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MBLEx · 11% of the exam

Anatomy & Physiology practice questions

10 free Anatomy & Physiology questions for the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question MBLEx quiz

What this domain covers

The structure and function of the body systems a massage therapist works with, plus how tissue is injured and repaired and the basic ideas behind energetic anatomy.

Exam weight
11%
On a real exam
≈ 11 questions
In our bank
66 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Structure and function of the major body systems
  • Tissue types and the stages of injury and repair
  • Nervous and circulatory system roles in massage
  • Directional and regional anatomical terminology
  • Energetic anatomy concepts such as meridians and chakras

How to study it

Study one system at a time and write down its main organs and its job in a sentence each; questions often give a function and ask which structure performs it.

Sample Anatomy & Physiology questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    Heart valves mainly function to:

    • AProduce the heartbeat electrical signal
    • BPrevent backflow of blood
    • CFilter clots from the blood
    • DStore extra blood between beats
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Prevent backflow of blood

    • AIncorrect. That's the SA node.
    • BCorrect. Keeping blood moving one way.
    • CIncorrect. They prevent backflow.
    • DIncorrect. They prevent backflow.

  2. Question 2

    The thyroid gland mainly regulates:

    • AMetabolism
    • BBlood sugar through insulin release
    • CSleep cycles through melatonin
    • DBile production
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Metabolism

    • ACorrect. Through thyroid hormones.
    • BIncorrect. That's the pancreas.
    • CIncorrect. That's the pineal gland.
    • DIncorrect. That's the liver.

  3. Question 3

    A client reports soreness at the back of the heel, where the calf muscles attach to the calcaneus. Which type of structure forms this muscle-to-bone attachment?

    • AA ligament
    • BA tendon
    • CA bursa
    • DA meniscus
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) A tendon

    Tendons attach muscle to bone, and ligaments attach bone to bone. The calf muscles attach to the calcaneus through the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon.

    • AIncorrect. A ligament is fibrous connective tissue that attaches bone to bone and stabilizes joints. It does not attach muscle to bone.
    • BCorrect. A tendon is fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone. The calcaneal (Achilles) tendon attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone.
    • CIncorrect. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between structures. It does not attach muscle to bone.
    • DIncorrect. A meniscus is a fibrocartilage pad inside certain joints, such as the knee. It cushions the joint and does not attach muscle to bone.

  4. Question 4

    Which tendon attaches the calf muscles to the heel?

    • AThe IT band
    • BThe patellar tendon, below the kneecap
    • CThe plantar fascia
    • DThe calcaneal (Achilles) tendon
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) The calcaneal (Achilles) tendon

    • AIncorrect. That's on the outer thigh.
    • BIncorrect. That's at the knee.
    • CIncorrect. That's under the foot.
    • DCorrect. It's the strongest tendon.

  5. Question 5

    How many carpal bones are in each wrist?

    • A14
    • B5
    • C8
    • D7
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) 8

    Each wrist has 8 carpal bones in proximal and distal rows of four. They link the radius and ulna to the 5 metacarpals.

    • AIncorrect. 14 is the number of phalanges in each hand, not the number of carpal bones.
    • BIncorrect. 5 is the number of metacarpal bones. The carpals connect the forearm to the bases of these 5 metacarpals.
    • CCorrect. There are 8 carpal bones in two rows. The proximal row is the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum and pisiform. The distal row is the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate and hamate.
    • DIncorrect. 7 is the number of tarsal bones in each ankle and foot, a common mix-up with the carpals.

  6. Question 6

    Which part of the adrenal gland releases epinephrine?

    • AThe adrenal cortex, which releases cortisol
    • BThe adrenal medulla
    • CThe pituitary
    • DThe thyroid
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) The adrenal medulla

    • AIncorrect. That's the outer layer.
    • BCorrect. The cortex releases cortisol.
    • CIncorrect. It's a different gland.
    • DIncorrect. It's a different gland.

  7. Question 7

    The lymphatic system returns excess tissue fluid to the:

    • AArterial blood near the heart
    • BVenous blood
    • CDigestive tract for excretion
    • DKidneys for filtration only
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Venous blood

    • AIncorrect. Lymph drains into veins.
    • BCorrect. Near the subclavian veins.
    • CIncorrect. Lymph drains into veins.
    • DIncorrect. Lymph drains into veins.

  8. Question 8

    Which heart chamber has the thickest muscular wall?

    • AThe left ventricle
    • BThe right atrium, which receives blood from the body
    • CThe right ventricle
    • DThe left atrium
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) The left ventricle

    • ACorrect. It pumps blood to the whole body.
    • BIncorrect. It has a thin wall.
    • CIncorrect. It pumps to the lungs.
    • DIncorrect. It has a thin wall.

  9. Question 9

    White blood cells mainly:

    • ADigest food
    • BCarry oxygen to the tissues
    • CForm clots
    • DFight infection
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Fight infection

    • AIncorrect. They fight infection.
    • BIncorrect. That's red blood cells.
    • CIncorrect. That's platelets.
    • DCorrect. Part of the immune system.

  10. Question 10

    Blood from the right ventricle is pumped to the:

    • ALungs
    • BRest of the body through the aorta
    • CBrain directly through the carotids
    • DLiver through the portal vein
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Lungs

    • ACorrect. Through the pulmonary arteries for oxygenation.
    • BIncorrect. That's the left ventricle.
    • CIncorrect. The right ventricle pumps to the lungs.
    • DIncorrect. The right ventricle pumps to the lungs.

Anatomy & Physiology: FAQs

How much of the MBLEx exam is Anatomy & Physiology?

Anatomy & Physiology is 11% of the MBLEx exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 100-question form works out to roughly 11 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Anatomy & Physiology domain cover?

The structure and function of the body systems a massage therapist works with, plus how tissue is injured and repaired and the basic ideas behind energetic anatomy.

How should I study Anatomy & Physiology for MBLEx?

Study one system at a time and write down its main organs and its job in a sentence each; questions often give a function and ask which structure performs it.

Where can I practise more Anatomy & Physiology questions?

This page has 10 free Anatomy & Physiology questions with answers. The ExamWize MBLEx question bank has 66 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other MBLEx topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the MBLEx cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Anatomy & Physiology exam-ready

The full MBLEx bank has 66 Anatomy & Physiology questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full MBLEx practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with FSMTB; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.