Anatomy and Physiology Practice Tests
Free, AI-generated Anatomy and Physiology practice tests for Science Olympiad. Choose Invitational, Regional, State, or National difficulty, import past exam PDFs, and track your scores over time.
Anatomy and Physiology runs in both Division B and Division C for the 2027 season. 2027 rules focus: Digestive, Immune, Respiratory.
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Anatomy and Physiology Sample Practice Questions
1. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood into the aorta?
- Right atrium
- Right ventricle
- Left atrium
- Left ventricle
Show answer and explanation
Answer: Left ventricle
The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood through the aortic valve into the aorta, which distributes it to the body.
2. Most chemical digestion and nutrient absorption occur in which organ?
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Esophagus
Show answer and explanation
Answer: Small intestine
The small intestine completes chemical digestion with bile and pancreatic enzymes and absorbs most nutrients across its villi and microvilli. The large intestine mainly reabsorbs water.
3. Which enzyme begins protein digestion in the stomach?
- Amylase
- Pepsin
- Lipase
- Trypsin
Show answer and explanation
Answer: Pepsin
Chief cells secrete inactive pepsinogen, which stomach acid (HCl) converts to active pepsin - the enzyme that starts breaking proteins into smaller peptides.
4. Which cells directly produce and secrete antibodies?
- Helper T cells
- Plasma cells
- Cytotoxic T cells
- Macrophages
Show answer and explanation
Answer: Plasma cells
Plasma cells are activated B lymphocytes adapted to mass-produce and secrete antibodies. Helper T cells coordinate the response; cytotoxic T cells kill infected cells directly.
5. Which immunoglobulin class mediates allergic responses and parasitic defense?
- IgG
- IgA
- IgM
- IgE
Show answer and explanation
Answer: IgE
IgE binds to mast cells and basophils; cross-linking by an allergen triggers histamine release - the basis of allergies. IgG is most abundant, IgA guards mucosa, IgM is the first responder.
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What Anatomy and Physiology Tests Cover
human body systems, organ functions, tissue types, homeostasis, and physiological processes.
Nervous system
- CNS = Brain + Spinal cord. PNS = Everything else (cranial nerves, spinal nerves)
- Sympathetic = "fight or flight" (dilates pupils, increases HR, inhibits digestion)
- Parasympathetic = "rest and digest" (constricts pupils, decreases HR, stimulates digestion)
- Neuron parts: Dendrites (receive) → Cell body → Axon (transmit) → Axon terminals (release neurotransmitters)
- Action potential: Resting (-70mV) → Depolarization (Na+ in) → Repolarization (K+ out)
- Neurotransmitters: Acetylcholine (muscle), Dopamine (reward), Serotonin (mood), GABA (inhibitory), Glutamate (excitatory)
- Brain regions: Frontal (reasoning), Parietal (sensory), Temporal (hearing/memory), Occipital (vision), Cerebellum (coordination), Brainstem (vital functions)
Cardiovascular system
- Blood flow: Vena cava → Right atrium → Tricuspid valve → Right ventricle → Pulmonary valve → Pulmonary artery → LUNGS → Pulmonary vein → Left atrium → Mitral/Bicuspid valve → Left ventricle → Aortic valve → Aorta → Body
- Arteries = AWAY from heart (thick walls, high pressure). Veins = toward heart (thin walls, valves, low pressure)
- Cardiac cycle: Systole (contraction, ~120 mmHg), Diastole (relaxation, ~80 mmHg)
- Blood components: RBCs (oxygen), WBCs (immune), Platelets (clotting), Plasma (55% of blood)
- Cardiac output = Heart rate × Stroke volume
Respiratory system
- Path: Nose/mouth → Pharynx → Larynx → Trachea → Bronchi → Bronchioles → Alveoli
- Gas exchange in alveoli by diffusion (O₂ in, CO₂ out)
- Diaphragm contracts DOWN and flattens during INHALATION (increases thoracic volume)
- Tidal volume (~500mL), Vital capacity (~4-5L), Total lung capacity (~6L)
- Hemoglobin: 4 heme groups, each binds 1 O₂ (max 4 O₂ per hemoglobin)
Digestive system
- Order: Mouth (mechanical + amylase) → Esophagus (peristalsis) → Stomach (HCl + pepsin for protein) → Small intestine (most digestion/absorption) → Large intestine (water absorption) → Rectum
- Small intestine: Duodenum (receives bile + pancreatic juice), Jejunum, Ileum
- Enzymes: Amylase (starch→sugar), Protease/Pepsin (protein→amino acids), Lipase (fats→fatty acids)
- Villi and microvilli increase surface area for absorption
- Liver produces bile (stored in gallbladder), detoxifies blood
Skeletal system
- 206 bones in adults, 270 in infants (some fuse)
- Axial skeleton (80): Skull, vertebrae, ribs, sternum
- Appendicular skeleton (126): Arms, legs, pelvis, shoulder girdle
- Bone types: Long (femur), Short (carpals), Flat (skull), Irregular (vertebrae), Sesamoid (patella)
- Bone cells: Osteoblasts (build), Osteoclasts (break down), Osteocytes (maintain)
- Joints: Synovial (freely movable), Cartilaginous (slightly movable), Fibrous (immovable)
Muscular system
- Skeletal: Voluntary, striated, multinucleated, attached to bones
- Cardiac: Involuntary, striated, branched, intercalated discs, only in heart
- Smooth: Involuntary, NOT striated, in organs/blood vessels
- Sliding filament theory: Actin and myosin slide past each other
- ATP needed for both contraction AND relaxation (rigor mortis = no ATP)
Endocrine system
- Hypothalamus: Controls pituitary, releases hormones
- Pituitary (master gland): GH, TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, Prolactin, ADH, Oxytocin
- Thyroid: T3/T4 (metabolism), Calcitonin (lowers blood Ca²⁺)
- Parathyroid: PTH (raises blood Ca²⁺)
- Adrenal cortex: Cortisol (stress), Aldosterone (Na⁺/K⁺ balance)
- Adrenal medulla: Epinephrine/Norepinephrine (fight or flight)
- Pancreas: Insulin (lowers blood glucose), Glucagon (raises blood glucose)
- Negative feedback: Most hormones regulated this way
Immune system
- Innate immunity: Skin, mucous membranes, phagocytes, inflammation (non-specific, immediate)
- Adaptive immunity: B cells (antibodies), T cells (cell-mediated) (specific, memory)
- Antibodies (immunoglobulins): IgG (most common), IgA (mucosal), IgM (first response), IgE (allergies)
- T cells: Helper (CD4+), Cytotoxic (CD8+), Regulatory
- Lymphatic system: Lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, tonsils
Common mistakes
- Confusing arteries vs veins
- Mixing up sympathetic vs parasympathetic
- Getting hormone sources wrong
- Confusing osteoblasts (build) vs osteoclasts (break down)