HESI A2 anatomy and physiology: which topics the section covers
Written and reviewed by Rebecca Moore, MSN, RN, CEN · 3 min read · Updated October 2026
Short answer
The HESI A2 Anatomy and Physiology section has 30 questions on general terminology, body structures, and how the body systems work. College study guides point to the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous, immune, and other major systems, plus anatomical terms and homeostasis. Not every program requires it, so confirm yours does before you study.
What the section covers
South Texas College describes the section as general terminology and anatomical structures and systems, with 30 items. Tarrant County College lists the same 30-question count and notes that not all programs require the section; if yours does not, it disregards the score.
The Texas State Technical College study guide lists the functions of the circulatory, digestive, nervous, respiratory, and immune systems and the general anatomy and physiology of the human body. Its science review adds body structure and homeostasis, the musculoskeletal system, the excretory and endocrine systems, and the reproductive system.
Study one system at a time
Anatomy and Physiology rewards organisation. Take one system, learn its main structures, then learn what each structure does and how it connects to the next. For the heart, that means the chambers, valves, and the path blood takes through them; for the kidney, the nephron and how it filters blood and forms urine.
Answer questions on that system the same day, while it is fresh, and note what you missed. Then move to the next system. Coming back to earlier systems once a week stops them fading while you learn new ones. If you took an anatomy course, your old notes and diagrams are a faster starting point than a new textbook.
Terms, directions, and homeostasis
Learn the vocabulary of position early: anterior and posterior, superior and inferior, medial and lateral, proximal and distal, and the body planes. These terms appear across every system, so they pay off repeatedly. Learn the major organs' locations with them, since a question may describe a structure by position rather than by name.
Homeostasis ties the systems together. Many questions ask what the body does to restore balance, such as how breathing changes when carbon dioxide rises or how the endocrine system responds to a change in blood glucose. If you understand the feedback loop, you can reason through questions on systems you know less well.
Work through our HESI A2 anatomy and physiology practice questions system by system; every answer has an explanation.
Common questions
How many anatomy and physiology questions are on the HESI A2?
The section has 30 questions. College testing pages, including Tarrant County College's, list that count.
Do all nursing programs require HESI A2 anatomy and physiology?
No. Each program chooses its sections. Tarrant County College, for example, notes that some of its programs disregard the A&P score.
Should I take an A&P course before the HESI A2?
Some colleges recommend it. South Texas College suggests first-time takers complete its two-part A&P course sequence before testing. Check your own program's advice.