← Human Anatomy – TEAS Exam Prep

TEAS Nursing School Admission Test Study Guide

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Human Anatomy – TEAS Exam Prep Study Guide


Overview

Human anatomy is a foundational topic on the TEAS exam, testing your knowledge of body structures, their functions, and how organ systems interact to maintain homeostasis. This guide covers the five major anatomical categories: the skeletal system, muscular system, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, nervous system and senses, and organ systems and homeostasis. Mastering these concepts will prepare you to answer both recall-based and applied anatomy questions with confidence.


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Skeletal System


Summary

The skeletal system provides the body's structural framework, protects vital organs, enables movement in coordination with muscles, and serves as a site for blood cell production. The adult skeleton contains 206 bones organized into the axial skeleton (skull, vertebral column, thoracic cage) and the appendicular skeleton (limbs and girdles).


Key Concepts


#### Bone Structure

  • • Diaphysis – the long, cylindrical shaft of a long bone
  • • Cortical (compact) bone – dense outer layer of all bones; provides strength and protection
  • • Cancellous (spongy) bone – inner, lattice-like bone tissue; found at epiphyses; houses red bone marrow

    • #### Vertebral Column Regions

    | Region | Number of Vertebrae | Notes |

    |---|---|---|

    | Cervical | 7 | Neck; includes atlas (C1) and axis (C2) |

    | Thoracic | 12 | Attach to ribs |

    | Lumbar | 5 | Lower back; largest vertebrae |

    | Sacral | 5 (fused → sacrum) | Forms single triangular bone |

    | Coccygeal | 4 (fused → coccyx) | Tailbone |


    #### Joints

  • • Hinge joint – allows movement in one plane (flexion/extension only); example: knee joint, elbow
  • • Ball-and-socket joint – allows movement in all planes; example: hip, shoulder
  • • Suture – immovable joint; found in the skull

    • #### Pectoral (Shoulder) Girdle

  • • Formed by the clavicle (collarbone) and scapula (shoulder blade) on each side
  • • Connects the upper limb to the axial skeleton

    • #### Notable Bones to Know

  • • Sternum – flat bone on the anterior midline of the thorax; ribs attach via costal cartilage
  • • Patella – the kneecap; small, triangular sesamoid bone at the front of the knee joint

    • Key Terms

  • • Axial skeleton – bones of the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage
  • • Appendicular skeleton – bones of the limbs and girdles
  • • Periosteum – fibrous membrane covering the outer surface of bone
  • • Ossification – the process of bone formation
  • • Sesamoid bone – bone embedded within a tendon (e.g., patella)

    • Watch Out For

    > ⚠️ 206 vs. infant bones: Infants are born with approximately 270–300 bones; many fuse during development, resulting in 206 in adults. The TEAS asks specifically about the adult skeleton.

    >

    > ⚠️ Sacrum vs. coccyx: Both are fused vertebrae, but the sacrum = 5 fused and forms a key part of the pelvis; the coccyx = 4 fused (the tailbone). Don't confuse them.

    >

    > ⚠️ The knee is a hinge joint, not a ball-and-socket — a common trick question.


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    Muscular System


    Summary

    The muscular system enables movement, maintains posture, generates heat, and supports organ function. Muscles work in coordinated pairs: an agonist produces movement while an antagonist opposes it for controlled, smooth motion.


    Key Concepts


    #### Types of Muscle Tissue

    | Type | Striated? | Voluntary? | Location |

    |---|---|---|---|

    | Skeletal | Yes | Yes | Attached to bones via tendons |

    | Cardiac | Yes | No | Heart wall |

    | Smooth | No | No | Hollow organs, blood vessels |


    #### Muscle Attachments

  • • Origin – the fixed, less movable attachment point (typically proximal)
  • • Insertion – the movable attachment point on the bone being moved (typically distal)
  • • Tendon – dense, fibrous connective tissue connecting muscle to bone
  • • Ligament – connects bone to bone (do not confuse with tendons)

    • #### Agonist vs. Antagonist

  • • Agonist (prime mover) – the muscle producing the primary movement
  • • Antagonist – the muscle that opposes the agonist's movement; ensures smooth, controlled motion
  • • Synergist – assists the agonist and stabilizes the joint
  • • Example: When you flex your forearm, the biceps brachii is the agonist; the triceps brachii is the antagonist

    • #### Important Muscles to Know

  • • Biceps brachii – primary flexor of the forearm at the elbow joint
  • • Diaphragm – the primary muscle of respiration; contracts and flattens to increase thoracic volume → air rushes in (inhalation); relaxes → thoracic volume decreases → exhalation

