A 25-year-old man with a runny nose and sore throat from a common cold asks the medical assistant for an antibiotic. Which fact explains why the provider is unlikely to prescribe one?

Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics act only on bacteria

Antibiotics work only when they are given by injection

Colds are caused by fungi, which need antifungal drugs

Antibiotics are reserved for patients over age 65

While being roomed for a routine visit, a 61-year-old woman with diabetes mentions unusual fatigue, nausea and an aching jaw and upper back since this morning. These symptoms could signal which condition?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Temporomandibular joint disorder

What does the diaphragm do during inhalation?

It contracts and moves downward, enlarging the chest cavity

It relaxes and moves upward, pushing air out of the lungs

It contracts and moves upward, compressing the lungs

It stays relaxed while only the rib muscles move

A patient with an untreated lower urinary tract infection presents with a high fever, shaking chills, flank pain, and costovertebral angle tenderness upon percussion. Which condition has most likely developed?

Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis

A 12-year-old boy is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. His father asks what causes it. Which explanation is accurate?

The immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas

The body's cells become resistant to insulin because of excess weight

The liver stops storing glucose after meals

The kidneys lose too much glucose because of damaged nephrons

A 50-year-old man had a large section of his small intestine removed after an injury. Why is he at risk for poor nutrition?

Most absorption of nutrients takes place in the small intestine

The small intestine produces red blood cells

The small intestine stores glycogen for later use

The small intestine mainly absorbs water to form stool

A 4-year-old receives a dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Which type of immunity does the vaccine produce?

Artificially acquired active immunity

Naturally acquired active immunity

Naturally acquired passive immunity

Artificially acquired passive immunity

CCMA Anatomy and Physiology Practice Test

25 questions
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25 practice questions

