The many cell types of the body are grouped into how many broad categories of tissue?Answer: 4. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 4.1, Types of Tissues. Read 2026-09-19.
On an arm or a leg, which term means nearer to the point where the limb attaches to the trunk?Answer: Proximal. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 1.6, Anatomical Terminology. Read 2026-09-19.
What is the smallest independently functioning unit of a living organism?Answer: A cell. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 1.2, Structural Organization of the Human Body. Read 2026-09-19.
Which directional term describes the front of the body, or the direction toward the front?Answer: Anterior (ventral). Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 1.6, Anatomical Terminology. Read 2026-09-19.
Which organelle is described as the energy-conversion factory of the cell?Answer: Mitochondrion. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 3.2, The Cytoplasm and Cellular Organelles. Read 2026-09-19.
Which plane divides the body vertically into right and left sides?Answer: Sagittal plane. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 1.6, Anatomical Terminology. Read 2026-09-19.
Which term describes a position above, or higher than, another part of the body?Answer: Superior (cranial). Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 1.6, Anatomical Terminology. Read 2026-09-19.
Skin, bones and joints 7
The elbow works like the hinge of a door. Which type of synovial joint is it?Answer: Hinge joint. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 9.4, Synovial Joints. Read 2026-09-19.
How many bones are in the adult human skeleton?Answer: 206. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.1, Divisions of the Skeletal System. Read 2026-09-19.
How many pairs of ribs form the rib cage?Answer: 12. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.4, The Thoracic Cage. Read 2026-09-19.
Melanocytes in the epidermis make which pigment, the one that gives hair and skin their color?Answer: Melanin. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 5.1, Layers of the Skin. Read 2026-09-19.
The skin has two main layers. Which one is on the outside?Answer: Epidermis. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 5.1, Layers of the Skin. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the longest and strongest bone of the body?Answer: Femur. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 8.4, Bones of the Lower Limb. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the only movable bone of the skull?Answer: Mandible (lower jaw). Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.2, The Skull. Read 2026-09-19.
Muscles 4
How many types of muscle tissue does the body have?Answer: 3. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 10.1, Overview of Muscle Tissues. Read 2026-09-19.
Where is cardiac muscle tissue found?Answer: Only in the heart. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 10.7 and 4.4 and 10.8. Read 2026-09-19.
Which dome-shaped muscle separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity?Answer: Diaphragm. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 11.4 and 22.3. Read 2026-09-19.
Which structure connects a muscle to a bone?Answer: Tendon. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.1, Interactions of Skeletal Muscles, Their Fascicle Arrangement, and Their Lever Systems. Read 2026-09-19.
Nerves, senses and hormones 6
How do most hormones travel from a gland to their target cells?Answer: In the bloodstream. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 17.1, An Overview of the Endocrine System. Read 2026-09-19.
What is the everyday name for the tympanic membrane?Answer: Eardrum. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 14.1, Sensory Perception. Read 2026-09-19.
Which division of the autonomic nervous system is associated with the fight-or-flight response?Answer: Sympathetic division. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 15.1, Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which lobe of the cerebrum is responsible for primary visual perception?Answer: Occipital lobe. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.2, The Central Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which part of a neuron carries the nerve impulse away toward other cells?Answer: Axon. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 12.2, Nervous Tissue. Read 2026-09-19.
Which two structures make up the central nervous system?Answer: The brain and the spinal cord. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 12.1, Basic Structure and Function of the Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Heart, blood and lymph 6
How many chambers does the human heart have?Answer: 4. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 19.1, Heart Anatomy. Read 2026-09-19.
What is the main job of red blood cells (erythrocytes)?Answer: Carrying oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 18.3, Erythrocytes. Read 2026-09-19.
Which chamber of the heart pumps blood into the aorta?Answer: Left ventricle. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 19.1, Heart Anatomy. Read 2026-09-19.
Which formed element of the blood gathers to plug a damaged blood vessel?Answer: Platelets. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 18.4 and 18.5. Read 2026-09-19.
Which kind of blood vessel carries blood away from the heart?Answer: Artery. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 20.1, Structure and Function of Blood Vessels. Read 2026-09-19.