    • Key Terms

  • • Sarcomere – the basic contractile unit of skeletal muscle
  • • Actin & Myosin – contractile proteins in muscle fibers (sliding filament theory)
  • • Neuromuscular junction – synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber
  • • Muscle fatigue – decline in muscle performance after prolonged activity

    • Watch Out For

    > ⚠️ Tendons vs. ligaments are frequently confused on the TEAS:

    > - Tendon = muscle → bone

    > - Ligament = bone → bone

    >

    > ⚠️ The diaphragm contracts during inhalation (not exhalation). Contraction flattens it, increasing thoracic volume and drawing air in.

    >

    > ⚠️ Remember that the origin is the fixed point and the insertion is what moves — it helps to think of origin as where the muscle "originates" (stays stable).


    ---


    Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems


    Summary

    The cardiovascular system circulates blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients and remove waste products, while the respiratory system facilitates gas exchange between the body and the environment. These two systems are functionally inseparable, linked at the lungs via pulmonary circulation.


    Key Concepts


    #### Heart Chambers & Blood Flow

    The heart has four chambers: two atria (receiving) and two ventricles (pumping).


    Complete path of blood through the heart:

    ```

    Right Atrium

    → Tricuspid Valve

    → Right Ventricle

    → Pulmonary Valve

    → Pulmonary Artery

    → Lungs (gas exchange in alveoli)

    → Pulmonary Veins

    → Left Atrium

    → Mitral (Bicuspid) Valve

    → Left Ventricle

    → Aortic Valve

    → Aorta → Body

    ```


  • • Left ventricle – pumps oxygenated blood to the entire body via the aorta; has the thickest walls due to high pressure demands
  • • Right ventricle – pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries

    • #### Blood Vessels

    | Vessel | Direction | Carries |

    |---|---|---|

    | Arteries | Away from heart | Oxygenated (except pulmonary arteries) |

    | Veins | Toward heart | Deoxygenated (except pulmonary veins) |

    | Capillaries | Between arteries and veins | Site of gas/nutrient exchange |


  • • Aorta – largest artery in the body; carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to systemic circulation

    • #### Cardiac Conduction System

  • • SA node (sinoatrial node) – the heart's natural pacemaker; located in the right atrium; initiates each heartbeat and sets the heart rate (~60–100 bpm)
  • • AV node (atrioventricular node) – delays the impulse to allow the ventricles to fill before contracting

    • #### Respiratory System & Gas Exchange

  • • Alveoli – tiny air sacs in the lungs; the site of gas exchange

    • - Oxygen (O₂) diffuses from alveoli → blood

    - Carbon dioxide (CO₂) diffuses from blood → alveoli → exhaled

  • • Diaphragm contracts during inhalation (see Muscular System)

    • Key Terms

  • • Systole – contraction phase of the cardiac cycle
  • • Diastole – relaxation/filling phase of the cardiac cycle
  • • Pulmonary circulation – blood flow from heart → lungs → heart
  • • Systemic circulation – blood flow from heart → body → heart
  • • Hemoglobin – oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells
  • • Surfactant – reduces surface tension in alveoli, preventing collapse

    • Watch Out For

    > ⚠️ Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood and pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood — the opposite of the general rule. This is a classic TEAS trap.

    >

    > ⚠️ Know your valves: Tricuspid (right side) and Mitral/Bicuspid (left side) are the atrioventricular valves. The pulmonary and aortic valves are the semilunar valves.

    >

    > ⚠️ Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli, not the bronchi or trachea.


    ---


    Nervous System & Senses


    Summary

    The nervous system regulates and coordinates body functions by detecting stimuli, processing information, and initiating responses. It is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), each with distinct structural and functional roles.


    Key Concepts


    #### Divisions of the Nervous System

    ```

    Nervous System

    ├── Central Nervous System (CNS)

    │ ├── Brain

    │ └── Spinal Cord

    └── Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

    ├── Somatic Nervous System (voluntary)

    └── Autonomic Nervous System (involuntary)

    ├── Sympathetic ("fight-or-flight")

    └── Parasympathetic ("rest-and-digest")

