BIOS 252 Comprehensive Final Actual Exam
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027 |
Anatomy and Physiology II Complete Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Question 1 Which of the following is classified as an amine hormone?
A. Cortisol
B. Insulin
C. Epinephrine [CORRECT]
D. Testosterone
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Epinephrine is derived from tyrosine and classified as an amine hormone. Cortisol
(A) is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol. Insulin (B) is a peptide/protein hormone.
Testosterone (D) is a steroid hormone. Amine hormones include epinephrine, norepinephrine,
thyroid hormones (T3/T4), and melatonin—all derived from amino acids.
Question 2 A 45-year-old patient presents with weight gain, moon face, buffalo hump, purple
striae, and hyperglycemia. These findings are most consistent with:
A. Addison's disease
B. Cushing's syndrome [CORRECT]
C. Pheochromocytoma
D. Hyperthyroidism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cushing's syndrome results from excessive cortisol (glucocorticoid) production,
causing characteristic central obesity, moon face, dorsocervical fat pad (buffalo hump), skin
thinning with purple striae, and steroid-induced diabetes. Addison's disease (A) causes cortisol
deficiency with hypotension and hyperpigmentation. Pheochromocytoma (C) causes episodic
hypertension from catecholamine excess. Hyperthyroidism (D) causes weight loss, not gain.
Question 3 The hypothalamus controls the anterior pituitary through:
A. Direct neural connections
B. Hypophyseal portal system [CORRECT]
,C. Cerebrospinal fluid circulation
D. Lymphatic drainage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The hypothalamus communicates with the anterior pituitary via the hypophyseal
portal system—a specialized capillary network that delivers releasing and inhibiting hormones
directly to anterior pituitary cells. The posterior pituitary (A) has direct neural connections via
hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract. Options C and D are not involved in hypothalamic-pituitary
communication.
Question 4 Which anterior pituitary hormone stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol?
A. Growth hormone (GH)
B. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
C. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) [CORRECT]
D. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ACTH specifically targets the adrenal cortex zona fasciculata to stimulate cortisol
synthesis and release. GH (A) stimulates growth. TSH (B) stimulates thyroid hormone release.
LH (D) stimulates gonadal function. This represents the HPA axis: hypothalamus (CRH) →
pituitary (ACTH) → adrenal cortex (cortisol).
Question 5 Which of the following hormones uses a membrane-bound receptor and second
messenger system rather than intracellular receptors?
A. Aldosterone
B. Estrogen
C. Glucagon [CORRECT]
D. Cortisol
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Glucagon is a peptide hormone that cannot cross cell membranes and therefore binds
to G-protein coupled receptors on the cell surface, activating cAMP as a second messenger.
Aldosterone (A), estrogen (B), and cortisol (D) are lipid-soluble steroid hormones that diffuse
through cell membranes and bind to intracellular receptors that act as transcription factors.
Question 6 A patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis would most likely present with:
,A. Exophthalmos, heat intolerance, and weight loss
B. Cold intolerance, weight gain, and bradycardia [CORRECT]
C. Hypertension, hyperglycemia, and muscle wasting
D. Polyuria, polydipsia, and hypernatremia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is autoimmune hypothyroidism causing decreased T3/T4
production. Symptoms include cold intolerance (decreased metabolic rate), weight gain,
bradycardia, fatigue, and myxedema. Option A describes hyperthyroidism/Graves' disease.
Option C describes Cushing's syndrome. Option D describes diabetes insipidus.
Question 7 Which cells of the pancreatic islets secrete somatostatin?
A. Alpha cells
B. Beta cells
C. Delta cells [CORRECT]
D. PP cells
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Delta cells (D cells) secrete somatostatin, which inhibits both insulin and glucagon
secretion, serving as a paracrine regulator of islet function. Alpha cells (A) secrete glucagon.
Beta cells (B) secrete insulin. PP cells (D) secrete pancreatic polypeptide to inhibit exocrine
pancreatic secretion.
