WGU Anatomy and Physiology 1 Exam Questions
and Answers (2026) | Comprehensive Review
with Detailed Rationales | A+ Verified
• Transverse plane . Answer: Horizontal plane that divides the body into the top and
bottom
• Coronal plane . Answer: Vertical plane that divides the body into front and back
sections
• Sagittal plane . Answer: Plane that divides the body into left and right sections
• Cephalic . Answer: Toward the head -same as superior for a human
• Caudal . Answer: Toward the tail -same as inferior for a human
• Dorsal . Answer: Toward the back - same as posterior for a human
• Ventral . Answer: Toward the belly -same as anterior for a human
• Superior . Answer: Above or toward the head
• Inferior . Answer: Below or toward the feet
• Distal . Answer: Farther from the trunk or origin
• Proximal . Answer: Closer to the trunk or origin
• Superficial . Answer: Toward or on the surface
• Deep or internal . Answer: Away from the surface
• Anterior or ventral . Answer: Toward the front or toward the belly
• Posterior or dorsal . Answer: Toward the rear or toward the back
• Medial . Answer: Toward the midline
• Lateral . Answer: Toward the side
• Cephalic . Answer: Head
• Orbital . Answer: Eye
• Nasal . Answer: Nose
,• Buccal . Answer: Cheek
• Oral . Answer: Mouth
• Cervical . Answer: Neck
• Brachial . Answer: Arm
• Carpal . Answer: Wrist
• Manual . Answer: Hand
• Digital . Answer: Finger or toe
• Crural . Answer: Legs
• Coxal . Answer: Hip
• Femoral . Answer: Upper leg
• Pedal . Answer: Feet
• Thoracic . Answer: Below the neck and above the abdomen
• Abdominal . Answer: Between the chest and the pelvis
• Pelvic . Answer: Around the pelvis
• Inguinal . Answer: Groin
• Dorsal . Answer: Back
• Vertebral . Answer: Along center line of back
• Lumbar . Answer: Lower back
• Sacral . Answer: Base of the spine
• Dorsal region . Answer: Region of the body along the back. 2 major cavities - the
cranial cavity and the vertebral canal (spinal cavity)
• Cranial cavity . Answer: Contains the brain and is enclosed by the skull
• Vertebral canal . Answer: Contains the spinal cord and is enclosed by the bones that
compose the spinal column also known as the spinal cavity
, • Ventral cavities . Answer: Located in the front of the body and contain most of the
internal organs. 3 major cavities - thoracic, abdominal and pelvic.
• Thoracic cavity . Answer: Contains the lungs and heart and is enclosed by the rib
cage. The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm
• Abdominal cavity . Answer: Contains most of the digestive organs - stomach, liver,
pancreas, intestines - and some of the urinary structures - the kidney and the ureters.
The upper boundary is the diaphragm and the lower boundary is the brim of the pelvis
(landmark of the pelvis bones)
• Pelvic cavity . Answer: Contains the bladder, anus and reproductive organs and is
enclosed by the pelvis
• Abdominopelvic cavity . Answer: Since there is no anatomical division between the 2
cavities they are occasionally referred to as 1 region
• Homeostasis . Answer: The dynamic physiological process that helps people maintain
an internal environment suitable for normal function
• Feedback loop . Answer: A system used to control the level of a variable in which
there is an identifiable receptor (sensor) control center (integrator or comparator)
effectors, and methods of communication
• Variables . Answer: Parameters that are monitored and controlled or affected by the
feedback system
• Receptors or sensors . Answer: Detect changes in the variable
• Control centers or integrators . Answer: Compare the variable in relation to a set point
and signal the effectors to generate a response. These centers sometimes consider info
other than just the level of variable in decision making, such as time of day, age,
external conditions, etc.
