Anatomy and physiology practice questions
Fifteen questions across the body systems that come up in every A&P course, from directional terms to the nephron. Pick an answer to see the explanation.
Written by the Quizard team. Last updated
A&P exams mix vocabulary with function: you need the name of a structure and what it does, and you need to place it on the body. These questions cover the systems most first-year courses examine. Your own exam will follow your lecturer’s slides and lab manual, so use this set to find gaps, then go back to your course material for the detail.
| Term | Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Superior / inferior | Towards / away from the head | The neck is superior to the chest |
| Anterior / posterior | Front / back of the body | The sternum is anterior to the heart |
| Medial / lateral | Towards / away from the midline | The nose is medial to the eyes |
| Proximal / distal | Closer to / further from where a limb attaches | The elbow is proximal to the wrist |
| Superficial / deep | Towards / away from the body surface | The skin is superficial to muscle |
Questions
0 of 15 answered
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1. Which term describes a structure closer to the midline of the body?
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Answer: Medial. Medial means towards the midline; lateral means away from it.
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2. The elbow is ___ to the wrist.
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Answer: Proximal. On a limb, proximal means closer to where the limb attaches to the trunk, and the elbow is closer than the wrist.
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3. Which plane divides the body into anterior and posterior parts?
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Answer: Frontal (coronal). A frontal or coronal plane runs side to side, separating front from back. Sagittal planes separate left from right.
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4. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta?
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Answer: Left ventricle. The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta and the systemic circulation, which is why its wall is the thickest.
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5. Which valve lies between the right atrium and the right ventricle?
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Answer: Tricuspid valve. The tricuspid valve guards the right atrioventricular opening. The mitral (bicuspid) valve is its counterpart on the left.
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6. Where does gas exchange take place in the lungs?
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Answer: Alveoli. Oxygen and carbon dioxide cross the thin walls of the alveoli and their surrounding capillaries. The airways above only conduct air.
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7. Which muscle does most of the work in quiet breathing in?
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Answer: Diaphragm. The diaphragm contracts and flattens, enlarging the chest cavity. Accessory muscles join in only during forced breathing.
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8. What is the functional unit of the kidney?
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Answer: Nephron. Each kidney contains about a million nephrons, which filter blood and adjust what is reabsorbed or excreted.
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9. Which hormone released from the posterior pituitary increases water reabsorption in the kidney?
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Answer: Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin). ADH makes the collecting ducts more permeable to water. Aldosterone also affects water balance, but it comes from the adrenal cortex.
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10. Which part of the brain coordinates balance and fine movement?
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Answer: Cerebellum. The cerebellum compares intended movement with what is actually happening and smooths it out.
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11. Where is most nutrient absorption completed?
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Answer: Small intestine. The villi and microvilli of the small intestine give it a huge surface area for absorbing nutrients.
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12. Which cells produce insulin?
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Answer: Beta cells of the pancreatic islets. Beta cells make insulin; alpha cells make glucagon, which has the opposite effect on blood glucose.
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13. Which is the longest bone in the human body?
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Answer: Femur. The femur, in the thigh, is the longest and strongest bone in the body.
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14. Where are red blood cells mainly produced in adults?
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Answer: Red bone marrow. In adults, red marrow in bones such as the pelvis, sternum and vertebrae produces red blood cells.
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15. Which type of muscle tissue is under voluntary control?
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Answer: Skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle is voluntary. Cardiac and smooth muscle work without conscious control.
For exam study only, not clinical guidance. Doses, reference ranges and protocols vary, so follow your course, your local policy and current references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Further reading
Your exam is written from your slides. Practise from them.
Drop in a anatomy and physiology lecture and Quizard writes questions like these from it, links each one to its slide, and brings back the ones you miss.