HESI A2
Anatomy HESI A2 Practice Test Questions
Question 1 of 9
What is the role of the liver in detoxification?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The liver's primary function in detoxification is to convert harmful toxins into less harmful substances. This process helps in safeguarding the body from the adverse effects of toxins and is essential for maintaining overall health. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because secreting bile, storing glucose, and producing insulin are functions of the liver unrelated to detoxification.
Question 2 of 9
What type of joint is found at the elbow?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hinge. A hinge joint, such as the one found at the elbow, allows for movement primarily in one plane, enabling flexion and extension similar to the movement of a door hinge. This joint structure permits bending and straightening of the arm, controlling the range of motion in a specific direction. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. A ball and socket joint allows for multi-axial movement like the hip joint, a pivot joint allows for rotation around an axis like the joint between the first and second cervical vertebrae, and a saddle joint allows for movement in two planes at right angles to each other like the joint at the base of the thumb.
Question 3 of 9
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 4 of 9
Which vitamin is essential for bone health?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin D is the correct answer. It is essential for bone health as it helps in the absorption of calcium, a crucial mineral for maintaining strong and healthy bones. Adequate levels of Vitamin D are necessary to prevent conditions like osteoporosis and ensure optimal bone development and strength. Choice A, Vitamin A, is important for vision and immune function, but it is not directly related to bone health. Choice C, Vitamin C, is essential for collagen synthesis and immune function, but it is not primarily responsible for bone health. Choice D, Vitamin K, plays a role in blood clotting and bone metabolism, but Vitamin D has a more direct impact on bone health through its role in calcium absorption.
Question 5 of 9
Which of the following is an organ of the respiratory system?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The larynx is an essential organ of the respiratory system. It plays a crucial role in producing sound, protecting the trachea from food aspiration, and regulating the airflow to and from the lungs. The brain is part of the nervous system, the urethra is part of the urinary system, and the pancreas is part of the digestive system. Therefore, they are not directly related to the respiratory system's functions.
Question 6 of 9
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 7 of 9
What is the primary function of the hypothalamus?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The primary function of the hypothalamus is to regulate body balance and thermoregulation. It plays a crucial role in maintaining overall body equilibrium by controlling functions such as body temperature and water balance. While the hypothalamus is also involved in hunger and thirst regulation, its main role is to ensure homeostasis by monitoring and adjusting body balance and temperature. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because hunger and thirst regulation, sleep and circadian rhythm regulation, and control of voluntary movements are secondary functions of the hypothalamus compared to its primary role in maintaining body balance and thermoregulation.
Question 8 of 9
What is the function of the urinary bladder?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: To store urine. The urinary bladder's primary function is to store urine produced by the kidneys until it is ready to be excreted from the body. It acts as a reservoir that temporarily holds urine until an appropriate time for elimination. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the urinary bladder does not filter waste from the blood, regulate fluid balance, or directly remove waste from the body. These functions are primarily carried out by the kidneys and other organs in the excretory system.
Question 9 of 9
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.