Which microscopic vessels supply blood to the tissues themselves?Answer: Capillaries. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 20.1 and 4.2. Read 2026-09-19.
Airways and lungs 4
At the respiratory membrane, oxygen enters the blood. Which gas leaves the blood to be breathed out?Answer: Carbon dioxide. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.4, Gas Exchange. Read 2026-09-19.
How many lobes does the right lung have?Answer: 3. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.2, The Lungs. Read 2026-09-19.
In which small, grape-like sacs of the lungs does gas exchange take place?Answer: Alveoli. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.1, Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System. Read 2026-09-19.
What is the everyday name for the trachea?Answer: Windpipe. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.1, Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System. Read 2026-09-19.
Digestion and kidneys 6
In which organ does practically all absorption of nutrients take place?Answer: Small intestine. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.5, The Small and Large Intestines. Read 2026-09-19.
What are the functional units of the kidney, the structures that cleanse the blood?Answer: Nephrons. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 25.3, Gross Anatomy of the Kidney. Read 2026-09-19.
What is the hardest substance in the body?Answer: Tooth enamel. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.3, The Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus. Read 2026-09-19.
Which muscular tube carries food from the pharynx to the stomach?Answer: Esophagus. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.3, The Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus. Read 2026-09-19.
Which organ collects urine from both ureters?Answer: Urinary bladder. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 25.2, Gross Anatomy of Urine Transport. Read 2026-09-19.
Which organ produces bile?Answer: Liver. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.6, Accessory Organs in Digestion: The Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder. Read 2026-09-19.
How this list was compiled
OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e, 37 sections in chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 25, read on 2026-09-19. Each question names its own section. Facts checked there; all wording is own work Licence: own work
Course: all 60 questions with answers
Body plan, cells and tissues 10
A frontal (coronal) plane divides the body into which two portions?Answer: Anterior (front) and posterior (rear). Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 1.6, Anatomical Terminology. Read 2026-09-19.
A serous membrane has two layers. Which layer covers the organs themselves?Answer: Visceral layer. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 1.6, Anatomical Terminology. Read 2026-09-19.
Blood is classified under which of the four tissue types?Answer: Connective tissue. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 4.3 and 18.1. Read 2026-09-19.
Body temperature climbs above its set point and the body brings it back down. Which mechanism reverses a deviation from the set point?Answer: Negative feedback. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 1.5, Homeostasis. Read 2026-09-19.
During which phase of the cell cycle does a cell replicate its DNA?Answer: S phase. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 3.5, Cell Growth and Division. Read 2026-09-19.
In one cycle of the sodium-potassium pump, which ions move which way?Answer: 3 sodium ions out, 2 potassium ions in. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 3.1, The Cell Membrane. Read 2026-09-19.
Osmosis is the diffusion of which substance through a semipermeable membrane?Answer: Water. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 3.1, The Cell Membrane. Read 2026-09-19.
Which epithelium forms the alveoli of the lungs, where gases diffuse, and the lining of capillaries?Answer: Simple squamous epithelium. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 4.2, Epithelial Tissue. Read 2026-09-19.
Which organelle is the site of protein synthesis?Answer: Ribosome. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 3.2, The Cytoplasm and Cellular Organelles. Read 2026-09-19.
Which serous membrane encloses the cavity that surrounds the lungs?Answer: Pleura. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 1.6, Anatomical Terminology. Read 2026-09-19.
Skin, bones and joints 10
By function, a freely movable joint is classified as which of these?Answer: Diarthrosis. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 9.1, Classification of Joints. Read 2026-09-19.
Each adult hip bone forms from three bones that fuse in the late teenage years. Which three?Answer: Ilium, ischium and pubis. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 8.3, The Pelvic Girdle and Pelvis. Read 2026-09-19.
The epidermis is made of which tissue?Answer: Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 5.1, Layers of the Skin. Read 2026-09-19.
How many bones are in the adult axial skeleton?Answer: 80. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.1, Divisions of the Skeletal System. Read 2026-09-19.