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Question 1 of 25Easy
Which cell structure produces most of the cell's energy in the form of ATP?
1. A. Nucleus
2. B. Ribosome
3. C. Golgi apparatus
4. D. Mitochondrion
Show answer to question 1
Answer: D. Mitochondrion
Mitochondria carry out cellular respiration, converting nutrients and oxygen into ATP, the cell's main energy source.
Why the other options are wrong
- AThe nucleus holds the cell's DNA and directs its activities.
- BRibosomes build proteins.
- CThe Golgi apparatus modifies, packages and ships proteins.
Question 2 of 25Hard
A 47-year-old woman reports fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin and feeling cold when others are comfortable. These symptoms are most consistent with which condition?
1. A. Hyperthyroidism
2. B. Hypothyroidism
3. C. Type 1 diabetes
4. D. Cushing syndrome
Show answer to question 2
Answer: B. Hypothyroidism
Low thyroid hormone slows metabolism, causing fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin and cold intolerance.
Why the other options are wrong
- AHyperthyroidism speeds metabolism and typically causes weight loss, heat intolerance, a rapid pulse and nervousness.
- CType 1 diabetes typically causes increased thirst, frequent urination and weight loss.
- DCushing syndrome can cause weight gain, but its hallmarks are a rounded face, fat at the upper back and high blood pressure, not cold intolerance.
Question 3 of 25Medium
A provider explains to a 66-year-old man with emphysema that his disease has destroyed many of the tiny air sacs where oxygen passes into the blood. Which structures is the provider describing?
1. A. Bronchi
2. B. Alveoli
3. C. Trachea
4. D. Pleura
Show answer to question 3
Answer: B. Alveoli
Alveoli are tiny air sacs surrounded by capillaries. Their thin walls let oxygen diffuse into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuse out, and emphysema destroys their walls.
Why the other options are wrong
- ABronchi are airways that carry air into the lungs; their walls are too thick for gas exchange.
- CThe trachea is the windpipe that carries air to the bronchi.
- DThe pleura is the membrane that covers the lungs and lines the chest cavity.
Question 4 of 25Medium
In which form is the majority of carbon dioxide transported in the bloodstream from body tissues to the lungs?
1. A. Bound to iron in heme groups
2. B. Dissolved gas in plasma
3. C. Bound to plasma albumin
4. D. As bicarbonate ions
Show answer to question 4
Answer: D. As bicarbonate ions
Approximately 70% of carbon dioxide is converted inside erythrocytes into bicarbonate ions, which are then carried in the plasma. While some carbon dioxide dissolves directly in plasma or binds to hemoglobin globin chains, bicarbonate formation is the primary transport method.
Question 5 of 25Medium
A 25-year-old man with a runny nose and sore throat from a common cold asks the medical assistant for an antibiotic. Which fact explains why the provider is unlikely to prescribe one?
1. A. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics act only on bacteria
2. B. Antibiotics work only when they are given by injection
3. C. Colds are caused by fungi, which need antifungal drugs
4. D. Antibiotics are reserved for patients over age 65
Show answer to question 5
Answer: A. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics act only on bacteria
Common colds are viral infections. Antibiotics target bacterial structures and processes, so they do not help viral illnesses, and overuse promotes resistance.
Why the other options are wrong
- BMany antibiotics work well when taken by mouth; the route is not the reason.
- CColds are caused by viruses, such as rhinoviruses, not fungi.
- DAntibiotics are prescribed at any age when a bacterial infection is present.
Question 6 of 25Hard
While being roomed for a routine visit, a 61-year-old woman with diabetes mentions unusual fatigue, nausea and an aching jaw and upper back since this morning. These symptoms could signal which condition?
1. A. Heart attack
2. B. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
3. C. Temporomandibular joint disorder
4. D. Seasonal influenza
Show answer to question 6
Answer: A. Heart attack
Women and people with diabetes often have less typical heart attack symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea and jaw or back pain, without crushing chest pain. The provider must be told immediately.
Why the other options are wrong
- BReflux causes heartburn and regurgitation, and assuming reflux could delay care for a possible heart attack.
- CA jaw joint disorder does not explain fatigue, nausea and back pain appearing together this morning.
- DInfluenza usually brings fever, body aches and respiratory symptoms rather than jaw and back pain.
Question 7 of 25Medium
What does the diaphragm do during inhalation?
1. A. It relaxes and moves upward, pushing air out of the lungs
2. B. It contracts and moves upward, compressing the lungs
3. C. It contracts and moves downward, enlarging the chest cavity
4. D. It stays relaxed while only the rib muscles move
Show answer to question 7
Answer: C. It contracts and moves downward, enlarging the chest cavity
During inhalation the dome-shaped diaphragm contracts and flattens downward. This enlarges the chest cavity, lowers the pressure in the lungs and draws air in.
Why the other options are wrong
- ARelaxing and rising describes the diaphragm during normal exhalation, not inhalation.
- BWhen the diaphragm contracts it moves downward, not upward, and it lets the lungs expand rather than compressing them.
- DThe diaphragm is the main muscle of breathing and actively contracts during every normal inhalation.
Question 8 of 25Easy
Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood through the aorta to the rest of the body?
1. A. Right atrium
2. B. Right ventricle
3. C. Left atrium
4. D. Left ventricle
Show answer to question 8
Answer: D. Left ventricle
The left ventricle receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium and pumps it into the aorta for delivery to the body. Its thick muscular wall generates the high pressure this requires.
Why the other options are wrong
- AThe right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood returning from the body through the venae cavae.
