Anatomy and Physiology Hesi A2 Practice Test

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The motor cortex is located in the front portion of the parietal lobe. This area is specifically known as the primary motor cortex, which is responsible for planning, controlling, and executing voluntary movements. It sends signals to the muscles to initiate movement. Option A (back of the head) is incorrect as that area is primarily related to visual processing. Option B (top middle portion of the parietal lobe) is incorrect as that area is more associated with somatosensory processing. Option D (around the auditory cortex) is incorrect as the auditory cortex is responsible for processing auditory information, not motor functions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To protect against pathogens. The skin acts as a physical barrier that prevents harmful pathogens from entering the body. It also contains specialized immune cells that help to fight off infections. Vitamin D production (choice A) primarily occurs in the skin but is not the main function of skin protection. Storing nutrients (choice C) is not a primary function of the skin. While the skin does play a role in thermoregulation (choice D), its main function in protecting the body is to defend against pathogens.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hyoid. The hyoid bone is the only bone in the human body that does not directly articulate with any other bone. It is a U-shaped bone located in the neck, suspended by ligaments and muscles. Its unique position and function in supporting the tongue and larynx make it distinct from the other choices. The femur (A), radius (C), and tibia (D) are all long bones that articulate with neighboring bones at their respective joints, such as the hip, elbow, and knee joints, respectively. The hyoid bone's isolated location and lack of direct articulation with other bones set it apart as the correct choice.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To absorb nutrients. The small intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients from digested food into the bloodstream for distribution to the rest of the body. This process involves the absorption of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. The small intestine does not primarily break down food (A), as this is mainly done in the stomach. While the small intestine does secrete digestive enzymes (C), its primary function is absorption. Lastly, the small intestine does not store glucose (D), as glucose is stored in the liver and muscles.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Left ventricle. The left ventricle is the largest and strongest chamber of the heart because it is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the entire body. It has thick muscular walls to generate enough force to propel blood through the systemic circulation. The right atrium (choice A) receives deoxygenated blood from the body, the right ventricle (choice C) pumps this blood to the lungs for oxygenation, and the left atrium (choice D) receives oxygenated blood from the lungs. None of these chambers have the same pumping workload and muscular thickness as the left ventricle, making it the correct answer.