Anatomy and physiology is the foundation of everything in nursing. Before you can understand why a patient’s heart is failing, you need to know how a healthy heart works. Before you can recognize abnormal lab values, you need to understand what normal looks like at the cellular level. Before any of the clinical content makes sense, the body has to make sense first.
That is exactly what Herlihy’s textbook builds. The Human Body in Health and Illness, 7th Edition is written specifically for nursing and allied health students. It does not assume a science background. It explains the body clearly, connects structure to function, and then shows what happens when things go wrong. It is one of the most accessible anatomy and physiology textbooks in health professions education.
This test bank was built to match it chapter by chapter. Every question is grounded in Herlihy’s approach — connecting normal anatomy and physiology to clinical application. You do not just memorize body parts. You learn to think about how the body works and what it means when it stops working the way it should.
What Is Inside
You get over a thousand practice questions covering every major body system and concept in Herlihy’s 7th edition. Questions are written in multiple-choice, true or false, matching, and fill-in-the-blank formats — consistent with the types of exams used in anatomy and physiology courses for nursing and allied health programs.
Every question has a clearly marked correct answer. Every answer includes a written rationale. The rationale connects the answer back to the underlying anatomical or physiological concept so you understand not just what is correct but why it is correct. That conceptual reinforcement is what helps you carry this knowledge forward into clinical courses.
Body Systems and Topics Covered
The test bank follows the full structure of Herlihy’s 7th edition across every major system and foundational topic, including:
Foundations — levels of organization from cell to organism, cell structure and function, cell transport mechanisms, tissues including epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue, and body cavities and terminology
Integumentary System — skin layers and functions, accessory structures, wound healing, and common skin disorders
Skeletal System — bone structure and classification, bone growth and remodeling, axial and appendicular skeleton, joints and movement, and disorders including osteoporosis and fractures
Muscular System — muscle types and properties, skeletal muscle structure and contraction, major muscle groups, and conditions including muscular dystrophy and myasthenia gravis
Nervous System — neuron structure and function, nerve impulse transmission, the central and peripheral nervous systems, autonomic nervous system, and disorders including stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease
Special Senses — anatomy and physiology of the eye and ear, vision and hearing mechanisms, and related disorders including glaucoma and otitis media
Endocrine System — major glands and their hormones, feedback mechanisms, and endocrine disorders including diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and Cushing’s syndrome
Cardiovascular System — heart anatomy and conduction, cardiac cycle and output, blood vessel structure and circulation, blood pressure regulation, and conditions including heart failure, hypertension, and myocardial infarction
Blood — blood components and functions, red and white blood cell physiology, hemostasis and coagulation, blood typing, and disorders including anemia and leukemia
Lymphatic and Immune Systems — lymphatic structures, immunity types, antibody-mediated and cell-mediated responses, and immune disorders including HIV and autoimmune conditions
Respiratory System — upper and lower airway anatomy, mechanics of breathing, gas exchange and transport, and disorders including asthma, COPD, and pneumonia
Digestive System — organs of digestion, digestive processes and enzymes, nutrient absorption, and conditions including GERD, peptic ulcers, and inflammatory bowel disease
Urinary System — kidney anatomy and nephron function, urine formation, fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base regulation, and disorders including renal failure and urinary tract infections
Reproductive Systems — male and female anatomy, hormonal cycles, fertilization and pregnancy, and common reproductive disorders
Who Should Use This
This test bank is a strong fit for nursing students taking anatomy and physiology as a prerequisite or co-requisite to their nursing program, allied health students in medical assisting, respiratory therapy, or physical therapy programs whose courses use Herlihy’s textbook, students who need consistent chapter-by-chapter practice to keep up with the volume of content in an A&P course, NCLEX candidates who want to review foundational science content before tackling clinical nursing questions, and nursing instructors who need a ready-made question pool that is written specifically for health professions students rather than biology majors.
Why the 7th Edition Specifically
Anatomy and physiology content does not change as dramatically as clinical nursing content, but textbooks still evolve. The 7th edition of Herlihy’s text includes updated clinical connections, revised illustrations, expanded coverage of pathophysiology, and updated content reflecting current understanding of body systems and their disorders.
This test bank was written to align with the 7th edition specifically. The terminology, clinical examples, and organizational structure of the questions reflect what is in this edition. If your course uses the 7th edition, this is the resource that matches it directly.
5 Sample Questions
Question 1 A nursing student is reviewing the function of the nephron. Which part of the nephron is primarily responsible for the reabsorption of glucose and amino acids?
A. Loop of Henle B. Proximal convoluted tubule C. Distal convoluted tubule D. Collecting duct
Correct Answer: B The proximal convoluted tubule is the primary site for reabsorption of glucose, amino acids, water, and most electrolytes from the filtrate back into the bloodstream. Under normal conditions, all filtered glucose is reabsorbed here. The loop of Henle concentrates urine through water and solute movement. The distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct handle fine-tuning of water and electrolyte balance under hormonal control.