- BThe right ventricle pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
- CThe left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and passes it to the left ventricle.
Question 9 of 25Hard
A patient with an untreated lower urinary tract infection presents with a high fever, shaking chills, flank pain, and costovertebral angle tenderness upon percussion. Which condition has most likely developed?
1. A. Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
2. B. Acute pyelonephritis
3. C. Chronic cystitis
4. D. Renal cell carcinoma
Show answer to question 9
Answer: B. Acute pyelonephritis
Acute pyelonephritis is an upper urinary tract infection of the renal pelvis and kidney parenchyma, commonly caused by bacteria ascending from a lower urinary tract infection, presenting with systemic signs such as fever and flank tenderness. Chronic cystitis remains confined to the bladder and causes dysuria and frequency without high fevers or costovertebral angle tenderness.
Question 10 of 25Medium
During intake, a 39-year-old woman says she feels nauseated. The medical assistant measures a temperature of 101.4 F and a pulse of 112 and notices a rash on her arms. Which finding is a symptom rather than a sign?
1. A. Temperature of 101.4 F
2. B. Rash on the arms
3. C. Nausea
4. D. Pulse of 112 beats per minute
Show answer to question 10
Answer: C. Nausea
A symptom is subjective: something the patient feels and reports, such as nausea. A sign is objective and can be observed or measured by someone else.
Why the other options are wrong
- AA temperature reading is measured by the medical assistant, so it is an objective sign.
- BA rash can be seen by others, so it is an objective sign.
- DA pulse rate is measured, which makes it an objective sign.
Question 11 of 25Medium
A lab report describes the organism causing a patient's throat infection as round bacteria arranged in chains. Which group does this describe?
1. A. Staphylococci
2. B. Streptococci
3. C. Bacilli
4. D. Spirochetes
Show answer to question 11
Answer: B. Streptococci
Cocci are round bacteria, and strepto means twisted chain. Streptococci, such as the cause of strep throat, grow in chains.
Why the other options are wrong
- AStaphylococci are round bacteria that grow in grapelike clusters.
- CBacilli are rod-shaped bacteria.
- DSpirochetes are spiral-shaped bacteria, such as the cause of syphilis.
Question 12 of 25Hard
A 30-year-old runner is dehydrated after a long race, and his urine is small in volume and dark. Which hormone is acting on his kidneys to conserve water?
1. A. Insulin
2. B. Glucagon
3. C. Antidiuretic hormone
4. D. Thyroxine
Show answer to question 12
Answer: C. Antidiuretic hormone
When the body is low on fluid, the pituitary releases antidiuretic hormone, which makes the kidneys reabsorb more water. Urine becomes smaller in volume and more concentrated.
Why the other options are wrong
- AInsulin moves glucose into cells and does not control water reabsorption by the kidneys.
- BGlucagon raises blood glucose by signaling the liver to release stored glucose.
- DThyroxine regulates metabolic rate rather than water balance.
Question 13 of 25Easy
Which skin layer lies directly beneath the epidermis and contains blood vessels, nerve endings, sweat glands and hair follicles?
1. A. Dermis
2. B. Stratum corneum
3. C. Subcutaneous layer
4. D. Periosteum
Show answer to question 13
Answer: A. Dermis
The dermis lies beneath the epidermis and contains blood vessels, nerves, sweat and oil glands and hair follicles.
Why the other options are wrong
- BThe stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis, made of dead skin cells.
- CThe subcutaneous layer lies beneath the dermis and is mostly fat and loose connective tissue.
- DThe periosteum is a membrane covering bone, not a layer of the skin.
Question 14 of 25Medium
A 12-year-old boy is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. His father asks what causes it. Which explanation is accurate?
1. A. The immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas
2. B. The body's cells become resistant to insulin because of excess weight
3. C. The liver stops storing glucose after meals
4. D. The kidneys lose too much glucose because of damaged nephrons
Show answer to question 14
Answer: A. The immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys the beta cells of the pancreas, so the body makes little or no insulin and insulin therapy is required.
Why the other options are wrong
- BInsulin resistance, often linked to excess weight, is the main problem in type 2 diabetes.
- CA failure of liver glucose storage is not the cause of type 1 diabetes.
- DGlucose spills into the urine because blood glucose is high; kidney loss is a result, not the cause.
Question 15 of 25Easy
Which structure connects a muscle to a bone?
1. A. Ligament
2. B. Cartilage
3. C. Bursa
4. D. Tendon
Show answer to question 15
Answer: D. Tendon
Tendons are tough bands of connective tissue that attach muscles to bones, allowing muscle contraction to move the skeleton.
Why the other options are wrong
- ALigaments connect bone to bone and stabilize joints.
- BCartilage cushions the ends of bones in joints and forms structures such as the outer ear and nose.
- CA bursa is a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction near joints.
Question 16 of 25Easy
Which endocrine gland secretes the hormone responsible for regulating the body's sleep-wake cycle?
1. A. Thyroid gland
2. B. Pineal gland
3. C. Thymus gland
4. D. Pituitary gland
Show answer to question 16
Answer: B. Pineal gland
The pineal gland produces melatonin, which helps regulate circadian rhythms and the sleep-wake cycle. The thymus gland produces thymosin to assist with T-cell maturation in the immune system, not sleep regulation.
Question 17 of 25Hard
A 42-year-old woman has painful, swollen joints in both hands and both wrists, with morning stiffness lasting more than an hour. Which condition best matches this pattern?
1. A. Osteoarthritis
2. B. Gout
3. C. Osteoporosis
4. D. Rheumatoid arthritis
Show answer to question 17
Answer: D. Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that typically affects small joints on both sides of the body symmetrically and causes prolonged morning stiffness.
Why the other options are wrong
