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HESI A2Free HESI Admission Assessment practice test
10 real HESI A2 practice questions with instant answers and explanations — no account, no credit card, no email. Score yourself, then unlock the full bank of 1,475questions whenever you’re ready. The HESI A2 passing score is School-specific (typical: 75–80% across required sections).
Each finger in the human hand contains three bones. These bones are collectively called:
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All 10 HESI A2 questions & answers
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Q1. Each finger in the human hand contains three bones. These bones are collectively called:
Correct answer: A. Phalanges
The three bones of each finger are called phalanges. These same bones also make up the toes. The carpals and metacarpals together form the hand, while the tarsals and metatarsals make up the foot.
Q2. A pregnant woman in her first trimester wonders whether her baby will share fingerprints with either parent. What would her doctor most accurately tell her?
Correct answer: B. Every individual has a unique set of fingerprints
Every person develops unique fingerprints before birth, and these ridge patterns remain unchanged throughout life. Fingerprints are not inherited from either parent.
Q3. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. Which of the following is a primary function of ACTH?
Correct answer: B. Triggering cortisol secretion
ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol, which plays a key role in stress response and blood pressure maintenance. Prolactin handles milk production, the luteinizing hormone regulates testosterone, and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) manages water balance.
Q4. Once lacteals take up dietary fats into the lymphatic system, what is the immediate next step?
Correct answer: A. The fats enter the bloodstream
After lacteals absorb fats into the lymph, the fats enter the bloodstream. In contrast, amino acids and simple sugars go directly into the blood from the intestinal villi. Once the fats reach the bloodstream, they subsequently travel through the hepatic portal vein to the liver for processing.
Q5. Which of the following structures are the tiny air-filled sacs in the lungs where gas exchange takes place?
Correct answer: C. Alveoli
Alveoli are microscopic air-filled sacs that allow oxygen to diffuse into capillaries and carbon dioxide to move out. The trachea connects the pharynx and larynx to the lungs. The bronchi are the main passageways leading into the lungs. The diaphragm is the dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
Q6. Which of the following vessels is the exception — it does NOT carry oxygenated blood?
Correct answer: C. The pulmonary artery
The pulmonary artery is unique among arteries in that it transports deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation. The aorta, renal artery, and hepatic artery all belong to the systemic circulation and deliver oxygen-rich blood to body tissues.
Q7. In a neuron, axons carry nerve impulses in which direction relative to the cell body?
Correct answer: C. Away from
Axons always conduct impulses away from the cell body toward target tissues or other neurons. Dendrites, by contrast, carry impulses toward the cell body. Options 'around' and 'above' do not accurately describe axonal signal direction.
Q8. In addition to ATP, which ion must be present for skeletal muscle contraction to occur?
Correct answer: A. Calcium
Calcium ions are essential for muscle contraction alongside ATP. When calcium is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, it binds to troponin and initiates the cross-bridge cycle. Potassium and protein are not direct triggers for contraction, and flexors are muscles, not chemical components.
Q9. Bone marrow comes in two varieties: red marrow and yellow marrow. Which statement accurately describes red bone marrow?
Correct answer: C. It is the site of blood cell production
Red bone marrow is responsible for producing red blood cells, platelets, and most white blood cells through hematopoiesis. It also works with the liver and spleen to break down aging red blood cells. Yellow bone marrow, by contrast, is primarily a fat storage site. Its yellow color comes from its high fat cell content.
Q10. The human skeleton contains two types of bone marrow. What is the primary role of yellow bone marrow?
Correct answer: A. Sustaining an environment that supports bone function
Yellow bone marrow maintains the internal environment that allows bone to function properly, and it also serves as a fat reserve. Red bone marrow handles blood cell formation and works with the liver and spleen to remove old red cells. Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, is responsible for releasing oxygen to tissues.
Exam facts and objectives sourced from the official Elsevier (HESI) certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
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