Anatomy and physiology is 8 of the 150 scored items on the NHA CCMA. Answer 10 exam style questions on pathophysiology and common diseases and see exactly which concepts would cost you points on test day.
Start the 10 questions →How does type 1 diabetes differ from type 2 diabetes?
These questions cover endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and urinary. Each one shows the correct answer and why every other option is wrong, so a miss tells you exactly what to review before the CCMA.
Prefer to read first? Every question from the practice set above, with the correct answer and why each wrong option is wrong.
Answer: C. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, so insulin therapy is required. Type 2 involves insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency and is managed with lifestyle changes, oral medications, and sometimes insulin.
Why not A: Either type can occur at any age.
Why not B: Type 1 always requires insulin; type 2 is not always treated with insulin.
Why not D: Blood pressure is not what distinguishes the types.
Exam tactic: Type 1: no insulin made. Type 2: insulin doesn't work well.
Answer: D. Most heart attacks occur when a plaque in a coronary artery ruptures and a clot blocks blood flow, causing heart muscle to be damaged from lack of oxygen.
Why not A: Dietary potassium does not cause most heart attacks.
Why not B: Normal slowing during sleep does not cause infarction.
Why not C: Valve infection is endocarditis.
Exam tactic: MI = blocked coronary artery = heart muscle starves.
Answer: C. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), which causes persistent airflow limitation, cough, and shortness of breath. Smoking also greatly increases lung cancer risk.
Why not A: Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease.
Why not B: Ear infections are not primarily caused by smoking.
Why not D: Seasonal allergies are triggered by allergens, not smoking.
Exam tactic: Smoking → COPD and lung cancer.
Answer: B. GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter allows stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus, causing heartburn and irritation.
Why not A: Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.
Why not C: Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder.
Why not D: Diverticulitis is inflammation of pouches in the colon.
Exam tactic: Reflux into the esophagus = GERD.
Answer: B. The kidneys clear creatinine from the blood, so when kidney function declines, serum creatinine rises and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) falls.
Why not A: HDL is not a kidney function marker.
Why not C: Creatinine rises in kidney disease; a low creatinine is usually seen with low muscle mass, not kidney failure.
Why not D: Low BUN does not describe kidney disease.
Exam tactic: Kidneys failing → creatinine up, eGFR down.
Answer: B. Osteoarthritis is degenerative joint disease: cartilage breaks down over time, especially in knees, hips, and hands. Rheumatoid arthritis is autoimmune, and gout is caused by uric acid crystals.
Why not A: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease.
Why not C: Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease.
Why not D: Gout is caused by uric acid crystal deposits.
Exam tactic: OA = wear and tear. RA = autoimmune.
Answer: C. A TIA causes stroke-like symptoms that resolve, usually within minutes to hours, without lasting damage. It is a warning sign of increased stroke risk and needs prompt evaluation.
Why not A: A ruptured vessel causes a hemorrhagic stroke.
Why not B: A seizure with fever is a febrile seizure.
Why not D: Gradual memory loss is not a TIA.
Exam tactic: TIA = warning stroke. Symptoms resolve, risk stays.
Answer: D. In autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus, the immune system mistakenly targets the body's own cells and tissues.
Why not A: Viruses do not replace the immune system.
Why not B: Absent white blood cell production describes a different disorder.
Why not C: This describes a specific vaccine response problem, not autoimmunity.
Exam tactic: Auto = self. Immune system vs self.
Answer: B. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit with fatigue and pallor are consistent with anemia, a reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. The provider determines the cause, such as iron deficiency or blood loss.
Why not A: Hyperlipidemia is high blood fats.
Why not C: Hyperglycemia is high blood glucose.
Why not D: Polycythemia is an excess of red cells.
Exam tactic: Low Hgb/Hct + tired + pale = anemia picture.
Answer: A. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that many antibiotics can kill or inhibit. Viruses are much smaller, reproduce only inside host cells, and are not affected by antibiotics, which is why antibiotics are not used for the common cold.
Why not B: Viruses are smaller than bacteria and are not killed by antibiotics.
Why not C: Many viruses cause serious illness.
Why not D: Most bacteria can reproduce on their own; viruses always require a host cell to reproduce.
Exam tactic: Antibiotics: bacteria yes, viruses no.
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