- AOsteoarthritis is wear-and-tear joint damage, often in weight-bearing joints, with morning stiffness that usually eases within about 30 minutes.
- BGout is caused by uric acid crystals and usually attacks one joint suddenly, often the big toe.
- COsteoporosis is loss of bone density that raises fracture risk; it does not cause swollen, stiff joints.
Question 18 of 25Medium
A 50-year-old man had a large section of his small intestine removed after an injury. Why is he at risk for poor nutrition?
1. A. The small intestine produces red blood cells
2. B. The small intestine stores glycogen for later use
3. C. The small intestine mainly absorbs water to form stool
4. D. Most absorption of nutrients takes place in the small intestine
Show answer to question 18
Answer: D. Most absorption of nutrients takes place in the small intestine
The small intestine is lined with villi and microvilli that create a large surface for absorbing nutrients, so losing much of it can lead to malabsorption.
Why the other options are wrong
- ARed blood cells are produced in the red bone marrow.
- BGlycogen is stored mainly in the liver and skeletal muscle.
- CAbsorbing water to form stool is the main job of the large intestine.
Question 19 of 25Hard
A 68-year-old man in the waiting room suddenly develops drooping on the right side of his face, weakness in his right arm and slurred speech. These findings most strongly suggest which condition?
1. A. Bell palsy
2. B. Migraine with aura
3. C. Stroke
4. D. Vasovagal syncope
Show answer to question 19
Answer: C. Stroke
Sudden facial droop, one-sided arm weakness and speech trouble are classic stroke warning signs. Emergency services should be activated immediately because treatment is time sensitive.
Why the other options are wrong
- ABell palsy causes facial weakness only and does not cause arm weakness or slurred speech.
- BMigraine aura usually involves visual changes that develop gradually; sudden one-sided weakness with speech changes must be treated as a stroke.
- DVasovagal syncope is a brief faint from a drop in heart rate and blood pressure, without one-sided weakness.
Question 20 of 25Medium
A 52-year-old woman has an unsteady gait and poor coordination after damage to one area of her brain. Which structure is most likely affected?
1. A. Cerebellum
2. B. Medulla oblongata
3. C. Hypothalamus
4. D. Occipital lobe
Show answer to question 20
Answer: A. Cerebellum
The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movement, balance and posture, so damage often causes an unsteady gait and clumsy movements.
Why the other options are wrong
- BThe medulla oblongata controls vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.
- CThe hypothalamus regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst and hormone release.
- DThe occipital lobe processes vision.
Question 21 of 25Easy
What is the functional unit of the kidney that filters blood and forms urine?
1. A. Nephron
2. B. Neuron
3. C. Alveolus
4. D. Ureter
Show answer to question 21
Answer: A. Nephron
Each kidney contains about a million nephrons, which filter blood, reabsorb needed substances and form urine.
Why the other options are wrong
- BA neuron is the basic functional cell of the nervous system.
- CAn alveolus is an air sac in the lung where gas exchange occurs.
- DThe ureter is a tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder; it does not filter blood.
Question 22 of 25Easy
Chronic, untreated hypertension increases afterload, requiring the heart to work harder to eject blood. Which structural change commonly develops in the heart muscle as a compensatory response?
1. A. Right atrial dilation
2. B. Ventricular septal defect
3. C. Left ventricular hypertrophy
4. D. Mitral valve prolapse
Show answer to question 22
Answer: C. Left ventricular hypertrophy
Left ventricular hypertrophy develops as the myocardial wall of the left ventricle thickens to overcome chronically elevated systemic vascular resistance. Right atrial dilation typically results from elevated pulmonary arterial pressure or tricuspid valve disease rather than systemic hypertension.
Question 23 of 25Medium
Which specialized cellular projections line the respiratory tract and beat in synchronized, wavelike motions to move mucus and trapped particles upward?
1. A. Microvilli
2. B. Flagella
3. C. Cilia
4. D. Pseudopodia
Show answer to question 23
Answer: C. Cilia
Cilia are hair-like motile projections on the apical surface of epithelial cells that rhythmically sweep mucus and trapped foreign debris out of the airways. Microvilli are non-motile folds that increase surface area for absorption, primarily found in the small intestine and kidneys. Flagella are singular, long structures found on sperm cells that provide cellular locomotion.
Question 24 of 25Hard
A 4-year-old receives a dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Which type of immunity does the vaccine produce?
1. A. Naturally acquired active immunity
2. B. Artificially acquired active immunity
3. C. Naturally acquired passive immunity
4. D. Artificially acquired passive immunity
Show answer to question 24
Answer: B. Artificially acquired active immunity
A vaccine exposes the immune system to an antigen, so the body makes its own antibodies and memory cells. Because this is induced on purpose, it is artificially acquired active immunity.
Why the other options are wrong
- ANaturally acquired active immunity develops after having the infection itself.
- CNaturally acquired passive immunity comes from antibodies passed from mother to baby through the placenta or breast milk.
- DArtificially acquired passive immunity comes from receiving ready-made antibodies, such as immune globulin.
Question 25 of 25Medium
A public health report records the total number of individuals living with chronic kidney disease in a county on December 31. Which measure does this total represent?
1. A. Case fatality rate
2. B. Cumulative incidence
3. C. Incidence rate
4. D. Point prevalence
Show answer to question 25
Answer: D. Point prevalence
Point prevalence measures the total proportion of individuals who have a condition at a single specific moment in time, capturing both new and pre-existing cases. Incidence rate tracks only the newly emerging cases over an interval of observation rather than the total disease burden at a single calendar date.

