HESI A2
Anatomy HESI A2 Practice Test Questions
Question 1 of 5
What is the primary role of the liver in the body?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Detoxifying harmful substances. While the liver does produce bile for digestion and stores nutrients like glycogen, its primary function is to filter and detoxify blood coming from the digestive tract before passing it to the rest of the body. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Producing insulin is mainly done by the pancreas, digesting food is primarily the role of the stomach and intestines, and storing energy is a function of various organs like muscles and fat cells.
Question 2 of 5
Which brain part is responsible for regulating heart rate and blood pressure?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The medulla oblongata, situated in the brainstem, plays a crucial role in controlling essential functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. It contains vital cardiovascular and respiratory centers, making it the correct choice for the regulation of heart rate and blood pressure. The cerebellum is primarily involved in coordinating movement and balance, not in regulating heart rate and blood pressure. The hypothalamus is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, regulating body temperature, hunger, and thirst, but not specifically heart rate and blood pressure. The pons is involved in functions like sleep, respiration, and bladder control, not primarily in regulating heart rate and blood pressure.
Question 3 of 5
What is the role of the mitochondria in the cell?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Energy production. Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell because they generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through the process of cellular respiration. ATP is a molecule that stores and releases energy, providing the cell with the necessary energy for various activities and functions. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Protein synthesis primarily occurs in the ribosomes, breaking down waste is mainly carried out by lysosomes, and cell division is orchestrated by the nucleus and other organelles like the centrioles.
Question 4 of 5
What is the primary function of the alveoli in the lungs?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary function of the alveoli in the lungs is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs responsible for this gas exchange during breathing. Oxygen diffuses from the inhaled air into the blood in the capillaries surrounding the alveoli, while carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled out of the body. Choice A is incorrect because the alveoli primarily facilitate the exchange of gases, not just the removal of carbon dioxide. Choice C is incorrect as the alveoli do not transport oxygen to the bloodstream but rather facilitate the exchange of gases. Choice D is incorrect as the alveoli are not involved in filtering blood but in gas exchange to ensure proper oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide in the respiratory process.
Question 5 of 5
Which part of the brain controls voluntary movement?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The cerebrum, specifically the motor cortex located within it, is responsible for controlling voluntary movements such as walking, writing, and speaking. This region of the brain plays a crucial role in coordinating and executing voluntary muscle actions, making it the correct answer in this context. The cerebellum (Choice A) primarily coordinates balance, posture, and coordination of voluntary movements but does not control voluntary movement itself. The brainstem (Choice C) is responsible for basic life functions like breathing and heart rate, not voluntary movements. The medulla oblongata (Choice D) controls vital functions like blood pressure and breathing, not voluntary movement.