CPC Class 3 – Important Anatomy & Physiology Questions

Part 1: Anatomy Basics

1. What is anatomy?

A. Study of body functions
B. Study of body structures
C. Study of diseases
D. Study of medications

Answer: B – Study of body structures

2. What is physiology?

A. Study of body structures
B. Study of body functions
C. Study of diseases
D. Study of surgery

Answer: B – Study of body functions

Exam tip:
Anatomy = Structure
Physiology = Function

3. Which is the smallest structural and functional unit of the human body?

A. Tissue
B. Organ
C. Cell
D. System

Answer: C – Cell

4. Which level comes immediately after cells?

A. Organs
B. Tissues
C. Systems
D. Organism

Answer: B – Tissues

5. Which sequence is correct?

A. Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ System → Organism
B. Tissue → Cell → Organ → Organism
C. Organ → Cell → Tissue → System
D. Cell → Organ → Tissue → System

Answer: A

6. Which anatomical position has the palms facing forward?

A. Supine
B. Prone
C. Anatomical position
D. Lateral position

Answer: C – Anatomical position

7. What does “superior” mean?

A. Toward the feet
B. Toward the head
C. Away from the body
D. Toward the back

Answer: B – Toward the head

8. What does “inferior” mean?

A. Toward the head
B. Toward the feet/lower part
C. Toward the front
D. Toward the middle

Answer: B

9. What does “anterior” mean?

A. Front
B. Back
C. Upper
D. Lower

Answer: A – Front

10. What does “posterior” mean?

A. Front
B. Back
C. Middle
D. Side

Answer: B – Back

11. What does “medial” mean?

A. Away from the midline
B. Toward the midline
C. Toward the feet
D. Toward the skin

Answer: B – Toward the midline

12. What does “lateral” mean?

A. Toward the midline
B. Away from the midline
C. Toward the head
D. Toward the front

Answer: B

13. What does “proximal” mean?

A. Farther from the point of attachment
B. Closer to the point of attachment
C. Toward the skin
D. Toward the midline

Answer: B

Example: The elbow is proximal to the wrist.

14. What does “distal” mean?

A. Closer to the point of attachment
B. Farther from the point of attachment
C. Toward the head
D. Toward the midline

Answer: B

Part 2: Body Cavities

15. Which cavity contains the brain?

A. Thoracic cavity
B. Abdominal cavity
C. Cranial cavity
D. Pelvic cavity

Answer: C – Cranial cavity

16. Which cavity contains the spinal cord?

A. Cranial
B. Vertebral
C. Thoracic
D. Pelvic

Answer: B – Vertebral cavity

17. Which cavity contains the heart and lungs?

A. Pelvic
B. Thoracic
C. Abdominal
D. Cranial

Answer: B – Thoracic cavity

18. What structure separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities?

A. Sternum
B. Diaphragm
C. Pleura
D. Peritoneum

Answer: B – Diaphragm

⭐ Very important for CPC preparation.

19. The stomach is primarily located in which cavity?

A. Cranial
B. Thoracic
C. Abdominal
D. Vertebral

Answer: C – Abdominal cavity

20. The urinary bladder is located primarily in which cavity?

A. Cranial
B. Thoracic
C. Pelvic
D. Vertebral

Answer: C – Pelvic cavity

21. Which cavity contains the reproductive organs?

A. Cranial
B. Pelvic
C. Thoracic
D. Vertebral

Answer: B – Pelvic cavity

Part 3: Cardiovascular System

22. What is the primary function of the heart?

A. Digest food
B. Pump blood
C. Produce urine
D. Exchange oxygen

Answer: B – Pump blood

23. How many chambers does the normal human heart have?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5

Answer: C – 4

They are:

• Right atrium
• Right ventricle
• Left atrium
• Left ventricle

24. Which chamber pumps oxygenated blood to the systemic circulation?

A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle

Answer: D – Left ventricle

25. Which blood vessels carry blood away from the heart?

A. Veins
B. Arteries
C. Capillaries
D. Venules

Answer: B – Arteries

26. Which blood vessels generally carry blood toward the heart?

A. Arteries
B. Veins
C. Arterioles
D. Capillaries

Answer: B – Veins

27. What is the largest artery in the body?

A. Pulmonary artery
B. Carotid artery
C. Aorta
D. Femoral artery

Answer: C – Aorta

28. What is the main function of red blood cells?

A. Fight infection
B. Transport oxygen
C. Produce hormones
D. Form antibodies only

Answer: B – Transport oxygen

Part 4: Respiratory System

29. What is the primary function of the respiratory system?

A. Digestion
B. Gas exchange
C. Blood clotting
D. Urine production

Answer: B – Gas exchange

30. Where does most gas exchange occur?

A. Trachea
B. Bronchi
C. Alveoli
D. Larynx

Answer: C – Alveoli

⭐ Very important.

