TEAS 7 Anatomy and Physiology: All 11 Body Systems Tested

Why A&P Dominates the TEAS Science Section

ATI builds the TEAS Science section around four content areas: human anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and scientific reasoning. On paper, this looks like balanced coverage. In practice, A&P questions consistently appear in greater volume than the other three combined. This is by design — nursing schools care most about A&P because it is the foundation for everything in the program.

For your TEAS prep, this means three things:

• A&P deserves the most study time of any single topic. Plan for 50–60% of your Science prep on A&P.
• Weak A&P performance limits your composite score. Even strong scores on Reading and Math cannot fully offset a weak Science section.
• Strong A&P performance compounds. A&P is also tested on the HESI A2, helps with the NCLEX, and is the foundation for nursing school A&P courses you will take in semester 1.

The 11 Body Systems Tested on the TEAS

1. Cardiovascular System (high yield)

Heart anatomy (4 chambers, 4 valves), cardiac cycle (systole, diastole), blood flow pattern through the heart and lungs, electrical conduction (SA node → AV node → bundle of His → Purkinje fibers), components of blood (red cells, white cells, platelets, plasma), and blood pressure regulation. Cardiovascular questions appear in nearly every TEAS Science section.

2. Respiratory System (high yield)

Upper vs. lower respiratory tract anatomy, mechanics of breathing (diaphragm, intercostal muscles, pressure changes), gas exchange in alveoli, oxygen transport via hemoglobin, and the respiratory control centers in the brain (medulla, pons). Often paired with cardiovascular questions on circulation.

3. Nervous System (high yield)

Central vs. peripheral nervous system, neurons (dendrites, axons, synapses), action potentials, neurotransmitters, the major brain regions (cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, hypothalamus, hippocampus), spinal cord function, and the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic vs. parasympathetic). Nervous system questions test both anatomy and physiological concepts.

4. Endocrine System (high yield)

Major glands (pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pancreas, gonads), the hormones each gland produces, hormone target organs, and feedback loops (negative feedback dominates). The hypothalamic-pituitary axis is particularly important — many questions trace hormone cascades from the hypothalamus.

5. Immune System (medium yield)

Innate vs. adaptive immunity, types of white blood cells and their functions, antibody structure and classes (IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, IgD), the inflammatory response, and the role of the lymphatic system in immunity. Vaccines and herd immunity may also appear.

6. Digestive System (medium yield)

Pathway from mouth to anus, accessory organs (liver, pancreas, gallbladder), enzymes secreted at each stage of digestion, absorption sites for major nutrients, and the role of intestinal microbiota. Liver function (bile production, detoxification, glucose regulation) is a frequent focus.

7. Urinary System (medium yield)

Kidney anatomy (cortex, medulla, nephron), the nephron's role in filtration, reabsorption, and secretion, urine formation, and fluid/electrolyte balance. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is often tested in connection with blood pressure regulation.

8. Reproductive System (medium yield)

Male and female anatomy, the menstrual cycle phases, hormones involved (FSH, LH, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), gametogenesis (spermatogenesis vs. oogenesis), fertilization, and major stages of fetal development. Pregnancy hormones (hCG) are commonly tested.

9. Musculoskeletal System (lower yield, still tested)

Bone structure and types, the axial vs. appendicular skeleton, joint types, skeletal vs. smooth vs. cardiac muscle, the sliding filament model of muscle contraction, and the role of calcium and ATP in contraction. Memorize major bones by region.

10. Integumentary System (lower yield)

Skin layers (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis), accessory structures (hair, nails, glands), and the functions of skin: protection, temperature regulation, sensation, vitamin D synthesis, and water balance. Burn classifications (1st, 2nd, 3rd degree) sometimes appear.

11. Lymphatic System (lower yield)

Lymph circulation, lymph node locations and function, the spleen and thymus, and the connection between lymphatic and immune function. Often integrated with immune system questions rather than tested independently.

The 4-Week TEAS A&P Study Plan

For students with adequate background, the following plan covers all 11 systems with focused depth on the high-yield ones.

• Week 1: Cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous (the high-yield triad). Spend 60% of your week here.
• Week 2: Endocrine, immune, digestive. Endocrine receives more attention than the other two.
• Week 3: Urinary, reproductive, musculoskeletal. Then overview integumentary and lymphatic.
• Week 4: Integration questions, full A&P practice section under timing, and review of weak systems identified from practice.

Students new to A&P should expand this to 6–8 weeks with the same structure but more time on weeks 1 and 2.

How A&P Questions Are Typically Asked

TEAS A&P questions fall into a few recognizable patterns. Knowing the patterns helps you read efficiently:

• Structure-function pairing: "Which structure is responsible for X?" or "What function does structure Y perform?" These are the most common A&P question type.
• Pathway tracing: "Which of the following correctly orders the pathway of blood flow / nerve signal / digestion?" Memorize the standard pathways for cardiovascular, nervous, and digestive.
• Hormone or neurotransmitter source/target: "Which gland secretes hormone X?" or "What target organ does hormone Y affect?"
• Process explanation: "Which of the following best describes how X works?" These often test mechanisms (gas exchange, action potentials, hormone signaling).
• Diagram interpretation: Some questions reference labeled diagrams. You will need to identify structures by their location and known function.

Common A&P Mistakes

• Studying breadth instead of depth. Some students try to memorize every detail of every system. This is inefficient. Focus depth on the high-yield systems first.
• Memorizing without understanding mechanisms. Knowing that the SA node is the heart's pacemaker is a fact. Knowing why the SA node fires and what happens when it fails is mechanistic — and the TEAS often tests mechanisms, not facts.
• Ignoring physiological feedback loops. Endocrine, urinary, and cardiovascular systems all rely on feedback loops. Questions about hormone regulation, blood pressure, and electrolyte balance frequently test feedback understanding.
• Skipping integration questions. Some TEAS questions ask about how systems interact (cardiovascular and respiratory in oxygen delivery, endocrine and reproductive in pregnancy). Pure single-system study misses these.
• Saving practice questions for the end. A&P content sticks much better when learned alongside practice questions, not after a content dump. Do questions weekly, not just at the end.

Frequently Asked Questions