Question 8 The primary mechanism regulating most endocrine hormones is:
A. Positive feedback
B. Negative feedback [CORRECT]
C. Neural stimulation only
D. Circadian rhythms only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Negative feedback is the predominant regulatory mechanism in endocrinology,
maintaining homeostasis by reducing hormone secretion when target hormone levels are
adequate. Examples include cortisol inhibiting ACTH and thyroid hormones inhibiting TSH.
Positive feedback (A) is rare (e.g., oxytocin during labor). Neural stimulation (C) and circadian
rhythms (D) play roles but are not the primary regulatory mechanisms.
, Question 9 Which hormone is correctly paired with its primary action?
A. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) — decreases blood calcium
B. Calcitonin — increases blood calcium
C. Aldosterone — increases sodium reabsorption [CORRECT]
D. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) — increases blood pressure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the distal
tubule and collecting duct. PTH (A) increases blood calcium by stimulating bone resorption,
intestinal calcium absorption, and renal calcium reabsorption. Calcitonin (B) decreases blood
calcium. ANP (D) decreases blood pressure by promoting vasodilation and sodium/water
excretion.
Question 10 A 28-year-old patient presents with severe thirst, production of 8-10 liters of dilute
urine daily, and hypernatremia. Serum ADH levels are low. This presentation indicates:
A. Diabetes mellitus type 1
B. Diabetes insipidus [CORRECT]
C. Syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH)
D. Primary hyperaldosteronism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus results from ADH deficiency (central) or renal resistance to ADH
(nephrogenic), causing inability to concentrate urine, massive polyuria, polydipsia, and
hypernatremia. Diabetes mellitus (A) causes polyuria due to osmotic diuresis from
hyperglycemia. SIADH (C) causes water retention and hyponatremia. Primary
hyperaldosteronism (D) causes hypertension and hypokalemia.
Question 11 Which hormone surge triggers ovulation in the female reproductive cycle?
A. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
B. Luteinizing hormone (LH) [CORRECT]
C. Estrogen
D. Progesterone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The LH surge, triggered by peak estrogen levels, causes final oocyte maturation and
rupture of the ovarian follicle (ovulation) approximately 24-36 hours later. FSH (A) stimulates
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027 |
Anatomy and Physiology II Complete Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Question 1 Which of the following is classified as an amine hormone?
A. Cortisol
B. Insulin
C. Epinephrine [CORRECT]
D. Testosterone
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Epinephrine is derived from tyrosine and classified as an amine hormone. Cortisol
(A) is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol. Insulin (B) is a peptide/protein hormone.
Testosterone (D) is a steroid hormone. Amine hormones include epinephrine, norepinephrine,
thyroid hormones (T3/T4), and melatonin—all derived from amino acids.
Question 2 A 45-year-old patient presents with weight gain, moon face, buffalo hump, purple
striae, and hyperglycemia. These findings are most consistent with:
A. Addison's disease
B. Cushing's syndrome [CORRECT]
C. Pheochromocytoma
D. Hyperthyroidism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cushing's syndrome results from excessive cortisol (glucocorticoid) production,
causing characteristic central obesity, moon face, dorsocervical fat pad (buffalo hump), skin
thinning with purple striae, and steroid-induced diabetes. Addison's disease (A) causes cortisol
deficiency with hypotension and hyperpigmentation. Pheochromocytoma (C) causes episodic
hypertension from catecholamine excess. Hyperthyroidism (D) causes weight loss, not gain.
Question 3 The hypothalamus controls the anterior pituitary through:
A. Direct neural connections
B. Hypophyseal portal system [CORRECT]
,C. Cerebrospinal fluid circulation
D. Lymphatic drainage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The hypothalamus communicates with the anterior pituitary via the hypophyseal
portal system—a specialized capillary network that delivers releasing and inhibiting hormones
directly to anterior pituitary cells. The posterior pituitary (A) has direct neural connections via
hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract. Options C and D are not involved in hypothalamic-pituitary
communication.
Question 4 Which anterior pituitary hormone stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol?
A. Growth hormone (GH)
B. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
C. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) [CORRECT]
D. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ACTH specifically targets the adrenal cortex zona fasciculata to stimulate cortisol
synthesis and release. GH (A) stimulates growth. TSH (B) stimulates thyroid hormone release.
