Blood flow: body → right atrium → tricuspid → right ventricle → pulmonic → LUNGS → left atrium → mitral → left ventricle → aortic → body.
Before you read
Test yourself first: 2 questions
Question 1 of 2
A reflex, such as pulling your hand off a hot stove, is controlled quickly by the:
Answer: B. A reflex arc lets the spinal cord trigger a response before the signal reaches the brain.
Question 2 of 2
Which pair of systems works together to produce a quick response, like pulling away from heat?
Answer: B. The nervous system signals the muscular system to react quickly (a reflex).
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
Key points
- Blood flow: body → right atrium → tricuspid → right ventricle → pulmonic → LUNGS → left atrium → mitral → left ventricle → aortic → body.
- The left ventricle is thickest because it pumps against the highest pressure — not because it holds more blood.
- The pulmonary ARTERY carries oxygen-poor blood and the pulmonary VEINS carry oxygen-rich blood — the two exceptions to the usual rule.
- Directional terms: proximal (nearer the trunk) vs distal; superior vs inferior; anterior vs posterior.
- Planes: sagittal divides left/right, frontal divides front/back, transverse divides top/bottom.
- Inhalation is ACTIVE: the diaphragm contracts and moves down, enlarging the chest.
Study first
- Trace a drop of blood from a stubbed toe back to the toe: vein → vena cava → RA → RV → pulmonary artery → lungs → pulmonary veins → LA → LV → aorta → artery → toe.
- Locate the wrist relative to the elbow: the wrist is DISTAL (farther from the trunk); the elbow is proximal to the wrist.
Commonly tested
- Say the heart path aloud until it is automatic — it underpins a large share of the section's questions.
- For any pair you keep confusing, write both on one line with the difference in the middle. The contrast is what you are actually learning.
Watch out for
- Saying 'arteries always carry oxygenated blood' — the pulmonary artery is the standing exception.
- Swapping ligament (bone to bone) and tendon (muscle to bone).
- Swapping ureter (kidney → bladder) and urethra (bladder → outside); they differ by one letter.
- Swapping the adrenal medulla (epinephrine) with the adrenal cortex (cortisol, aldosterone).
A&P Quick Reference: FAQs
What should I focus on first when studying A&P Quick Reference?
Trace a drop of blood from a stubbed toe back to the toe: vein → vena cava → RA → RV → pulmonary artery → lungs → pulmonary veins → LA → LV → aorta → artery → toe. Locate the wrist relative to the elbow: the wrist is DISTAL (farther from the trunk); the elbow is proximal to the wrist.
What is most often missed on A&P Quick Reference?
Saying 'arteries always carry oxygenated blood' — the pulmonary artery is the standing exception. Swapping ligament (bone to bone) and tendon (muscle to bone). Swapping ureter (kidney → bladder) and urethra (bladder → outside); they differ by one letter. Swapping the adrenal medulla (epinephrine) with the adrenal cortex (cortisol, aldosterone).
What do I need to know about A&P Quick Reference for the HESI A2?
Blood flow: body → right atrium → tricuspid → right ventricle → pulmonic → LUNGS → left atrium → mitral → left ventricle → aortic → body. The left ventricle is thickest because it pumps against the highest pressure — not because it holds more blood. The pulmonary ARTERY carries oxygen-poor blood and the pulmonary VEINS carry oxygen-rich blood — the two exceptions to the usual rule. Directional terms: proximal (nearer the trunk) vs distal; superior vs inferior; anterior vs posterior.
What are the most commonly tested points on A&P Quick Reference?
Say the heart path aloud until it is automatic — it underpins a large share of the section's questions. For any pair you keep confusing, write both on one line with the difference in the middle. The contrast is what you are actually learning.