The sacrum is formed by the fusion of how many vertebrae?Answer: 5. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.3, The Vertebral Column. Read 2026-09-19.
What is the tubular shaft of a long bone called?Answer: Diaphysis. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 6.3, Bone Structure. Read 2026-09-19.
Where does hematopoiesis, the production of blood cells, take place?Answer: Red bone marrow. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 6.1, The Functions of the Skeletal System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which bone cell is responsible for forming new bone?Answer: Osteoblast. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 6.3, Bone Structure. Read 2026-09-19.
Which glands produce the watery sweat that cools the body?Answer: Eccrine sweat glands. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 5.2, Accessory Structures of the Skin. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the deepest layer of the epidermis?Answer: Stratum basale. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 5.1, Layers of the Skin. Read 2026-09-19.
Muscles 7
A muscle whose action opposes the prime mover is called what?Answer: Antagonist. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.1, Interactions of Skeletal Muscles, Their Fascicle Arrangement, and Their Lever Systems. Read 2026-09-19.
The movable end of a muscle, attached to the bone being pulled, is called what?Answer: Insertion. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.1, Interactions of Skeletal Muscles, Their Fascicle Arrangement, and Their Lever Systems. Read 2026-09-19.
To keep a contraction going, calcium ions bind to which protein of the thin filament?Answer: Troponin. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 10.3, Muscle Fiber Contraction and Relaxation. Read 2026-09-19.
What is the functional unit of a skeletal muscle fiber?Answer: Sarcomere. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 10.2 and 10.3. Read 2026-09-19.
Which muscle is the main muscle of chewing, the one that raises the mandible?Answer: Masseter. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.3, Axial Muscles of the Head, Neck, and Back. Read 2026-09-19.
Which of these places has smooth muscle tissue?Answer: The walls of the digestive tract. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 10.8, Smooth Muscle. Read 2026-09-19.
Which protein forms the thick filaments of a sarcomere?Answer: Myosin. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 10.2, Skeletal Muscle. Read 2026-09-19.
Nerves, senses and hormones 10
Along with the pons, which part of the brain stem regulates the cardiovascular and respiratory systems?Answer: Medulla oblongata. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.2, The Central Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
How many cranial nerves are there?Answer: 12. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.4, The Peripheral Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which band of white matter is the major pathway for communication between the two cerebral hemispheres?Answer: Corpus callosum. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.2, The Central Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which butterfly-shaped gland lies in front of the trachea, just below the larynx?Answer: Thyroid gland. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 17.4 and 17.6. Read 2026-09-19.
Which cells of the retina are the photoreceptors?Answer: Rods and cones. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 14.1, Sensory Perception. Read 2026-09-19.
Which glial cell insulates axons in the central nervous system?Answer: Oligodendrocyte. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 12.2, Nervous Tissue. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the thick, fibrous, outermost layer of the meninges?Answer: Dura mater. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.3, Circulation and the Central Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which part of the inner ear is responsible for hearing?Answer: Cochlea. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 14.1, Sensory Perception. Read 2026-09-19.
Which structure relays information between the cerebral cortex and the periphery?Answer: Thalamus. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.2, The Central Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which value is most commonly used for the resting membrane potential of a neuron?Answer: -70 mV. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 12.4, The Action Potential. Read 2026-09-19.
Heart, blood and lymph 9
About how long does an erythrocyte last in the circulation?Answer: Up to 120 days. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 18.3, Erythrocytes. Read 2026-09-19.
Blood plasma is about what percent water?Answer: 92 percent. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 18.1, An Overview of Blood. Read 2026-09-19.
Hemostasis stops blood loss in three steps. Which comes first?Answer: Vascular spasm. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 18.5, Hemostasis. Read 2026-09-19.
What is the period called when the heart contracts and pumps blood into circulation?Answer: Systole. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 19.3, Cardiac Cycle. Read 2026-09-19.
Where do T cells mature?Answer: Thymus. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 21.1 and 1.2. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the middle layer of the wall of an artery?Answer: Tunica media. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 20.1, Structure and Function of Blood Vessels. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the most common of the leukocytes (white blood cells)?Answer: Neutrophil. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 18.4 and 18.3. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the thick, muscular middle layer of the wall of the heart?Answer: Myocardium. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 19.1, Heart Anatomy. Read 2026-09-19.
