← TEAS Life & Physical Science Mastery

TEAS Nursing School Admission Test Study Guide

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TEAS Life & Physical Science Mastery: Study Guide


Overview

This study guide covers the core life and physical science concepts tested on the TEAS exam, spanning cell biology, genetics, human body systems, chemistry, and physics. Mastery of these topics requires understanding both isolated facts and the relationships between systems and concepts. Use this guide alongside active recall practice to maximize retention and exam performance.


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Cell Biology


Summary

Cell biology focuses on the structure and function of eukaryotic cells, the mechanisms of cell division, and how substances move across membranes. Understanding which organelle does what — and why — is the foundation for understanding larger biological processes.


Key Organelles & Functions

  • • Mitochondria — Produce ATP via cellular respiration; the cell's "powerhouse"
  • • Golgi Apparatus — Modifies, packages, and ships proteins; think of it as the cell's "post office"
  • • Ribosomes — Sites of protein synthesis; translate mRNA → polypeptide chains
  • • Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) — Rough ER (with ribosomes) processes proteins; Smooth ER handles lipids

    • Cell Division Comparison


    | Feature | Mitosis | Meiosis |

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

    | Daughter cells produced | 2 | 4 |

    | Genetic identity | Identical (diploid) | Unique (haploid) |

    | Purpose | Growth/repair | Sexual reproduction |

    | Ploidy | 2n → 2n | 2n → n |


    Phases of Mitosis (PMAT)

    1. Prophase — Chromosomes condense; spindle forms

    2. Metaphase — Chromosomes align at the equatorial/metaphase plate

    3. Anaphase — Sister chromatids pulled to opposite poles

    4. Telophase — Nuclear envelopes reform; cytokinesis follows


    Membrane Transport


    | Type | Direction | Energy Required? | Example |

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

    | Passive transport / Diffusion | High → Low concentration | No | O₂ entering cells |

    | Osmosis | High → Low water concentration | No | Water across membranes |

    | Active transport | Low → High concentration | Yes (ATP) | Na⁺/K⁺ pump |


    Key Terms

  • • ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) — The cell's primary energy currency
  • • Concentration gradient — Difference in solute concentration between two areas
  • • Diploid (2n) — Contains two sets of chromosomes
  • • Haploid (n) — Contains one set of chromosomes
  • • Cytokinesis — Division of the cytoplasm following nuclear division

    • ⚠️ Watch Out For

  • • Don't confuse mitosis (somatic cell division, 2 cells) with meiosis (gamete production, 4 cells)
  • • Active transport moves against the gradient and requires ATP — passive transport does neither
  • • Metaphase is where chromosomes line up, not where they separate (that's Anaphase)

    • ---


    Genetics & Evolution


    Summary

    Genetics explains how traits are inherited and expressed at the molecular level. Evolution explains how populations change over time through natural selection and genetic variation. These two topics are deeply interconnected.


    Mendelian Inheritance

  • • Dominant allele (A) — Expressed when one or two copies are present
  • • Recessive allele (a) — Only expressed when homozygous recessive (aa)
  • • Autosomal recessive trait — Requires genotype aa to be expressed (e.g., cystic fibrosis)

    • Genotype Notation

    | Genotype | Description | Phenotype (for dominant/recessive pair) |

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

    | AA | Homozygous dominant | Dominant trait expressed |

    | Aa | Heterozygous | Dominant trait expressed (carrier) |

    | aa | Homozygous recessive | Recessive trait expressed |


    The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

    ```

    DNA → (Transcription) → RNA → (Translation) → Protein

    ```

  • • Transcription occurs in the nucleus; DNA is used as a template to make mRNA
  • • Translation occurs at ribosomes; mRNA is decoded to build a polypeptide chain

    • Types of Mutations


    | Mutation | What Happens | Effect |

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

    | Nonsense | Codon → stop codon | Truncated, nonfunctional protein |

    | Missense | One amino acid substituted | Altered or nonfunctional protein |

    | Silent | Codon change, same amino acid | Usually no effect |

    | Frameshift | Insertion/deletion of bases | Massive downstream disruption |


    Darwin's Natural Selection — Four Key Principles

    1. Variation — Individuals in a population vary in traits

    2. Heritability — Traits are passed to offspring

    3. Overproduction — More offspring are born than can survive

    4. Differential survival — Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce


    Key Terms

  • • Allele — A variant form of a gene
  • • Phenotype — The observable expression of a genotype
  • • Codon — A three-nucleotide sequence in mRNA that codes for an amino acid
  • • Natural selection — The process by which favorable heritable traits become more common in a population
  • • Fitness — An organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment

    • ⚠️ Watch Out For

  • • A recessive trait requires two copies of the recessive allele — one copy (Aa) makes a carrier, not an expressed trait
  • • The central dogma goes DNA → RNA → Protein, never in reverse under normal circumstances
  • • A nonsense mutation creates a stop codon (truncates the protein), while a missense mutation substitutes one amino acid for another

    • ---


    Human Body Systems


    Summary

    The TEAS tests knowledge of how organ systems are structured and how they maintain homeostasis. Focus on the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, endocrine, digestive, urinary, and musculoskeletal systems, paying close attention to feedback mechanisms and directional blood/fluid flow.