• Effectors . Answer: Execute the necessary changes to adjust the variable
• Methods of communication . Answer: Components of the feedback loop that are
necessary in order for it to function. This often occurs through nerves or hormones. In
some cases the receptors and control centers are the same structures so there is no
need for these signaling modes in that part of the loop
• Feedback cycle . Answer: Any situation in which a variable is regulated and the level
of the variable impacts the direction in which the variable changes (i.e. increases or
decreases) even if there is not clearly identified loop components
and Answers (2026) | Comprehensive Review
with Detailed Rationales | A+ Verified
• Transverse plane . Answer: Horizontal plane that divides the body into the top and
bottom
• Coronal plane . Answer: Vertical plane that divides the body into front and back
sections
• Sagittal plane . Answer: Plane that divides the body into left and right sections
• Cephalic . Answer: Toward the head -same as superior for a human
• Caudal . Answer: Toward the tail -same as inferior for a human
• Dorsal . Answer: Toward the back - same as posterior for a human
• Ventral . Answer: Toward the belly -same as anterior for a human
• Superior . Answer: Above or toward the head
• Inferior . Answer: Below or toward the feet
• Distal . Answer: Farther from the trunk or origin
• Proximal . Answer: Closer to the trunk or origin
• Superficial . Answer: Toward or on the surface
• Deep or internal . Answer: Away from the surface
• Anterior or ventral . Answer: Toward the front or toward the belly
• Posterior or dorsal . Answer: Toward the rear or toward the back
• Medial . Answer: Toward the midline
• Lateral . Answer: Toward the side
• Cephalic . Answer: Head
• Orbital . Answer: Eye
• Nasal . Answer: Nose
,• Buccal . Answer: Cheek
• Oral . Answer: Mouth
• Cervical . Answer: Neck
• Brachial . Answer: Arm
• Carpal . Answer: Wrist
• Manual . Answer: Hand
• Digital . Answer: Finger or toe
• Crural . Answer: Legs
• Coxal . Answer: Hip
• Femoral . Answer: Upper leg
• Pedal . Answer: Feet
• Thoracic . Answer: Below the neck and above the abdomen
• Abdominal . Answer: Between the chest and the pelvis
• Pelvic . Answer: Around the pelvis
• Inguinal . Answer: Groin
• Dorsal . Answer: Back
• Vertebral . Answer: Along center line of back
• Lumbar . Answer: Lower back
• Sacral . Answer: Base of the spine
• Dorsal region . Answer: Region of the body along the back. 2 major cavities - the
cranial cavity and the vertebral canal (spinal cavity)
• Cranial cavity . Answer: Contains the brain and is enclosed by the skull
• Vertebral canal . Answer: Contains the spinal cord and is enclosed by the bones that
compose the spinal column also known as the spinal cavity
, • Ventral cavities . Answer: Located in the front of the body and contain most of the
internal organs. 3 major cavities - thoracic, abdominal and pelvic.
• Thoracic cavity . Answer: Contains the lungs and heart and is enclosed by the rib
cage. The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm
• Abdominal cavity . Answer: Contains most of the digestive organs - stomach, liver,
pancreas, intestines - and some of the urinary structures - the kidney and the ureters.
The upper boundary is the diaphragm and the lower boundary is the brim of the pelvis
(landmark of the pelvis bones)
• Pelvic cavity . Answer: Contains the bladder, anus and reproductive organs and is
enclosed by the pelvis
• Abdominopelvic cavity . Answer: Since there is no anatomical division between the 2
cavities they are occasionally referred to as 1 region
• Homeostasis . Answer: The dynamic physiological process that helps people maintain
an internal environment suitable for normal function
• Feedback loop . Answer: A system used to control the level of a variable in which
there is an identifiable receptor (sensor) control center (integrator or comparator)
effectors, and methods of communication
• Variables . Answer: Parameters that are monitored and controlled or affected by the
feedback system
• Receptors or sensors . Answer: Detect changes in the variable
• Control centers or integrators . Answer: Compare the variable in relation to a set point
and signal the effectors to generate a response. These centers sometimes consider info
other than just the level of variable in decision making, such as time of day, age,
external conditions, etc.
• Effectors . Answer: Execute the necessary changes to adjust the variable
• Methods of communication . Answer: Components of the feedback loop that are
necessary in order for it to function. This often occurs through nerves or hormones. In
some cases the receptors and control centers are the same structures so there is no
need for these signaling modes in that part of the loop
• Feedback cycle . Answer: Any situation in which a variable is regulated and the level
of the variable impacts the direction in which the variable changes (i.e. increases or
decreases) even if there is not clearly identified loop components