Which structure is known as the pacemaker of the heart?Answer: Sinoatrial (SA) node. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 19.2, Cardiac Muscle and Electrical Activity. Read 2026-09-19.
Airways and lungs 6
Besides the diaphragm, which muscles are used in normal inspiration?Answer: External intercostal muscles. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.3, The Process of Breathing. Read 2026-09-19.
Boyle's law, at a constant temperature: if the volume of a gas increases, what happens to its pressure?Answer: It decreases. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.3, The Process of Breathing. Read 2026-09-19.
Tidal volume is the air that enters the lungs in a normal quiet breath. About how much is it?Answer: About 500 milliliters. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.3, The Process of Breathing. Read 2026-09-19.
The trachea is held open by 16 to 20 C-shaped pieces of what?Answer: Hyaline cartilage. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.1, Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which cells of the alveolar wall secrete pulmonary surfactant?Answer: Type II alveolar cells. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.1, Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which of these belongs to the respiratory zone, where gas exchange occurs?Answer: Alveolar sac. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.1, Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System. Read 2026-09-19.
Digestion and kidneys 8
A frontal section through the kidney shows an outer region and an inner region. What is the outer region called?Answer: Renal cortex. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 25.3, Gross Anatomy of the Kidney. Read 2026-09-19.
About what share of the filtrate made by the kidneys is returned to the circulation by reabsorption?Answer: 99 percent. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 25.5, Physiology of Urine Formation. Read 2026-09-19.
In a nephron, what is the glomerulus?Answer: A tuft of capillaries where blood is filtered. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 25.4, Microscopic Anatomy of the Kidney. Read 2026-09-19.
Salivary amylase begins the chemical breakdown of which nutrient?Answer: Carbohydrates. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.3, The Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus. Read 2026-09-19.
Starting from the lumen, which is the first of the four layers of the wall of the alimentary canal?Answer: Mucosa. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.1, Overview of the Digestive System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which cells of the gastric glands produce hydrochloric acid?Answer: Parietal cells. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.4, The Stomach. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the first and shortest region of the small intestine?Answer: Duodenum. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.5, The Small and Large Intestines. Read 2026-09-19.
Which organ delivers a juice of digestive enzymes and bicarbonate ions to the duodenum?Answer: Pancreas. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.6, Accessory Organs in Digestion: The Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder. Read 2026-09-19.
How this list was compiled
OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e, 48 sections in chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 25, read on 2026-09-19. Each question names its own section. Facts checked there; all wording is own work Licence: own work
Hard: all 40 questions with answers
Body plan, cells and tissues 5
In which stage of mitosis do the chromosomes line up along a plane in the middle of the cell?Answer: Metaphase. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 3.5, Cell Growth and Division. Read 2026-09-19.
Which cell junction forms a passageway between the membranes of adjacent cells?Answer: Gap junction. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 4.2, Epithelial Tissue. Read 2026-09-19.
Which epithelium appears to be stratified but is really a single layer of cells?Answer: Pseudostratified columnar epithelium. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 4.2 and 22.1. Read 2026-09-19.
Which organelle sorts, modifies and ships off the products that come from the rough endoplasmic reticulum?Answer: Golgi apparatus. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 3.2, The Cytoplasm and Cellular Organelles. Read 2026-09-19.
Which organs does the source name as the home of transitional epithelium, the lining whose cells change shape as it stretches?Answer: The ureters and urinary bladder. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 4.2 and 25.2. Read 2026-09-19.
Skin, bones and joints 7
The bony bump on the inner side of the ankle is the medial malleolus. Which bone is it part of?Answer: Tibia. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 8.4, Bones of the Lower Limb. Read 2026-09-19.
The dens, or odontoid process, is an upward projection of which vertebra?Answer: The axis (C2). Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 7.3 and 9.4. Read 2026-09-19.
