HESI A2 guide · updated 2026-09-29
HESI A2 anatomy and physiology practice questions
The HESI A2 Anatomy and Physiology section has 30 questions with about 25 minutes recommended, a little under a minute each. It covers anatomical terminology, body organization, tissues and the major organ systems. The samples below come from this bank with explanations.
What the section covers
- Directional terms, body planes and cavities.
- Cells and the four tissue types.
- Integumentary, skeletal and muscular systems.
- Nervous and endocrine control.
- Cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and urinary systems.
- Immune and reproductive systems.
How to study it efficiently
Study one system at a time and always pair a structure with its function: where it is, what it does and what happens when it fails. Draw the path of blood through the heart and the path of air through the respiratory tree until you can do it from memory.
Anatomy and Physiology is the science section most programs require, and some set a lower minimum for it than for the Core Four, as Central Texas College does at 60%. Do not rely on that; competitive applicants score well above the minimum.
High-yield facts
- Blood flow: right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary artery, lungs, pulmonary veins, left atrium, left ventricle, aorta.
- Gas exchange happens in the alveoli.
- The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney.
- Insulin from the pancreas lowers blood glucose; glucagon raises it.
- Most nutrient absorption happens in the small intestine.
Terminology first
A surprising share of A&P questions are really vocabulary: anterior and posterior, proximal and distal, superficial and deep, the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes, and the body cavities. Learn these in the first study session, because they appear in questions about every system. Prefixes and suffixes help too: "hyper" means above, "hypo" below, "-itis" inflammation, "-ectomy" removal.
Next, learn the four tissue types (epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous) and where each is found. Many system questions assume you know them.
Pace for 30 questions
With about 25 minutes recommended for 30 questions, you have 50 seconds per question. A&P questions are short recall items, so you either know the answer or you can narrow it to two. Do not spend two minutes on one question; make your best choice and move on.
Systems that come up most
Cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous system questions are the most common in review materials, followed by the endocrine and digestive systems. For each, be able to name the main organs, trace the path of blood, air, food or a nerve signal, and state one or two key hormones or regulatory mechanisms. Questions about the skeletal and muscular systems are usually about bone types, joint types and how muscles contract. Homeostasis and negative feedback, such as body temperature regulation, are also a favorite because they connect several systems in one question.
Sample HESI A2 questions with answers
1. In the anatomical position, which statement correctly describes the relationship between the knee and the ankle?
- The knee is distal to the ankle.
- The knee is proximal to the ankle.
- The knee is inferior to the ankle.
- The knee is lateral to the ankle.
Show answer
B. The knee is proximal to the ankle. Proximal means closer to the point of attachment to the trunk; the knee is closer to the hip than the ankle is, so the knee is proximal to the ankle. Distal means farther from the trunk, making the ankle distal to the knee — the opposite of option A. Inferior describes a lower position along the body's long axis and does not define a limb-segment relationship, and lateral describes distance from the midline, not position along a limb.
2. A radiologist describes an imaging scan that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions. Which anatomical plane does this describe?
- Sagittal plane
- Transverse (horizontal) plane
- Frontal (coronal) plane
- Oblique plane
Show answer
C. Frontal (coronal) plane The frontal (coronal) plane runs vertically and divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections. The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right portions. The transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. An oblique plane cuts at an angle and is not one of the three standard reference planes used in anatomy.
3. What is the basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system?
- Neuroglia
- Neuron
- Axon
- Synapse
Show answer
B. Neuron The neuron (nerve cell) is the basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system; it receives, integrates, and transmits electrical signals. Neuroglia are support cells that do not conduct impulses. An axon is one structural component of a neuron. A synapse is the junction between two neurons, not a cell itself.
4. Which heart chamber pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta and out to the systemic circulation?
- Right atrium
- Right ventricle
- Left atrium
- Left ventricle
Show answer
D. Left ventricle The left ventricle is the thickest, most muscular chamber; it ejects oxygen-rich blood through the aortic valve into the aorta to supply the entire body. The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery. The atria are receiving chambers: the right atrium receives systemic venous return and the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in HESI A2 Anatomy and Physiology?
30 questions, with about 25 minutes recommended.
Do all programs require the A&P section?
No, but it is the science section programs require most often. Check your school's list.
Try the free HESI A2 practice test
Questions tagged to the official outline, with an explanation for every answer. 15 free a day, no sign-up.
Start freeSources: Tarrant County College: HESI A2 Exam Information · Central Texas College: HESI A2 Exam information sheet · Elsevier: Admission Assessment Exam Review (HESI), 6th edition. Independent study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Elsevier.