    Cardiovascular System

  • • SA node — The heart's natural pacemaker; initiates electrical impulse for each heartbeat
  • • Pulmonary artery — Carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle → lungs
  • • Pulmonary veins — Carry oxygenated blood from lungs → left atrium
  • • Arteries always carry blood away from the heart; veins carry blood toward the heart

    • > 🔑 Memory trick: "Pulmonary Artery" — both start with letters near the beginning of the alphabet, just like "deoxygenated" is the starting state before oxygenation


    Respiratory System

  • • Alveoli — Tiny air sacs where gas exchange (O₂/CO₂) occurs
  • • Surfactant — Phospholipid mixture that reduces surface tension in alveoli, preventing collapse during exhalation
  • • Epiglottis — Flap of cartilage that covers the trachea during swallowing to prevent aspiration

    • Urinary System & Kidney Function


    Nephron reabsorption locations:

    1. Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT) — Reabsorbs ~65% of water, glucose, amino acids, and ions

    2. Loop of Henle — Concentrates urine; creates osmotic gradient

    3. Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT) — Fine-tunes ion and pH balance

    4. Collecting Duct — ADH-regulated water reabsorption


    ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone / Vasopressin):

  • • Released by the posterior pituitary when blood osmolarity is high
  • • Causes kidneys to reabsorb more water → concentrated urine → lowers blood osmolarity

    • Nervous System

  • • Sympathetic division — Fight-or-flight: increases heart rate, dilates airways, redirects blood to muscles
  • • Parasympathetic division — Rest-and-digest: decreases heart rate, promotes digestion

    • Digestive System

  • • Small intestine — Primary site of chemical digestion and nutrient absorption

    • - Villi and microvilli dramatically increase surface area

    - Receives enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver/gallbladder


    Endocrine Highlights

    | Hormone | Gland | Trigger | Effect |

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

    | ADH | Posterior pituitary | High blood osmolarity | ↑ Water reabsorption |

    | Insulin | Pancreas | High blood glucose | ↓ Blood glucose |

    | Glucagon | Pancreas | Low blood glucose | ↑ Blood glucose |

    | Cortisol | Adrenal cortex | Stress | ↑ Blood glucose, ↓ Immunity |


    Key Terms

  • • Homeostasis — Maintenance of a stable internal environment
  • • Osmolarity — Concentration of solutes in a solution
  • • Glottis — The opening of the trachea/larynx
  • • Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT) — First segment of the nephron tubule after the glomerulus
  • • Autonomic nervous system — Controls involuntary body functions

    • ⚠️ Watch Out For

  • • The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood — this is the major exception to "arteries carry oxygenated blood"
  • • ADH causes water reabsorption (concentrated urine), not excretion — low ADH = dilute urine
  • • The SA node is in the right atrium, not the brain; it's the heart's internal pacemaker
  • • Surfactant prevents alveoli from collapsing — its absence (e.g., in premature infants) causes respiratory distress

    • ---


    Chemistry


    Summary

    TEAS chemistry covers atomic structure, chemical bonding, reaction principles, acids/bases, and the role of enzymes. Understanding the why behind chemical behavior — not just definitions — is essential.


    Acids, Bases & pH

  • • pH scale: 0–14; pH 7 = neutral; below 7 = acidic; above 7 = basic/alkaline
  • • pH measures H⁺ (hydrogen ion) concentration
  • • The scale is logarithmic: each unit change = 10× difference in H⁺ concentration

    • Types of Chemical Bonds


    | Bond Type | How Electrons Are Shared | Example |

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

    | Ionic | Electrons transferred; between metal + nonmetal | NaCl |

    | Nonpolar Covalent | Equally shared; same or similar electronegativity | O₂, N₂ |

    | Polar Covalent | Unequally shared; different electronegativities | H₂O (O–H bond) |

    | Hydrogen bond | Weak attraction between polar molecules | Water molecule interactions |


