systems, controlling the pituitary gland through releasing and inhibiting hormones. It does not
produce all pituitary hormones, does not solely produce growth hormone, and is essential for
endocrine function regulation.
7. A patient with Addison disease is experiencing low cortisol levels. Which gland is
primarily affected in this condition?
A. Pituitary gland
B. Thyroid gland
C. Adrenal cortex
D. Adrenal medulla
Correct Answer: C. Adrenal cortex
Rationale: Addison disease results from adrenal cortex insufficiency causing deficient cortisol
and aldosterone production. The pituitary gland regulates ACTH, thyroid gland affects
metabolism, and adrenal medulla produces epinephrine and norepinephrine, not cortisol.
8. A female patient is having difficulty conceiving and is found to have abnormal ovulation.
Which anterior pituitary hormone is most directly responsible for stimulating ovulation?
A. Folliclestimulating hormone
B. Luteinizing hormone
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C. Prolactin
D. Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Correct Answer: B. Luteinizing hormone
Rationale: Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates ovulation in females and androgen production
in males. FSH stimulates follicle development, prolactin promotes lactation, and ACTH
stimulates adrenal cortex hormone production.
9. A patient is diagnosed with a condition characterized by abnormal fat deposits in the
face and trunk with muscle wasting. Which endocrine disorder should the nurse suspect?
A. Acromegaly
B. Cushing syndrome
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Tetany
Correct Answer: B. Cushing syndrome
Rationale: Cushing syndrome results from excessive cortisol production by the adrenal cortex,
causing abnormal fat deposits (moon face, buffalo hump), muscle wasting, and other metabolic
changes. Acromegaly involves growth hormone excess, diabetes affects glucose metabolism, and
tetany involves calcium imbalance.
10. A healthcare provider is assessing a patient with suspected hypothyroidism. Which
hormone should be evaluated to assess the metabolic function of the thyroid gland?
A. Calcitonin
B. Parahormone
C. Thyroxine
D. Aldosterone
Correct Answer: C. Thyroxine
Rationale: Thyroxine (T4) is the primary hormone produced by the thyroid gland that regulates
metabolism and should be evaluated in suspected thyroid disorders. Calcitonin regulates
calcium, parahormone is from parathyroid, and aldosterone is from adrenal cortex.