In endochondral ossification, bone develops by replacing which tissue?Answer: Hyaline cartilage. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 6.4, Bone Formation and Development. Read 2026-09-19.
Thick skin has a fifth epidermal layer that thin skin lacks. Which layer is it?Answer: Stratum lucidum. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 5.1, Layers of the Skin. Read 2026-09-19.
Through which opening does all the venous blood returning from the brain leave the base of the skull?Answer: Jugular foramen. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.2, The Skull. Read 2026-09-19.
Which cell of the epidermis functions as a receptor for touch?Answer: Merkel cell. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 5.1, Layers of the Skin. Read 2026-09-19.
Which structure passes through the foramen magnum of the skull?Answer: Spinal cord. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.2, The Skull. Read 2026-09-19.
Muscles 6
Four muscles form the rotator cuff. Which of these is NOT one of them?Answer: Teres major. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.5, Muscles of the Pectoral Girdle and Upper Limbs. Read 2026-09-19.
When the biceps brachii flexes the forearm, the brachialis assists it. What is a muscle in that helping role called?Answer: Synergist. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.1, Interactions of Skeletal Muscles, Their Fascicle Arrangement, and Their Lever Systems. Read 2026-09-19.
Which group of three thigh muscles flexes the knee?Answer: The hamstring group. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.6, Appendicular Muscles of the Pelvic Girdle and Lower Limbs. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the major muscle that laterally flexes and rotates the head?Answer: Sternocleidomastoid. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.3, Axial Muscles of the Head, Neck, and Back. Read 2026-09-19.
Which muscle is the main extensor of the forearm at the elbow?Answer: Triceps brachii. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.5, Muscles of the Pectoral Girdle and Upper Limbs. Read 2026-09-19.
Which two muscles make up the iliopsoas group?Answer: Psoas major and iliacus. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.6, Appendicular Muscles of the Pelvic Girdle and Lower Limbs. Read 2026-09-19.
Nerves, senses and hormones 7
Broca's area is responsible for what?Answer: The production of language. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.2, The Central Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
The posterior pituitary releases oxytocin and ADH but does not make them. Where are they produced?Answer: Hypothalamus. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 17.3, The Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus. Read 2026-09-19.
The precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe is which area of the cortex?Answer: Primary motor cortex. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.2, The Central Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
What is the propagation of an action potential along a myelinated axon called?Answer: Saltatory conduction. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 12.4, The Action Potential. Read 2026-09-19.
Which cranial nerve contributes to homeostatic control of the organs of the thoracic and upper abdominal cavities?Answer: Vagus nerve. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.4, The Peripheral Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which nerve connects to the diaphragm?Answer: Phrenic nerve. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.4, The Peripheral Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which structure produces cerebrospinal fluid by filtering the blood?Answer: Choroid plexus. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 13.3 and 12.2. Read 2026-09-19.
Heart, blood and lymph 6
After birth, which are the only veins in the body that carry highly oxygenated blood?Answer: Pulmonary veins. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 19.1 and 20.1. Read 2026-09-19.
An impulse starts at the sinoatrial node. Which part of the conduction system of the heart does it reach next?Answer: Atrioventricular (AV) node. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 19.2, Cardiac Muscle and Electrical Activity. Read 2026-09-19.
Erythropoietin (EPO) is secreted in response to low oxygen levels. Which organs secrete it?Answer: The kidneys. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 18.2, Production of the Formed Elements. Read 2026-09-19.
The fossa ovalis, in the wall between the atria, is a remnant of which opening in the fetal heart?Answer: Foramen ovale. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 19.1, Heart Anatomy. Read 2026-09-19.
Into which vein does the thoracic duct, the larger of the two lymphatic ducts, drain?Answer: Left subclavian vein. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 21.1, Anatomy of the Lymphatic and Immune Systems. Read 2026-09-19.
Which of these arteries is one of the three major branches of the aortic arch?Answer: Brachiocephalic artery. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 20.5, Circulatory Pathways. Read 2026-09-19.
