HESI A2 A&P study guide
HESI A2 A&P · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The HESI A2 Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) exam is a subject-area admissions assessment used by many nursing and health-science programs to gauge whether applicants have the foundational biology knowledge needed for clinical coursework. It is aimed at prospective nursing students and other health-program applicants who must demonstrate readiness before or during admission, and it is typically one section within the broader HESI A2 battery rather than a stand-alone license. The A&P section tests core body-system content: terminology and body organization, the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems, plus fluid and electrolyte basics. Expect identification of structures, function-to-structure matching, and applied reasoning about how systems interact. Preparation works best in layers: start with a broad review of each system's anatomy and function, then drill high-yield topics such as cell transport, blood flow through the heart, gas exchange, nephron function, and hormone actions. Use labeled diagrams, spaced repetition for terminology, and short practice sets to find weak systems, then revisit those systems with focused reading. Topics on this exam: Anatomy & Physiology. The HESI A2 A&P study guide has 1 section and about 460 words.
01Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy & Physiology is a core content area on the HESI A2. It tests structure–function relationships across organ systems, anatomical terminology, homeostasis, cell transport, histology, and system physiology. Expect questions that ask you to identify a structure, predict a physiological response, or choose the correct sequence in a pathway. Anatomical position is standing upright, face forward, palms forward.
460 words, about 2 minMore study resources for HESI A2 A&P
- Practice questionsWhich body plane divides the body into equal right and left halves?
- FlashcardsAnatomical position. Standing erect, face and palms facing forward, feet flat and arms at the sides.
- Cheat sheetAnatomical position: body erect, face forward, arms at sides with palms anterior; directional terms (superior/inferior, anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, superficial/deep) are defined only from this stance.
- Key termsAnatomical position. The standard reference stance: standing upright, face forward, arms at the sides with palms facing forward, and feet flat and parallel.
- Study planMap every body system into a one-page hierarchy (organ system → organs → tissue types → cell structures) so you can name the components of each system from memory before studying any details.
- Common mistakesMost candidates prepare from chapter-per-system textbooks, so each fact is stored in its own silo.
- Exam-day guideBring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered with.