    ```


    #### Brain Lobes & Functions

    | Lobe | Location | Primary Function |

    |---|---|---|

    | Frontal | Anterior | Higher reasoning, voluntary movement, personality |

    | Parietal | Superior/posterior | Sensory processing, spatial awareness |

    | Temporal | Lateral (sides) | Hearing, memory, language comprehension |

    | Occipital | Posterior (back) | Visual processing |


    #### Key Brain Structures

  • • Cerebellum – coordinates voluntary muscle movements; maintains balance, posture, and fine motor control
  • • Corpus callosum – large band of nerve fibers connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres; enables communication between hemispheres
  • • Brainstem – controls basic life functions (breathing, heart rate, blood pressure)
  • • Hypothalamus – regulates homeostasis, temperature, hunger, and the endocrine system

    • #### Autonomic Nervous System

  • • Sympathetic ("fight-or-flight") – increases heart rate, dilates pupils, redirects blood to muscles, inhibits digestion
  • • Parasympathetic ("rest-and-digest") – decreases heart rate, promotes digestion, constricts pupils

    • #### Nerve Structure & Transmission

  • • Myelin sheath – fatty insulation around axons; speeds up electrical signal transmission through saltatory conduction (signals jump between nodes of Ranvier)
  • • Multiple sclerosis (MS) – disease caused by demyelination, which slows nerve transmission

    • #### Cranial Nerves to Know

  • • Optic nerve (CN II) – transmits visual signals from the retina to the brain's visual cortex
  • • There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves total

    • Key Terms

  • • Neuron – basic functional unit of the nervous system
  • • Axon – transmits signals away from the neuron cell body
  • • Dendrite – receives signals toward the neuron cell body
  • • Synapse – junction between two neurons where signals are transmitted
  • • Neurotransmitter – chemical messenger crossing the synapse (e.g., acetylcholine, dopamine)
  • • Reflex arc – automatic response to a stimulus, bypassing the brain

    • Watch Out For

    > ⚠️ Cerebellum ≠ cerebrum: The cerebrum handles higher thinking and voluntary movement; the cerebellum handles coordination and balance.

    >

    > ⚠️ The occipital lobe is responsible for vision, not the frontal lobe. Remember: "O"ccipital = "O"ptic/vision.

    >

    > ⚠️ Sympathetic = fight-or-flight (stress response); Parasympathetic = rest-and-digest (calm state). Both are always active, but in opposing balance.

    >

    > ⚠️ The optic nerve is CN II (cranial nerve 2) — one of the most commonly tested cranial nerves on the TEAS.


    ---


    Organ Systems & Homeostasis


    Summary

    Multiple organ systems work together to maintain homeostasis — a stable internal environment. Key systems include the digestive, urinary, endocrine, and lymphatic systems. Understanding the function of each organ and how they interact is essential for TEAS success.


    Key Concepts


    #### Urinary System

  • • Nephron – the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney; filters blood and produces urine
  • • Each kidney contains approximately 1 million nephrons
  • • Process: Filtration → Reabsorption → Secretion → Excretion

    • #### Digestive System

    | Organ | Primary Function |

    |---|---|

    | Liver | Produces bile for fat emulsification; detoxifies blood (primary metabolic detoxifier) |

    | Gallbladder | Stores and concentrates bile; releases it into the small intestine when fat is present |

    | Pancreas (exocrine) | Secretes digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, proteases) and bicarbonate into the small intestine |

    | Small intestine | Site of most nutrient absorption, especially through villi/microvilli of the jejunum |

    | Large intestine | Absorbs water; forms and eliminates waste |


    Digestive path: Mouth → Esophagus → Stomach → Small Intestine (duodenum → jejunum → ileum) → Large Intestine → Rectum → Anus


    #### Endocrine System

  • • Pituitary gland – the "master gland"; secretes hormones that regulate many other endocrine glands

    • - Located at the base of the brain; controlled by the hypothalamus

  • • Thyroid gland – produces thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which regulate metabolic rate
  • • Pancreas (endocrine) – produces insulin (lowers blood glucose) and glucagon (raises blood glucose)
  • • Adrenal glands – produce cortisol (stress response) and epinephrine/adrenaline (fight-or-flight)

    • #### Lymphatic System

  • • Collects excess interstitial fluid and returns it to the bloodstream
  • • Maintains fluid balance
  • • Supports immune function (lymph nodes filter pathogens; lymphocytes fight infection)
  • • Works closely with the cardiovascular system

    • Key Terms

  • • Homeostasis – the maintenance of a stable internal environment
  • • Negative feedback – the primary mechanism of homeostasis; a change triggers a response that reverses the change (e.g., thermoregulation, blood glucose regulation)
  • • Villi/Microvilli – finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption
  • • Bile – emulsifies (breaks apart) fat globules for easier digestion by lipase
  • • **
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