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BIOL251 HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I –
MODULE 4 EXAM PRACTICE WEST COAST
UNIVERSITY | 2026 CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT
400 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS & RATIONALES
# Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Question Count |
|---------|-------|----------------|
| 1 | Endocrine System – Glands & Hormones | 60 |
| 2 | Endocrine System – Mechanisms & Regulation | 40 |
| 3 | Blood – Composition & Function | 50 |
| 4 | Blood – Hemostasis & Blood Typing | 30 |
| 5 | Heart Anatomy | 50 |
| 6 | Cardiac Physiology (ECG, Cardiac Cycle, Output) | 60 |
| 7 | Blood Vessels & Hemodynamics | 50 |
| 8 | Lymphatic System & Immunity (Basic) | 40 |
| 9 | High-Yield Clinical Case Questions | 20 |
| **Total** | | **400** |
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# SECTION 1: Endocrine System – Glands & Hormones (60 Questions)
**1. Which endocrine gland is located in the sella turcica of the
sphenoid bone?**
A. Pineal gland
B. Pituitary gland
C. Hypothalamus
D. Thyroid gland
**Answer: B – Pituitary gland**
*Rationale:* The pituitary (hypophysis) sits within the sella turcica. The
hypothalamus is above, pineal is posterior, thyroid is in the neck.
**2. Which hormone is released by the posterior pituitary?**
A. Growth hormone (GH)
B. Oxytocin
C. Prolactin
D. TSH
**Answer: B – Oxytocin**
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*Rationale:* Posterior pituitary stores and releases oxytocin and ADH
(vasopressin), which are synthesized in the hypothalamus.
**3. The adrenal medulla secretes which type of hormones?**
A. Mineralocorticoids
B. Glucocorticoids
C. Catecholamines
D. Androgens
**Answer: C – Catecholamines**
*Rationale:* Adrenal medulla = modified sympathetic ganglion →
releases epinephrine (80%) and norepinephrine (20%). Cortex releases
steroids.
**4. Which hormone lowers blood calcium levels?**
A. Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
B. Calcitonin
C. Calcitriol
D. Vitamin D
**Answer: B – Calcitonin**
*Rationale:* Calcitonin (thyroid C-cells) inhibits osteoclast activity →
lowers serum calcium. PTH and calcitriol raise calcium.
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**5. A patient has a pituitary tumor that secretes excess ACTH. Which
lab finding is expected?**
A. Low cortisol
B. High cortisol
C. Low aldosterone
D. High TSH
**Answer: B – High cortisol**
*Rationale:* ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex to release cortisol. Excess
ACTH → Cushing’s disease (hypercortisolism).
**6. Which endocrine gland atrophies with age and produces
melatonin?**
A. Thymus
B. Pineal gland
C. Parathyroid
D. Adrenal
**Answer: B – Pineal gland**
*Rationale:* Pineal gland secretes melatonin (circadian rhythm).
Calcifies/atrophies with age.
BIOL251 HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I –
MODULE 4 EXAM PRACTICE WEST COAST
UNIVERSITY | 2026 CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT
400 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS & RATIONALES
# Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Question Count |
|---------|-------|----------------|
| 1 | Endocrine System – Glands & Hormones | 60 |
| 2 | Endocrine System – Mechanisms & Regulation | 40 |
| 3 | Blood – Composition & Function | 50 |
| 4 | Blood – Hemostasis & Blood Typing | 30 |
| 5 | Heart Anatomy | 50 |
| 6 | Cardiac Physiology (ECG, Cardiac Cycle, Output) | 60 |
| 7 | Blood Vessels & Hemodynamics | 50 |
| 8 | Lymphatic System & Immunity (Basic) | 40 |
| 9 | High-Yield Clinical Case Questions | 20 |
| **Total** | | **400** |
,2|Page
---
# SECTION 1: Endocrine System – Glands & Hormones (60 Questions)
**1. Which endocrine gland is located in the sella turcica of the
sphenoid bone?**
A. Pineal gland
B. Pituitary gland
C. Hypothalamus
D. Thyroid gland
**Answer: B – Pituitary gland**
*Rationale:* The pituitary (hypophysis) sits within the sella turcica. The
hypothalamus is above, pineal is posterior, thyroid is in the neck.
**2. Which hormone is released by the posterior pituitary?**
A. Growth hormone (GH)
B. Oxytocin
C. Prolactin
D. TSH
**Answer: B – Oxytocin**
,3|Page
*Rationale:* Posterior pituitary stores and releases oxytocin and ADH
(vasopressin), which are synthesized in the hypothalamus.
**3. The adrenal medulla secretes which type of hormones?**
A. Mineralocorticoids
B. Glucocorticoids
C. Catecholamines
D. Androgens
**Answer: C – Catecholamines**
*Rationale:* Adrenal medulla = modified sympathetic ganglion →
releases epinephrine (80%) and norepinephrine (20%). Cortex releases
steroids.
**4. Which hormone lowers blood calcium levels?**
A. Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
B. Calcitonin
C. Calcitriol
D. Vitamin D
**Answer: B – Calcitonin**
*Rationale:* Calcitonin (thyroid C-cells) inhibits osteoclast activity →
lowers serum calcium. PTH and calcitriol raise calcium.
, 4|Page
**5. A patient has a pituitary tumor that secretes excess ACTH. Which
lab finding is expected?**
A. Low cortisol
B. High cortisol
C. Low aldosterone
D. High TSH
**Answer: B – High cortisol**
*Rationale:* ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex to release cortisol. Excess
ACTH → Cushing’s disease (hypercortisolism).
**6. Which endocrine gland atrophies with age and produces
melatonin?**
A. Thymus
B. Pineal gland
C. Parathyroid
D. Adrenal
**Answer: B – Pineal gland**
*Rationale:* Pineal gland secretes melatonin (circadian rhythm).
Calcifies/atrophies with age.