Airways and lungs 4
At which landmark does the trachea branch into the right and left primary bronchi?Answer: Carina. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.1, Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which cells make up as much as 97 percent of the alveolar surface area?Answer: Type I alveolar cells. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.1, Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which is the largest piece of cartilage in the larynx?Answer: Thyroid cartilage. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.1, Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System. Read 2026-09-19.
Which volume is the air left in the lungs after you exhale as much air as possible?Answer: Residual volume. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.3, The Process of Breathing. Read 2026-09-19.
Digestion and kidneys 5
Filtrate leaves Bowman's capsule. Which segment of the renal tubule does it enter first?Answer: Proximal convoluted tubule. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 25.4, Microscopic Anatomy of the Kidney. Read 2026-09-19.
In a villus of the small intestine, which vessel absorbs the breakdown products of lipids?Answer: The lacteal, a lymphatic capillary. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.5, The Small and Large Intestines. Read 2026-09-19.
The macula densa is part of the wall of which segment of the nephron?Answer: Distal convoluted tubule. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 25.4, Microscopic Anatomy of the Kidney. Read 2026-09-19.
What do the chief cells of the gastric glands secrete?Answer: Pepsinogen. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.4, The Stomach. Read 2026-09-19.
Which cells cover the glomerular capillaries with finger-like arms and form the filtration slits?Answer: Podocytes. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 25.4, Microscopic Anatomy of the Kidney. Read 2026-09-19.
How this list was compiled
OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e, 31 sections in chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 25, read on 2026-09-19. Each question names its own section. Facts checked there; all wording is own work Licence: own work
Odd but true: all 20 questions with answers
Body plan, cells and tissues 2
About how many genes are estimated to be spread across the 46 chromosomes of a human cell?Answer: Almost 22,000. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 3.3, The Nucleus and DNA Replication. Read 2026-09-19.
Cartilage has no blood vessels of its own. How do its cells get their nutrients?Answer: By diffusion through the surrounding matrix. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 4.3, Connective Tissue Supports and Protects. Read 2026-09-19.
Skin, bones and joints 6
A shrew has a tiny neck and a giraffe a very long one. How many cervical vertebrae does almost every mammal have, whatever its size?Answer: 7. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.3, The Vertebral Column. Read 2026-09-19.
The femur is the longest bone of the body. About what share of the total height of a person does it account for?Answer: About one-quarter. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 8.4, Bones of the Lower Limb. Read 2026-09-19.
The first cervical vertebra supports the skull. After which figure of Greek mythology is it named?Answer: Atlas. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.3, The Vertebral Column. Read 2026-09-19.
The pisiform is a small bone of the wrist, named for its shape. What does pisiform mean?Answer: Pea-shaped. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 8.2, Bones of the Upper Limb. Read 2026-09-19.
What raises the hairs when you get goose bumps?Answer: Tiny smooth muscles called arrector pili. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 5.2, Accessory Structures of the Skin. Read 2026-09-19.
Which bone does not contact any other bone?Answer: Hyoid bone. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 7.2, The Skull. Read 2026-09-19.
Muscles 2
Many muscle names are Latin descriptions. What does brevis mean in the name of a muscle?Answer: Short. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, sections 11.2 and 11.6. Read 2026-09-19.
Which muscle of the cheek allows you to whistle, blow and suck?Answer: Buccinator. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 11.3, Axial Muscles of the Head, Neck, and Back. Read 2026-09-19.
Nerves, senses and hormones 3
Almost all sensory information passes through the thalamus on its way to the cortex. Which sense is the exception?Answer: Smell. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.2, The Central Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
The arachnoid mater, the middle layer of the meninges, is named for something it looks like. What is that?Answer: A spider web. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 13.3, Circulation and the Central Nervous System. Read 2026-09-19.
Umami was recognized as the fifth taste in the mid-1980s. What does the Japanese word mean?Answer: Delicious taste. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 14.1, Sensory Perception. Read 2026-09-19.
Heart, blood and lymph 3
Erythrocytes are estimated to make up about what share of all the cells in the body?Answer: About 25 percent. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 18.3, Erythrocytes. Read 2026-09-19.
What does a red blood cell push out as it matures in the red bone marrow?Answer: Its nucleus and most of its other organelles. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 18.3, Erythrocytes. Read 2026-09-19.