31. What is the windpipe called?

A. Esophagus
B. Trachea
C. Pharynx
D. Bronchiole

Answer: B – Trachea

32. What muscle is primarily responsible for breathing?

A. Biceps
B. Diaphragm
C. Deltoid
D. Quadriceps

Answer: B – Diaphragm

33. How many lobes does the right lung normally have?

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

Answer: C – 3

34. How many lobes does the left lung normally have?

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

Answer: B – 2

CPC tip: Left lung has two lobes because it accommodates the heart.

Part 5: Digestive System

35. Where does digestion begin?

A. Stomach
B. Small intestine
C. Mouth
D. Esophagus

Answer: C – Mouth

36. What is the primary function of the stomach?

A. Pump blood
B. Begin significant mechanical and chemical digestion
C. Produce urine
D. Exchange gases

Answer: B

37. Where does most nutrient absorption occur?

A. Stomach
B. Small intestine
C. Large intestine
D. Esophagus

Answer: B – Small intestine

38. What is the main function of the large intestine?

A. Oxygen exchange
B. Absorption of water and formation/storage of feces
C. Pumping blood
D. Producing insulin

Answer: B

39. Which organ produces bile?

A. Stomach
B. Liver
C. Pancreas
D. Gallbladder

Answer: B – Liver

40. Which organ stores bile?

A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Gallbladder
D. Spleen

Answer: C – Gallbladder

41. Which organ produces insulin?

A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Gallbladder
D. Spleen

Answer: B – Pancreas

Part 6: Urinary System

42. What is the primary function of the kidneys?

A. Pump blood
B. Filter blood and form urine
C. Digest proteins
D. Produce bile

Answer: B

43. What is the functional unit of the kidney?

A. Neuron
B. Nephron
C. Alveolus
D. Sarcomere

Answer: B – Nephron

⭐ Important CPC anatomy question.

44. Which structure carries urine from the kidney to the bladder?

A. Urethra
B. Ureter
C. Renal artery
D. Nephron

Answer: B – Ureter

45. Which structure carries urine from the bladder to outside the body?

A. Ureter
B. Urethra
C. Renal vein
D. Nephron

Answer: B – Urethra

Part 7: Nervous System

46. What is the basic functional cell of the nervous system?

A. Neuron
B. Osteocyte
C. Platelet
D. Erythrocyte

Answer: A – Neuron

47. Which organ controls most activities of the body?

A. Liver
B. Brain
C. Kidney
D. Pancreas

Answer: B – Brain

48. Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for balance and coordination?

A. Cerebrum
B. Cerebellum
C. Medulla
D. Hypothalamus

Answer: B – Cerebellum

49. What connects the brain to the peripheral nervous system through the vertebral canal?

A. Spinal cord
B. Femur
C. Trachea
D. Aorta

Answer: A – Spinal cord

Part 8: Musculoskeletal System

50. What is the longest bone in the human body?

A. Tibia
B. Femur
C. Humerus
D. Radius

Answer: B – Femur

51. What is the kneecap called?

A. Patella
B. Tibia
C. Fibula
D. Talus

Answer: A – Patella

52. Which bone is located in the upper arm?

A. Radius
B. Ulna
C. Humerus
D. Femur

Answer: C – Humerus

53. Which bones are located in the forearm?

A. Tibia and fibula
B. Radius and ulna
C. Femur and tibia
D. Humerus and radius

Answer: B – Radius and ulna

54. What connects muscle to bone?

A. Ligament
B. Tendon
C. Cartilage
D. Fascia only

Answer: B – Tendon

55. What connects bone to bone?

A. Tendon
B. Ligament
C. Muscle
D. Nerve

Answer: B – Ligament

⭐ Common anatomy concept to remember:

Tendon → muscle to bone
Ligament → bone to bone

Part 9: Endocrine System

56. Which organ produces insulin?

A. Thyroid
B. Pancreas
C. Adrenal gland
D. Pituitary gland

Answer: B – Pancreas

57. Which gland is often called the “master gland”?

A. Thyroid
B. Pituitary
C. Adrenal
D. Pineal

Answer: B – Pituitary gland

58. Which gland is located in the neck?

A. Thyroid
B. Adrenal
C. Pituitary
D. Pancreas

Answer: A – Thyroid

Part 10: Integumentary System

59. What is the largest organ of the human body?

A. Liver
B. Skin
C. Lung
D. Brain

Answer: B – Skin

60. What are the major components of the integumentary system?

A. Skin, hair, nails, glands
B. Heart and vessels
C. Brain and spinal cord
D. Kidneys and bladder

Answer: A

Part 11: Reproductive System

61. Which organ produces sperm?

A. Prostate
B. Testis
C. Penis
D. Seminal vesicle

Answer: B – Testis

62. Which organ produces ova?

A. Uterus
B. Ovary
C. Cervix
D. Vagina

Answer: B – Ovary

63. Where does a normal pregnancy develop?

A. Ovary
B. Fallopian tube
C. Uterus
D. Cervix

Answer: C – Uterus

Part 12: Medical Terminology – Very Important for CPC

AAPC specifically includes medical terminology in the CPC exam, and its anatomy/medical terminology training emphasizes word parts, anatomy and the relationship to medical records. 

64. What does “-itis” mean?

A. Tumor
B. Inflammation
C. Pain
D. Removal

Answer: B – Inflammation

65. What does “-ectomy” mean?

A. Incision
B. Removal/excision
C. Inflammation
D. Disease

Answer: B – Removal/excision

66. What does “-otomy” generally mean?

A. Incision/cutting into
B. Removal
C. Repair
D. Inflammation

Answer: A – Incision

67. What does “-plasty” generally mean?

A. Surgical repair/reconstruction
B. Removal
C. Inflammation
D. Disease

Answer: A

68. What does “cardi/o” mean?

A. Lung
B. Heart
C. Kidney
D. Liver

Answer: B – Heart

69. What does “nephr/o” mean?

A. Kidney
B. Heart
C. Liver
D. Brain

Answer: A – Kidney

70. What does “hepat/o” mean?

A. Stomach
B. Liver
C. Kidney
D. Heart

Answer: B – Liver

71. What does “gastr/o” mean?

A. Intestine
B. Stomach
C. Liver
D. Pancreas

Answer: B – Stomach

72. What does “arthr/o” mean?

A. Bone
B. Joint
C. Muscle
D. Nerve

Answer: B – Joint

73. What does “oste/o” mean?

A. Muscle
B. Bone
C. Joint
D. Skin

Answer: B – Bone

74. What does “my/o” mean?

A. Muscle
B. Bone
C. Nerve
D. Blood

Answer: A – Muscle

75. What does “neur/o” mean?

A. Brain only
B. Nerve
C. Heart
D. Kidney

Answer: B – Nerve

🔥 10 CPC-Style Scenario Questions

These are especially useful because the CPC exam is not only simple-definition based; AAPC says many questions are presented as coding scenarios requiring application of CPT, ICD-10-CM and HCPCS knowledge. 

76. A patient has a fracture of the humerus. Which body region should the coder identify?

A. Forearm
B. Upper arm
C. Lower leg
D. Shoulder only

Answer: B – Upper arm

77. A physician performs a procedure on the femur. Where is the femur located?

A. Upper arm
B. Forearm
C. Thigh
D. Lower leg

Answer: C – Thigh

78. A patient undergoes surgery involving the gallbladder. Which body system should the coder associate it with?

A. Urinary
B. Digestive
C. Respiratory
D. Nervous

Answer: B – Digestive

79. A procedure is performed on the ureter. Which system does the ureter belong to?

A. Digestive
B. Respiratory
C. Urinary
D. Endocrine

Answer: C – Urinary

80. A procedure is performed on the bronchi. Which system is involved?

A. Digestive
B. Respiratory
C. Urinary
D. Reproductive

Answer: B – Respiratory

81. A patient has a procedure involving the cerebellum. Which system is involved?

A. Nervous
B. Digestive
C. Endocrine
D. Cardiovascular

Answer: A – Nervous

82. A physician documents a tendon repair. What structure connects muscle to bone?

A. Ligament
B. Tendon
C. Cartilage
D. Nerve

Answer: B – Tendon

83. A patient has an injury to the ACL. What type of structure is the ACL?

A. Tendon
B. Ligament
C. Muscle
D. Nerve

Answer: B – Ligament

84. A procedure involves the alveoli. What is their primary function?

A. Pump blood
B. Gas exchange
C. Digest food
D. Produce urine

Answer: B – Gas exchange

85. A procedure involves the nephron. Which organ is being treated?

A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Heart
D. Lung

Answer: B – Kidney