Subject guide

Physiology MCQs for Pharmacy Exams

Normal function of the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, endocrine and nervous systems.

Practice Physiology MCQs

Physiology explains how the body works normally, which is exactly what drugs modify. It is a core subject of the early Pharm-D professional years and supports pharmacology questions in NTS and PPSC tests.

Understanding physiology turns many pharmacology facts into logic: once you know how the kidney handles sodium, diuretic sites and side effects follow naturally. These physiology MCQs are written with that link in mind.

Topics covered

What Physiology questions on PharmaPrep cover.

High-yield Physiology topics

  • Resting membrane potential and action potential phases
  • Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
  • Sites of sodium reabsorption in the nephron
  • Carbon dioxide transport in blood
  • Hormones of the anterior and posterior pituitary

Exams that test Physiology

Sample Physiology MCQs

Original practice questions with answers and explanations.

  1. 1The resting membrane potential of a typical neuron is approximately:

    • A−70 mV
    • B+30 mV
    • C0 mV
    • D−150 mV
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A. −70 mV

    A typical neuron rests near −70 mV, set mainly by potassium leak channels and the Na+/K+-ATPase. The peak of the action potential is around +30 mV.

  2. 2Renin is secreted by the:

    • AJuxtaglomerular cells of the kidney
    • BAdrenal cortex
    • CPosterior pituitary
    • DLiver
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney

    Juxtaglomerular cells in the afferent arteriole release renin in response to reduced renal perfusion, sympathetic stimulation or low sodium delivery. The liver produces angiotensinogen and the adrenal cortex secretes aldosterone.

  3. 3Most carbon dioxide is transported in the blood as:

    • ABicarbonate ions
    • BDissolved CO2
    • CCarbaminohaemoglobin
    • DCarbonic acid
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Bicarbonate ions

    Roughly 70% of CO2 is carried as bicarbonate formed by carbonic anhydrase in red cells. Smaller fractions travel bound to haemoglobin as carbamino compounds and dissolved in plasma.

Practice all Physiology MCQs

Physiology FAQs

Why is physiology important for pharmacy exams?

Drugs act by modifying normal physiology, so a good grasp of it makes pharmacology and clinical pharmacy much easier to understand and remember.

Which physiology systems are tested most?

Cardiovascular, renal, nervous and endocrine physiology, because they underpin the most heavily tested drug classes.

Is physiology part of recruitment tests?

It appears in broader screening tests and indirectly through pharmacology questions in PPSC and NTS papers.

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