    Reaction Energy Concepts

  • • Activation energy — Minimum energy needed to start a chemical reaction
  • • Enzymes — Biological catalysts that lower activation energy by binding substrates at the active site

    • - Enzymes are not consumed in the reaction

    - Lock-and-key model: substrate fits specifically into the enzyme's active site


    Law of Conservation of Mass

    > Atoms are neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; mass of reactants = mass of products


  • • Chemical equations must be balanced to reflect this law
  • • Only coefficients may be changed when balancing equations (not subscripts)

    • Atomic Structure

  • • Protons — Determine the element (atomic number); positive charge
  • • Neutrons — Contribute to atomic mass; neutral charge
  • • Electrons — Negative charge; involved in bonding
  • • Isotopes — Same element (same proton count), different neutron count → different atomic masses

    • - Example: Carbon-12 vs. Carbon-14


    Key Terms

  • • Electronegativity — An atom's tendency to attract electrons in a bond
  • • Catalyst — Substance that speeds up a reaction without being consumed
  • • Active site — Region on an enzyme where the substrate binds
  • • Substrate — The reactant molecule that binds to an enzyme
  • • Atomic number — Number of protons in an atom's nucleus
  • • Atomic mass — Sum of protons and neutrons

    • ⚠️ Watch Out For

  • • pH below 7 = acidic, not basic — students commonly reverse this
  • • Enzymes lower activation energy; they do NOT add energy to the reaction
  • • Isotopes differ in neutrons, not protons — changing protons would change the element itself
  • • A polar covalent bond is not the same as an ionic bond; electrons are shared (unequally), not transferred

    • ---


    Physics & Physical Science


    Summary

    Physics on the TEAS covers mechanics, thermodynamics, waves, electricity, and gas laws. Focus on understanding the formulas conceptually — know what happens when one variable changes — rather than memorizing numbers alone.


    Newton's Laws of Motion


    | Law | Statement | Formula |

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

    | 1st (Inertia) | Objects at rest/motion stay that way unless acted upon | — |

    | 2nd | Force = mass × acceleration | F = ma |

    | 3rd (Action-Reaction) | Every action has an equal and opposite reaction | — |


    Heat vs. Temperature

    | Concept | Definition |

    |---|---|

    | Temperature | Measures average kinetic energy of particles |

    | Heat | Total thermal energy transferred between objects due to temperature difference |


    > 🔑 A large pot of lukewarm water has more heat than a small cup of boiling water, even though the cup has a higher temperature.


    Gas Laws


    | Law | Variables | Relationship | Formula |

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

    | Boyle's Law | Pressure & Volume (constant T) | Inverse | P₁V₁ = P₂V₂ |

    | Charles's Law | Volume & Temperature (constant P) | Direct | V₁/T₁ = V₂/T₂ |

    | Gay-Lussac's Law | Pressure & Temperature (constant V) | Direct | P₁/T₁ = P₂/T₂ |


    Boyle's Law in plain language: Squeeze a gas (↓ volume) → pressure increases; expand the volume → pressure decreases.


    Waves & Electromagnetic Spectrum


    Wave types:

  • • Mechanical waves (e.g., sound) — Require a medium; cannot travel through vacuum
  • • Electromagnetic waves (e.g., light) — Do not require a medium; can travel through vacuum

    • Electromagnetic spectrum (high frequency → low frequency):

    ```

    Gamma rays → X-rays → UV → Visible light → Infrared → Microwaves → Radio waves

    (↑ Energy, ↑ Frequency, ↓ Wavelength) (↓ Energy, ↓ Frequency, ↑ Wavelength)

    ```


    Electricity: Ohm's Law & Circuits


    Ohm's Law:

    > V = IR (Voltage = Current × Resistance)


    | Variable | Unit |

    |---|---|

    | Voltage (V) | Volts |

    | Current (I) | Amperes (Amps) |

    | Resistance (R) | Ohms (Ω) |


    Circuit comparison:


    | Feature | Series Circuit | Parallel Circuit |

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

    | Current paths | One shared path | Multiple separate paths |

    | Voltage | Divides among components | Same across each component |

    | Current | Same throughout | Divides among branches |

    | If one component fails | Entire circuit breaks | Others continue working |


    Key Terms

  • • Acceleration — Rate of change of velocity (m/s²)
  • • Kinetic energy — Energy of motion (KE = ½mv²)
  • • Potential energy — Stored energy due to position
  • • Frequency — Number of wave cycles per second (Hz)
  • • Wavelength — Distance between successive wave peaks
  • • Amplitude — Height of a wave; related to energy/intensity

    • ⚠️ Watch Out For

  • • Boyle's Law: Volume and
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