Practice quiz · by a Quizcard user

Anatomy and Physiology: Body Systems Overview — quiz

18 multiple-choice questions covering Nervous system — reflex arc, Immune system — innate vs adaptive, Urinary system — ADH, Urinary system — nephron, Digestive system — organ functions. One answer each; you get a score at the end and the explanation for every question. No account needed.

Updated 2026-10-24. Keys 1–4 pick an answer, Enter moves on. Redo it any time, in order or shuffled.

The questions

Answers and explanations are shown after you finish.

1. Nervous system — reflex arc

   A person touches a hot stove and pulls their hand back before feeling pain. Which sequence describes this reflex arc?

   • Receptor → sensory neuron → spinal cord interneuron → motor neuron → effector
   • Receptor → motor neuron → brain → sensory neuron → effector
   • Receptor → brain → spinal cord → effector → motor neuron
   • Effector → motor neuron → spinal cord → sensory neuron → receptor
2. Immune system — innate vs adaptive

   Why do vaccines provide lasting protection against a specific pathogen?

   • They boost phagocyte activity, which has no memory component
   • They trigger adaptive immunity, generating memory B and T cells specific to the antigen
   • They strengthen the skin barrier against future invaders
   • They cause acute inflammation that destroys all pathogens
3. Urinary system — ADH

   A dehydrated patient has elevated ADH levels. What effect should this have on urine?

   • Urine becomes more dilute as more water is excreted
   • Urine production stops completely
   • Urine becomes more concentrated as water reabsorption increases
   • Urine volume increases due to increased filtration
4. Urinary system — nephron

   Which structure is directly responsible for filtering blood and forming urine within the kidney?

   • Renal artery
   • Nephron
   • Ureter
   • Bladder
5. Digestive system — organ functions

   Which organ is primarily responsible for absorbing most nutrients after chemical digestion?

   • Large intestine
   • Liver
   • Small intestine
   • Stomach
6. Respiratory system — diaphragm

   During inhalation, what happens to the diaphragm and chest cavity?

   • The diaphragm contracts and domes upward, shrinking the chest cavity
   • The diaphragm contracts and flattens, expanding the chest cavity
   • The diaphragm relaxes and domes upward, shrinking the chest cavity
   • The diaphragm stays still while rib muscles do all the work
7. Respiratory system — alveoli

   What feature of alveoli makes them efficient at gas exchange?

   • Thin walls and large surface area that maximize diffusion
   • Muscular walls that pump gases into the blood
   • Thick walls that slow diffusion for controlled exchange
   • Low blood supply that reduces oxygen loss
8. Cardiovascular system — hemoglobin

   A person with low hemoglobin levels would most likely experience what problem?

   • Excess carbon dioxide production
   • Increased blood clotting
   • Improved immune response
   • Reduced oxygen delivery to tissues
9. Cardiovascular system — blood pressure

   In a blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg, what does the 80 represent?

   • Pressure during ventricular contraction
   • Pressure in the pulmonary artery only
   • Total blood volume in the heart
   • Pressure during ventricular relaxation
10. Cardiovascular system — heart circuit

    After leaving the right ventricle, where does blood go next?

    • Pulmonary veins
    • Aorta
    • Left atrium
    • Pulmonary artery toward the lungs
11. Endocrine system — adrenal glands

    A patient's adrenal medulla is overactive during an acute stress response. Which hormones are most likely elevated?

    • Insulin and glucagon
    • TSH and ACTH
    • Cortisol and aldosterone
    • Epinephrine and norepinephrine
12. Endocrine system — insulin

    After a meal, blood glucose rises. Which cells release the hormone that lowers it, and how?

    • Alpha cells release insulin, inhibiting glucose uptake
    • Alpha cells release glucagon, raising glucose uptake
    • Beta cells release glucagon, promoting glucose release from the liver
    • Beta cells release insulin, promoting glucose uptake into cells
13. Endocrine system — pituitary gland

    Why is the pituitary gland called the 'master gland'?

    • It produces insulin and glucagon to regulate metabolism
    • It releases hormones that regulate the activity of other endocrine glands
    • It is the largest endocrine gland in the body
    • It directly controls heart rate and blood pressure
14. Muscular system — sliding filament theory

    During muscle contraction, what directly causes the sarcomere to shorten?

    • Myosin filaments dissolving
    • Myosin heads pulling actin filaments toward the center
    • Actin filaments lengthening
    • Calcium leaving the sarcoplasmic reticulum permanently
15. Skeletal system — bone remodeling

    In bone remodeling, which cell type is responsible for breaking down bone tissue?

    • Osteoclasts
    • Chondrocytes
    • Osteoblasts
    • Osteocytes
16. Organization — feedback loops

    Which of the following is an example of positive feedback rather than negative feedback?

    • Insulin release lowering blood glucose back to normal
    • Uterine contractions intensifying during labor
    • Sweating when body temperature rises
    • Shivering when body temperature drops
17. Nervous system — myelin

    A disease that destroys myelin sheaths would most directly impair which nervous system function?

    • Speed of nerve impulse conduction
    • Blood supply to neurons
    • Production of neurotransmitters
    • Formation of new synapses
18. Nervous system — cerebral lobes

    A patient has difficulty processing visual information after a head injury. Which lobe of the cerebrum was most likely damaged?

    • Frontal lobe
    • Temporal lobe
    • Occipital lobe
    • Parietal lobe