The full CCMA bank has 233 Anatomy and Physiology questions. See plans

Anatomy and Physiology is one of the content areas NHA lists for the CCMA exam. Below are 25 original Anatomy and Physiology practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.

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No. They are original practice questions written from the public exam outline, not questions taken from the exam. Exam owners keep live questions confidential.

What does the CCMA exam cover?

Foundational knowledge and basic science, anatomy and physiology, clinical patient care, patient care coordination and education, administrative assistance, communication and customer service, and medical law and ethics. The NHA test plan has 180 questions, 150 of them scored, in 3 hours. Source: NHA CCMA test plan.

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Yes. The 25 questions on this page, with answers and explanations, are free to use, and there is no sign up. The full CCMA bank of 3,678 questions, with timed section tests and an AI tutor, comes with a plan.

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Answer each question before you open Show answer, then read why the correct option is right and the others are not. Note the topics you miss and review them first. The CCMA study guide has 9 lessons for Anatomy and Physiology, listed on this page.

These are original practice questions written from the public exam outline. They are not actual exam questions. CCMA and NHA are trademarks of their owner. tests.global is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHA.

Updated October 14, 2026.

CCMA Anatomy and Physiology Practice Test

25 practice questions

Which cell structure produces most of the cell's energy in the form of ATP?

A 47-year-old woman reports fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin and feeling cold when others are comfortable. These symptoms are most consistent with which condition?

A provider explains to a 66-year-old man with emphysema that his disease has destroyed many of the tiny air sacs where oxygen passes into the blood. Which structures is the provider describing?

In which form is the majority of carbon dioxide transported in the bloodstream from body tissues to the lungs?

A 25-year-old man with a runny nose and sore throat from a common cold asks the medical assistant for an antibiotic. Which fact explains why the provider is unlikely to prescribe one?

While being roomed for a routine visit, a 61-year-old woman with diabetes mentions unusual fatigue, nausea and an aching jaw and upper back since this morning. These symptoms could signal which condition?

What does the diaphragm do during inhalation?

Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood through the aorta to the rest of the body?

A patient with an untreated lower urinary tract infection presents with a high fever, shaking chills, flank pain, and costovertebral angle tenderness upon percussion. Which condition has most likely developed?

During intake, a 39-year-old woman says she feels nauseated. The medical assistant measures a temperature of 101.4 F and a pulse of 112 and notices a rash on her arms. Which finding is a symptom rather than a sign?

A lab report describes the organism causing a patient's throat infection as round bacteria arranged in chains. Which group does this describe?

A 30-year-old runner is dehydrated after a long race, and his urine is small in volume and dark. Which hormone is acting on his kidneys to conserve water?

Which skin layer lies directly beneath the epidermis and contains blood vessels, nerve endings, sweat glands and hair follicles?

A 12-year-old boy is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. His father asks what causes it. Which explanation is accurate?

Which structure connects a muscle to a bone?

Which endocrine gland secretes the hormone responsible for regulating the body's sleep-wake cycle?

A 42-year-old woman has painful, swollen joints in both hands and both wrists, with morning stiffness lasting more than an hour. Which condition best matches this pattern?

A 50-year-old man had a large section of his small intestine removed after an injury. Why is he at risk for poor nutrition?

A 68-year-old man in the waiting room suddenly develops drooping on the right side of his face, weakness in his right arm and slurred speech. These findings most strongly suggest which condition?

A 52-year-old woman has an unsteady gait and poor coordination after damage to one area of her brain. Which structure is most likely affected?

What is the functional unit of the kidney that filters blood and forms urine?

Chronic, untreated hypertension increases afterload, requiring the heart to work harder to eject blood. Which structural change commonly develops in the heart muscle as a compensatory response?

Which specialized cellular projections line the respiratory tract and beat in synchronized, wavelike motions to move mucus and trapped particles upward?

A 4-year-old receives a dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Which type of immunity does the vaccine produce?

A public health report records the total number of individuals living with chronic kidney disease in a county on December 31. Which measure does this total represent?

Study guide lessons for Anatomy and Physiology

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Practice the full CCMA bank.

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