Anatomy HESI A2 Practice Test

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To store urine. The urinary bladder serves as a reservoir for storing urine before it is eliminated from the body. It collects and holds urine until a person is ready to excrete it. The other choices are incorrect because: A) The kidneys filter waste from the blood, not the bladder. C) Fluid balance is primarily regulated by the kidneys and hormones, not the bladder. D) Waste removal from the body is mainly carried out by the kidneys and excretory system, not the bladder.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mouth. Digestion begins in the mouth where food is mechanically broken down by chewing and chemically broken down by enzymes in saliva. This initial process prepares food for further digestion in the stomach and small intestine. The stomach (A) primarily functions to further break down food through acid and enzymes. The small intestine (C) is where the majority of nutrients are absorbed, not where digestion begins. The esophagus (D) is responsible for transporting food from the mouth to the stomach, but it does not participate in the actual digestion process.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Medulla oblongata. This part of the brain is located in the brainstem and is responsible for regulating essential functions like breathing and heart rate. The medulla oblongata contains centers that control autonomic functions, ensuring that these processes occur involuntarily and without conscious effort. The other choices, A (Cerebrum), C (Cerebellum), and D (Hypothalamus), are not specifically involved in regulating breathing and heart rate. The cerebrum is responsible for higher brain functions, the cerebellum is involved in coordination and balance, and the hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst regulation.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for vision as it plays a crucial role in the function of the retina and helps maintain a healthy cornea. It is also important for skin health by promoting skin cell growth and repair. Vitamin C (B) is important for immune function and collagen synthesis, not specifically for vision or skin health. Vitamin D (C) is crucial for bone health and immune function. Vitamin E (D) is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage, but it is not specifically essential for vision or skin health.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Detoxifying harmful substances. The liver plays a crucial role in filtering and detoxifying harmful substances like drugs, alcohol, and metabolic waste products. It metabolizes these substances to make them less harmful for elimination from the body. This function is essential for maintaining overall health and preventing damage to other organs. Incorrect Choices: A: Producing insulin - The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin, not the liver. C: Digesting food - The liver produces bile that aids in digestion, but its primary role is not digesting food. D: Storing energy - While the liver does store glycogen as an energy reserve, its primary role is not storing energy.