Question 2 A patient is diagnosed with a right-sided cerebrovascular accident. The nurse understands that motor deficits will most likely appear on which side of the body and why?
A. Right side, because nerve signals stay on the same side as the injury B. Left side, because most motor nerve tracts cross at the medulla oblongata C. Both sides equally, because the brain controls the whole body symmetrically D. Right side, because the right hemisphere controls the right side of the body
Correct Answer: B Most descending motor nerve fibers cross the midline at the medulla oblongata in a structure called the pyramidal decussation. This means that damage to one side of the brain produces motor deficits on the opposite side of the body. A right-sided stroke will therefore produce left-sided motor weakness or paralysis, a pattern called contralateral deficit.
Question 3 A patient with hypothyroidism is being assessed by the nurse. Which clinical finding is most consistent with this condition based on an understanding of thyroid hormone function?
A. Tachycardia and heat intolerance B. Weight loss and increased appetite C. Bradycardia and cold intolerance D. Exophthalmos and diaphoresis
Correct Answer: C Thyroid hormone regulates the body’s metabolic rate. When thyroid hormone levels are low, metabolism slows down. This produces symptoms including bradycardia, fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, and dry skin. Tachycardia, heat intolerance, weight loss, and exophthalmos are signs of hyperthyroidism — the opposite condition where thyroid hormone is excessive.
Question 4 A patient has a hemoglobin level of 7.2 g/dL. Using knowledge of red blood cell physiology, the nurse anticipates which symptom as a direct result of this finding?
A. Hypertension from increased blood viscosity B. Fatigue and shortness of breath from reduced oxygen-carrying capacity C. Increased clotting risk from elevated platelet activity D. Peripheral edema from decreased plasma oncotic pressure
Correct Answer: B Hemoglobin is the protein inside red blood cells that binds and transports oxygen to tissues. When hemoglobin is significantly low, as in anemia, the blood carries less oxygen per unit volume. Tissues become hypoxic, and the body compensates with increased heart rate and respiratory rate, producing classic symptoms of fatigue, weakness, pallor, and shortness of breath on exertion. The other options do not directly result from low hemoglobin.
Question 5 A student is studying the respiratory system and asks why oxygen moves from the alveoli into the pulmonary capillaries. Which explanation is most accurate?
A. The heart pumps blood through the lungs, pulling oxygen in by force B. Oxygen moves by active transport using energy from ATP C. Oxygen diffuses from an area of higher partial pressure in the alveoli to lower partial pressure in the blood D. The diaphragm creates negative pressure that draws oxygen directly into the bloodstream
Correct Answer: C Gas exchange in the lungs occurs by simple diffusion based on partial pressure gradients. Oxygen is at a higher partial pressure in the alveolar air than in the deoxygenated blood arriving in the pulmonary capillaries, so it diffuses across the thin alveolar-capillary membrane into the blood. No energy is required. Carbon dioxide simultaneously diffuses in the opposite direction by the same mechanism. This is a foundational concept in respiratory physiology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the official Elsevier test bank for Herlihy’s textbook? No. This is an independently developed study resource based on the content of Herlihy’s 7th edition. It is not published or endorsed by Elsevier or Barbara Herlihy. It is a supplementary practice tool designed for nursing and allied health students preparing for anatomy and physiology exams.
How many questions are in the test bank? There are over a thousand questions in total. They are distributed across all major body systems and chapters in the 7th edition, with more questions in larger content areas such as the cardiovascular, nervous, and respiratory systems.
I am not a nursing student. Can I still use this test bank? Yes. Herlihy’s textbook is used across multiple allied health programs, and this test bank is useful for any student whose course is based on it — including medical assisting, respiratory therapy, surgical technology, and physical therapy assistant programs.
Is anatomy and physiology tested on the NCLEX? Not directly. The NCLEX does not have an A&P section. However, A&P is the foundation underneath almost every clinical question on the exam. Understanding how the kidneys regulate fluid balance, how the heart generates a rhythm, or how the lungs exchange gases makes clinical pharmacology, pathophysiology, and patient care questions far easier to reason through.
What question formats are in the test bank? The test bank includes multiple-choice, true or false, matching, and fill-in-the-blank questions. This variety reflects the range of formats used in anatomy and physiology courses and helps you practice recalling and applying content in different ways.
Does every question include a rationale? Yes. Every question has a correct answer and a written rationale. The rationale explains the underlying anatomical or physiological concept and connects it to the clinical context where relevant. This is especially useful in A&P because understanding the why behind each answer helps you retain the material long term.
What file format is the test bank delivered in? It is delivered as a digital file, typically Word or PDF format. You can search by body system or keyword, print individual chapters for focused study sessions, or use it across multiple devices. Many students work through one chapter at a time before each unit exam.
Is this test bank specific to the 7th edition only? Yes. It was written to align with the terminology, content organization, and clinical examples in the 7th edition. While core anatomy and physiology does not change dramatically between editions, the structure and emphasis of each edition do. Confirm which edition your course uses before purchasing.
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