Which real structures inside the heart are sometimes called heart strings?Answer: Chordae tendineae. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 19.1, Heart Anatomy. Read 2026-09-19.
Airways and lungs 2
The bump known as the Adam's apple is part of which structure?Answer: The thyroid cartilage of the larynx. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.1, Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System. Read 2026-09-19.
The left lung occupies a smaller volume than the right and has a notch in its surface. What is the notch for?Answer: It allows space for the heart. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 22.2, The Lungs. Read 2026-09-19.
Digestion and kidneys 2
The alimentary canal has a nerve network of its own, the enteric nervous system. About how many neurons does it contain?Answer: About 100 million. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.1, Overview of the Digestive System. Read 2026-09-19.
Jejunum, the name of the middle part of the small intestine, comes from Latin. What does it mean?Answer: Empty. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, section 23.5, The Small and Large Intestines. Read 2026-09-19.
How this list was compiled
OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e, 19 sections in chapters 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22 and 23, read on 2026-09-19. Each question names its own section. Facts checked there; all wording is own work Licence: own work
How it works
All 160 anatomy questions and answers on this page are words only: a sentence, four choices and no drawing to point at. Choose the Basic, Course, Hard or Odd but true bank and tap an answer. The right choice is marked, a short note explains it, and the textbook section behind the fact is named.
Read the full guide
Four banks, seven regions of the body
Basic holds 40 simple anatomy questions: directional terms, how many bones, ribs and heart chambers there are, and what the main organs do. Course holds 60 in the chapter order of a college text, from feedback loops to the kidney, so open it when you want anatomy and physiology exam questions to practice on. Hard holds 40, and Odd but true holds 20. The topic menu cuts any bank down to one of seven regions of the body.
What you see when you check an answer
Practice marks your choice at once and shows a note of two or three sentences. The note does more than repeat the answer: miss the question on the pleura and it also tells you which membrane wraps the heart. Exam holds every answer back until the end of a round of 10, then shows your score for each region, with the weakest one marked, and the note for every question you got wrong.
One open textbook behind every fact
Each question was written for this page, and each fact in it was matched to a sentence of OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, a free college textbook, on 19 September 2026. The section number and title sit under every answer, so you can read the same passage yourself. A fact that could not be found there was left out. That is why no question asks for the smallest bone or the longest muscle: the sections read for this page do not state them.
Say your answer before you read the four choices.
In the Course bank, take one region at a time in the order of your class. The list under the quiz keeps Course in its written order, chapter 1 to chapter 25.
For difficult anatomy questions on one subject, set the bank to Hard and the topic to Nerves, senses and hormones: the vagus nerve, the precentral gyrus and saltatory conduction are there.
For a class starter, use the 20 in Odd but true. They are human anatomy trivia questions with a reason attached, such as why a giraffe and a shrew have the same number of neck bones.
After a round, Print lists its 10 questions with a name line; tick With answer key for the key, and Add all brings in the whole bank you have open.
Questions and answers
Can I read the answers without taking the quiz?
Yes. Under the quiz each bank is written out in full, with the right choice and the note for every question, so all 160 anatomy questions and answers can be read from top to bottom. In the quiz, Practice shows the answer as soon as you tap a choice, and Exam shows it at the end of the round.
What separates the basic questions from the hard ones?
Basic anatomy questions ask for one well-known fact: the longest bone, the number of heart chambers, which vessel carries blood away from the heart. Hard anatomy questions ask for a named part or a step in a sequence: which vertebra carries the dens, or where an impulse goes after the SA node. Course sits between the two.
Can I use these to study for a course exam?
As practice, yes. The Course bank follows the chapter order of a two-semester college text, and every question is single best answer with four choices. The questions are not taken from any exam, and no school or exam board has reviewed them. A good score here does not predict a grade.
What is left out?
Anything medical. There are no questions on symptoms, illnesses, diagnosis or treatment, because this site does not give medical advice and children use it. There is no reproductive system set. No question asks which system an organ belongs to: the human body systems worksheet has 114 of those.