LH (D) stimulates gonadal function. This represents the HPA axis: hypothalamus (CRH) →
pituitary (ACTH) → adrenal cortex (cortisol).
Question 5 Which of the following hormones uses a membrane-bound receptor and second
messenger system rather than intracellular receptors?
A. Aldosterone
B. Estrogen
C. Glucagon [CORRECT]
D. Cortisol
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Glucagon is a peptide hormone that cannot cross cell membranes and therefore binds
to G-protein coupled receptors on the cell surface, activating cAMP as a second messenger.
Aldosterone (A), estrogen (B), and cortisol (D) are lipid-soluble steroid hormones that diffuse
through cell membranes and bind to intracellular receptors that act as transcription factors.
Question 6 A patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis would most likely present with:
,A. Exophthalmos, heat intolerance, and weight loss
B. Cold intolerance, weight gain, and bradycardia [CORRECT]
C. Hypertension, hyperglycemia, and muscle wasting
D. Polyuria, polydipsia, and hypernatremia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is autoimmune hypothyroidism causing decreased T3/T4
production. Symptoms include cold intolerance (decreased metabolic rate), weight gain,
bradycardia, fatigue, and myxedema. Option A describes hyperthyroidism/Graves' disease.
Option C describes Cushing's syndrome. Option D describes diabetes insipidus.
Question 7 Which cells of the pancreatic islets secrete somatostatin?
A. Alpha cells
B. Beta cells
C. Delta cells [CORRECT]
D. PP cells
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Delta cells (D cells) secrete somatostatin, which inhibits both insulin and glucagon
secretion, serving as a paracrine regulator of islet function. Alpha cells (A) secrete glucagon.
Beta cells (B) secrete insulin. PP cells (D) secrete pancreatic polypeptide to inhibit exocrine
pancreatic secretion.
Question 8 The primary mechanism regulating most endocrine hormones is:
A. Positive feedback
B. Negative feedback [CORRECT]
C. Neural stimulation only
D. Circadian rhythms only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Negative feedback is the predominant regulatory mechanism in endocrinology,
maintaining homeostasis by reducing hormone secretion when target hormone levels are
adequate. Examples include cortisol inhibiting ACTH and thyroid hormones inhibiting TSH.
Positive feedback (A) is rare (e.g., oxytocin during labor). Neural stimulation (C) and circadian
rhythms (D) play roles but are not the primary regulatory mechanisms.
, Question 9 Which hormone is correctly paired with its primary action?
A. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) — decreases blood calcium
B. Calcitonin — increases blood calcium
C. Aldosterone — increases sodium reabsorption [CORRECT]
D. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) — increases blood pressure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the distal
tubule and collecting duct. PTH (A) increases blood calcium by stimulating bone resorption,
intestinal calcium absorption, and renal calcium reabsorption. Calcitonin (B) decreases blood
calcium. ANP (D) decreases blood pressure by promoting vasodilation and sodium/water
excretion.
Question 10 A 28-year-old patient presents with severe thirst, production of 8-10 liters of dilute
urine daily, and hypernatremia. Serum ADH levels are low. This presentation indicates:
A. Diabetes mellitus type 1
B. Diabetes insipidus [CORRECT]
C. Syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH)
D. Primary hyperaldosteronism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus results from ADH deficiency (central) or renal resistance to ADH
(nephrogenic), causing inability to concentrate urine, massive polyuria, polydipsia, and
hypernatremia. Diabetes mellitus (A) causes polyuria due to osmotic diuresis from
hyperglycemia. SIADH (C) causes water retention and hyponatremia. Primary
hyperaldosteronism (D) causes hypertension and hypokalemia.
Question 11 Which hormone surge triggers ovulation in the female reproductive cycle?
A. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
B. Luteinizing hormone (LH) [CORRECT]
C. Estrogen
D. Progesterone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The LH surge, triggered by peak estrogen levels, causes final oocyte maturation and
rupture of the ovarian follicle (ovulation) approximately 24-36 hours later. FSH (A) stimulates
