NASM Chapter 6 Practice Test –  The Cardiorespiratory, Endocrine, and Digestive Systems

National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Certification exam. NASM Chapter 6 Practice Test. There are 25 MCQs with explanations in Chapter 6: The Cardiorespiratory, Endocrine, and Digestive Systems. Download the free Quiz Quizlet PDF for CPT Certification based on the NASM 7th Edition CPT Study Guide.

Boost your NASM CPT exam preparation with our comprehensive set of 25 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering critical concepts of the Cardiorespiratory, Endocrine, and Digestive Systems. From understanding cardiac muscle function to the roles of hormones like insulin and glucagon, our practice questions are meticulously designed to enhance your knowledge and test readiness.

NASM Chapter 6 Practice Test

Q1. What are the primary components of the cardiorespiratory system?

  • (A) Heart and liver
  • (B) Lungs and pancreas
  • (C) Heart and lungs
  • (D) Kidneys and heart
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The cardiorespiratory system includes the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, which involve the heart and lungs, respectively, which are crucial for transporting oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the body.

Q2. Which type of muscle comprises the heart?

  • (A) Smooth muscle
  • (B) Skeletal muscle
  • (C) Cardiac muscle
  • (D) Involuntary muscle
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The heart is made up of cardiac muscle, which is involuntary and designed to contract continuously without fatigue.

Q3. What is the primary function of red blood cells?

  • (A) Clot blood
  • (B) Transport oxygen
  • (C) Fight infection
  • (D) Regulate temperature
View Answer
Answer: (B)
Explanation: Red blood cells are primarily responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and returning carbon dioxide back to the lungs.

Q4. What role do the veins play in the cardiovascular system?

  • (A) Pump blood
  • (B) Oxygenate blood
  • (C) Carry blood away from the heart
  • (D) Carry blood to the heart
View Answer
Answer: (D)
Explanation: Veins are blood vessels that return blood to the heart, ensuring blood circulation throughout the body.

Q5. Which hormone is primarily responsible for regulating metabolism and energy?

  • (A) Insulin
  • (B) Cortisol
  • (C) Adrenaline
  • (D) Testosterone
View Answer
Answer: (A)
Explanation: Insulin is a hormone the pancreas produces that regulates metabolism by promoting glucose absorption from the blood to skeletal muscles and fat tissues.

Q6. What is the stroke volume in the context of cardiac function?

  • (A) The volume of blood pumped in one heartbeat
  • (B) The total volume of blood in the body
  • (C) The volume of blood left in the heart after a beat
  • (D) The pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of arteries
View Answer
Answer: (A)
Explanation: Stroke volume is the blood the heart pumps out of a ventricle with each beat.

Q7. Which part of the digestive system is primarily involved in the absorption of nutrients?

  • (A) Stomach
  • (B) Small intestine
  • (C) Large intestine
  • (D) Esophagus
View Answer
Answer: (B)
Explanation: The small intestine is the major site of digestion and absorption of nutrients, utilizing its extensive surface area to absorb most of the nutrients from the food we eat.

Q8. What is the primary function of capillaries in the cardiovascular system?

  • (A) Regulate blood pressure
  • (B) Facilitate gas exchange
  • (C) Transport blood at high pressure
  • (D) Filter blood
View Answer
Answer: (B)
Explanation: Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels where the exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrients and waste substances between blood and tissues occurs.

Q9. What is the main role of the respiratory system?

  • (A) Regulate body temperature
  • (B) Control blood pressure
  • (C) Facilitate gas exchange
  • (D) Digest food
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The respiratory system’s primary function is to bring in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide through gas exchange in the lungs.

Q10. What hormone does the pancreas release to raise blood glucose levels?

  • (A) Insulin
  • (B) Glucagon
  • (C) Epinephrine
  • (D) Cortisol
View Answer
Answer: (B)
Explanation: Glucagon is a hormone produced by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels by promoting the conversion of stored glycogen in the liver into glucose.

Q11. During which phase of breathing does the body take in air?

  • (A) Inspiration
  • (B) Expiration
  • (C) Respiration
  • (D) Circulation
View Answer
Answer: (A)
Explanation: Inspiration is the breathing phase where air is drawn into the lungs, essential for oxygenating the blood.

Q12. Which gland is known as the “master gland” of the endocrine system?

  • (A) Thyroid gland
  • (B) Adrenal gland
  • (C) Pituitary gland
  • (D) Pineal gland
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The pituitary gland is often referred to as the “master gland” because it controls various other hormone glands in the endocrine system, such as the thyroid and adrenal glands.

Q13. What is the primary function of cortisol?

  • (A) Decrease inflammation
  • (B) Increase blood sugar
  • (C) Regulate sleep cycles
  • (D) Stimulate digestion
View Answer
Answer: (B)
Explanation: Cortisol is known as a stress hormone that helps the body respond to stress by increasing blood sugar levels, among other effects.

Q14. What are intercalated discs?

  • (A) Structures that connect nerve cells
  • (B) Connective tissues in skeletal muscles
  • (C) Specialized connections between cardiac muscle cells
  • (D) Gaps between neurons
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: Intercalated discs are specialized structures that connect cardiac muscle cells, facilitating synchronized heart muscle contraction.

Q15. What is the main energy source for the brain under normal conditions?

  • (A) Proteins
  • (B) Fats
  • (C) Carbohydrates
  • (D) Ketones
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: Carbohydrates, specifically glucose, are the brain’s primary energy source under normal physiological conditions.

Q16. Which hormone is essential for the fight-or-flight response?

  • (A) Insulin
  • (B) Cortisol
  • (C) Epinephrine
  • (D) Glucagon
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is crucial for the fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate, and energy production to prepare the body for rapid action.

Q17. What is the function of the alveoli in the respiratory system?

  • (A) Transport oxygen in the blood
  • (B) Pump air in and out of lungs
  • (C) Serve as air storage units
  • (D) Facilitate gas exchange between air and blood
View Answer
Answer: (D)
Explanation: Alveoli are tiny sacs within the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place, essential for respiration.

Q18. Which system is primarily responsible for nutrient absorption into the bloodstream?

  • (A) Cardiovascular system
  • (B) Lymphatic system
  • (C) Digestive system
  • (D) Endocrine system
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The digestive system breaks down food and absorbs nutrients into the bloodstream through structures like the small intestine.

Q19. What is the significance of the thyroid gland in metabolic processes?

  • (A) It secretes hormones that regulate appetite.
  • (B) It produces enzymes for digestion.
  • (C) It controls the rate of metabolism through hormone release.
  • (D) It stores nutrients for future energy use.
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The thyroid gland produces hormones like thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) that regulate the body’s metabolic rate, affecting how fast or slow chemical reactions occur in the body.

Q20. What is the main role of platelets in the blood?

  • (A) Transport oxygen
  • (B) Regulate blood sugar levels
  • (C) Fight infections
  • (D) Aid in clotting blood
View Answer
Answer: (D)
Explanation: Platelets are cell fragments in the blood that are essential for clotting, which helps stop bleeding.

Q21. How does the endocrine system interact with other body systems?

  • (A) By providing structural support
  • (B) Through hormonal signals that regulate bodily functions
  • (C) By physically moving other structures
  • (D) Through direct neural connections
View Answer
Answer: (B)
Explanation: The endocrine system releases hormones into the bloodstream, which travel to target organs and regulate various bodily functions across multiple systems.

Q22. What role do the respiratory muscles play in breathing?

  • (A) They filter the air
  • (B) They absorb oxygen
  • (C) They aid in the mechanical process of ventilation
  • (D) They transport gases through the blood
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: Respiratory muscles, like the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, facilitate the mechanical process of ventilation by enabling the lungs to expand and contract during breathing.

Q23. What is the main function of glucagon in relation to insulin?

  • (A) It decreases blood glucose levels.
  • (B) It complements insulin in glucose uptake.
  • (C) It increases blood glucose levels.
  • (D) It stores glucose as glycogen.
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: Glucagon, a hormone produced by the pancreas, works to increase blood glucose levels by stimulating the conversion of stored glycogen in the liver back into glucose.

Q24. Which phase of the digestive process involves the breakdown of food by enzymes?

  • (A) Ingestion
  • (B) Propulsion
  • (C) Mechanical digestion
  • (D) Chemical digestion
View Answer
Answer: (D)
Explanation: Chemical digestion refers to the breakdown of food into simpler molecules by enzymatic action, essential for nutrient absorption.

Q25. What cardiovascular change typically occurs during intense physical activity?

  • (A) Decrease in blood pressure
  • (B) Reduction in heart rate
  • (C) Increase in stroke volume and heart rate
  • (D) Decrease in cardiac output
View Answer
Answer: (C)
Explanation: During intense physical activity, both stroke volume and heart rate increase to enhance cardiac output, ensuring adequate blood flow to meet the oxygen and nutrient demands of the body.

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