Human Anatomy and Physiology : Gross Anatomy

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Human Anatomy and Physiology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #26 : Identifying Other Anatomical Structures

Oxygen-rich blood touches which structure within the heart first?

Possible Answers:

Aortic valve

Mitral valve

Pulmonary artery

Tricuspid valve

Superior vena cava

Correct answer:

Mitral valve

Explanation:

Oxygen-rich blood returns from the lungs via the pulmonary veins. It first passes through the left atrium and then the mitral valve into the left ventricle. Arteries almost always carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart, but the pulmonary arteries uniquely carry oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle to the lungs to be oxygenated. The superior vena cava drains oxygen-poor blood from the neck and upper body into the right atrium. The tricuspid valve separates the right ventricle and atrium and prevents back flow between these two chambers. The aortic valve prevents back flow of oxygen-rich blood into the left ventricle. Out of the structures listed it is the mitral valve that first is touched by oxygen-rich blood.

Example Question #27 : Identifying Other Anatomical Structures

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the ileum in the small intestine when compared to the jejunum?

Possible Answers:

More mesenteric fat

More arterial arcades

Fewer and less prominent plicae circulares

Longer vasa recta

Thinner walls

Correct answer:

Longer vasa recta

Explanation:

The ileum makes up the distal three-fifths of the small intestine. Compared to the jejunum, the ileum has more mesenteric fat, more arterial arcades, a shorter vasa recta, thinner walls, and fewer and less prominent plicae circulares or mucosal folds.

Example Question #741 : Gross Anatomy

What layer of the epidermis is considered the basal layer?

Possible Answers:

Stratum granulosum

Stratum lucidum 

Stratum corneum

Stratum spinosum

Stratum germinativum 

Correct answer:

Stratum germinativum 

Explanation:

The order of the strata of the epidermal cells from superficial to deep is corneum, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum, germinativum (basale). Note that in thin skin the stratum lucidum is absent.

Example Question #742 : Gross Anatomy

The epidermis is __________.

Possible Answers:

the middle layer of skin

the most superficial layer of skin

the layer of fat under the skin

the most internal layer of skin

Correct answer:

the most superficial layer of skin

Explanation:

The epidermis is the most superficial or top layer of skin. From most external to internal, the skin layers are: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The layer of fat under the skin is called subcutaneous fat. 

Example Question #271 : Organs

Which plasma membrane component helps stabilize the membrane? 

Possible Answers:

Receptor tyrosine kinases

Cholesterol molecules

Glycolipids

Channel proteins

Correct answer:

Cholesterol molecules

Explanation:

Cholesterol molecules are found within the phospholipid bilayer to provide stabilization to the membrane. The phospholipid bilayer itself is a flexible, semi-permeable membrane that forms the barrier between cellular compartments. Glycolipids are fats with chains of identifying sugars on them, that allow the cell to be recognizable to other cells. Channel proteins allow the passage of certain substances, depending on their size and electrical charge and receptor tyrosine kinases are a specific class of cell membrane receptors.

Example Question #272 : Organs

What is the metaphysis?

Possible Answers:

The marrow cavity

The end of a long bone

The area between the diaphysis and epiphysis

The dense outer layer of bone

Correct answer:

The area between the diaphysis and epiphysis

Explanation:

The metaphysis is the area between the epiphysis and the diaphysis. It also contains the epiphyseal line/plate. The epiphysis is the end of a long bone. The marrow cavity is also known as the medullary cavity and it is where blood cells are produced. The cortical bone (also known as compact bone) is the dense outer layer of bone. 

Example Question #273 : Organs

What are the different classifications of bones?

Possible Answers:

Long, sesamoid, flat, irregular, and short

Long, oblique, irregular, and short

Articular, cranial, axial, sesamoid

Hard, brittle, flexible, and compact

Correct answer:

Long, sesamoid, flat, irregular, and short

Explanation:

Long bones are longer than they are wide, example being the femur (thigh bone), sesamoid bones are formed inside tendons, example being the patella (kneecap), flat bones are thin plates of bone, such as skull bones, irregular bones are those that do not fall in any other categories such as the sphenoid bone in the skull, short bones tend to be equal length and width such as metacarpals (wrist bones).

Example Question #274 : Organs

What structure(s) pass through the diaphragm at T10?

Possible Answers:

Inferior vena cava (IVC)

Azygous vein and aorta

Phrenic nerve

Esophagus and vagus nerve

Thoracic duct

Correct answer:

Esophagus and vagus nerve

Explanation:

The diaphragm has 3 main hiatuses – The first is at T8 through which the IVC passes through.The second is at T10 through which the esophagus and vagus nerve pass and the final hiatus is at T12 through which the Aorta, azygous vein and the thoraci lymphatic duct. A helpful mneumonic for this is I ATE (8), TEN EGGS At 12. I is for IVC with the ATE representing T8. The TEN for T10 and the EGGS stand for Esophagus, two g's for the two vaGus and the At for Aorta, which passes through the diaphragm at T12. 

Example Question #275 : Organs

What structure(s) pass through the diaphragm at T12?

Possible Answers:

Esophagus and vagus nerve

Hepatic vein

Phrenic nerve

Inferior vena cava (IVC)

Aorta, azygous vein, and thoracic lymphatic duct

Correct answer:

Aorta, azygous vein, and thoracic lymphatic duct

Explanation:

The diaphragm has 3 main hiatuses – The first is at T8 through which the IVC passes through.The second is at T10 through which the esophagus and vagus nerve pass and the final hiatus is at T12 through which the Aorta, azygous vein and the thoraci lymphatic duct. A helpful mneumonic for this is I ATE (8), TEN EGGS At 12. I is for IVC with the ATE representing T8. The TEN for T10 and the EGGS stand for Esophagus, two g's for the two vaGus and the At for Aorta, which passes through the diaphragm at T12. 

Example Question #276 : Organs

What structure(s) pass through the diaphragm at the level of T8?

Possible Answers:

Phrenic nerve

Inferior vena cava (IVC)

Esophagus and vagus nerve

Azygous vein

Aorta

Correct answer:

Inferior vena cava (IVC)

Explanation:

The diaphragm has 3 main hiatuses – The first is at T8 through which the IVC passes through.The second is at T10 through which the esophagus and vagus nerve pass and the final hiatus is at T12 through which the Aorta, azygous vein and the thoraci lymphatic duct. A helpful mneumonic for this is I ATE (8), TEN EGGS At 12. I is for IVC with the ATE representing T8. The TEN for T10 and the EGGS stand for Esophagus, two g's for the two vaGus and the At for Aorta, which passes through the diaphragm at T12. 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors