Teas prep

Complete High-Yield ATI TEAS 7 Study Guide

(All core concepts, cheat sheets, rules, and formulas taught by the instructors from your notes)

SECTION 1: ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY (Nurse Cheung & TheTutor_Geek)

1. Directional Terms, Planes, & Body Cavities

  • Anatomical Position: Body erect, facing forward, feet parallel, arms at sides, palms facing forward.

  • Directions:

    • Anterior (Ventral): Front of body.

    • Posterior (Dorsal): Back of body.

    • Superior (Cranial): Higher / toward the head.

    • Inferior (Caudal): Lower / toward the feet.

    • Medial: Toward midline.

    • Lateral: Away from midline.

    • Proximal: Closer to point of attachment (limbs only).

    • Distal: Farther from point of attachment (limbs only).

    • Superficial: Near surface.

    • Deep: Farther internal.

  • Body Planes:

    • Sagittal (Midsagittal): Divides body into right and left halves.

    • Coronal (Frontal): Divides body into anterior (front) and posterior (back).

    • Transverse (Horizontal / Cross-section): Divides body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom).

2. Cardiovascular System & Heart Conduction

  • Blood Flow Circuit: \text{Superior/Inferior Vena Cava} \to \text{Right Atrium} \to \text{Tricuspid Valve} \to \text{Right Ventricle} \to \text{Pulmonary Semilunar Valve} \to \text{Pulmonary Artery} \to \text{Lungs (Oxygenation)} \to \text{Pulmonary Veins} \to \text{Left Atrium} \to \text{Bicuspid (Mitral) Valve} \to \text{Left Ventricle} \to \text{Aortic Semilunar Valve} \to \text{Aorta} \to \text{Body (Systemic Circulation)}

    • Mnemonic: Tricuspid comes before Bicuspid (Try before you Buy).

    • Left ventricle wall is thickest because it pumps against high systemic vascular resistance.

    • Pulmonary Artery: Only artery carrying deoxygenated blood.

    • Pulmonary Vein: Only vein carrying oxygenated blood.

  • Electrical Conduction Pathway: \text{SA Node (Sinoatrial / Pacemaker: 60--100 bpm)} \to \text{AV Node (Atrioventricular delay)} \to \text{Bundle of His} \to \text{Bundle Branches} \to \text{Purkinje Fibers}

  • Blood Pressure Terminology:

    • Systole: Contraction phase (ventricles pump blood out).

    • Diastole: Relaxation / filling phase.

3. Respiratory System

  • Airway Anatomy: \text{Nasal Cavity} \to \text{Pharynx} \to \text{Larynx (voice box / epiglottis)} \to \text{Trachea} \to \text{Primary Bronchi} \to \text{Bronchioles} \to \text{Alveoli}

  • Gas Exchange: Occurs across the alveolar-capillary membrane via passive diffusion (high partial pressure to low partial pressure).

  • Surfactant: Lipoprotein produced by Type II alveolar cells; prevents alveolar collapse by reducing surface tension.

  • Breathing Mechanics:

    • Inhalation (Active): Diaphragm contracts and flattens; external intercostal muscles contract; thoracic cavity volume increases \to intrapulmonic pressure drops below atmospheric pressure \to air rushes in.

    • Exhalation (Passive at rest): Diaphragm relaxes and domes upward; thoracic volume decreases \to internal pressure rises \to air is forced out.

  • Control of Breathing: Medulla oblongata and pons monitor blood pH; high \text{CO}_2 (hypercapnia) drops blood pH, triggering increased respiratory rate.

4. Digestive System & Enzyme Chart

  • Peristalsis: Involuntary, wave-like smooth muscle contractions moving food through the alimentary canal.

  • Key Enzymes, Sources, and Functions:

  • Enzyme

  • Secreted By

  • Site of Action

  • Substrate

  • End Product

  • Salivary Amylase

  • Salivary glands

  • Mouth

  • Starches

  • Maltose / disaccharides

  • Pepsin

  • Chief cells (as pepsinogen)

  • Stomach

  • Proteins

  • Peptides (needs acidic \text{pH} \approx 2 via \text{HCl} from Parietal cells)

  • Intrinsic Factor

  • Parietal cells

  • Stomach / Ileum

  • Binds Vitamin \text{B}_{12}

  • Enables \text{B}_{12} absorption in ileum

  • Pancreatic Amylase

  • Pancreas

  • Duodenum

  • Starches

  • Simple sugars

  • Trypsin / Chymotrypsin

  • Pancreas

  • Duodenum

  • Proteins

  • Amino acids / peptides

  • Lipase

  • Pancreas

  • Duodenum

  • Triglycerides/Lipids

  • Fatty acids and glycerol

  • Bile (not an enzyme)

  • Produced in Liver, stored in Gallbladder

  • Duodenum

  • Large fat globules

  • Emulsified fat droplets

  • Bicarbonate

  • Pancreas

  • Duodenum

  • Acidic chyme

  • Neutralizes gastric acid

  • Small Intestine Anatomy: Duodenum (digestion & neutralization) \to Jejunum (major nutrient absorption) \to Ileum (absorbs \text{B}_{12}, bile salts). Villi & microvilli maximize surface area.

5. Renal / Urinary System & The RAAS Pathway

  • Functional Unit: The Nephron.

    1. Glomerulus / Bowman's Capsule: Filtration (blood cells and large proteins stay in blood; water, ions, glucose, urea filter through).

    2. Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT): Majority of reabsorption (100% of glucose & amino acids under normal conditions, ~65% water and \text{Na}^+).

    3. Loop of Henle: Countercurrent multiplier; descending limb permeable to water, ascending limb permeable to \text{Na}^+/\text{Cl}^-.

    4. Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT) & Collecting Duct: Final water/electrolyte balance mediated by hormones.

  • Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS):

    1. Low blood pressure or low \text{Na}^+ detected by juxtaglomerular apparatus \to Kidney secretes Renin.

    2. Renin converts Angiotensinogen (from liver) into Angiotensin I.

    3. ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme, in lungs) converts Angiotensin I into Angiotensin II.

    4. Angiotensin II:

      • Causes potent systemic vasoconstriction (raises BP).

      • Stimulates adrenal cortex to secrete Aldosterone (\to increases \text{Na}^+ and water reabsorption, excretes \text{K}^+).

  • Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH / Vasopressin): Secreted by posterior pituitary; inserts aquaporins into collecting duct to retain pure water.

6. Endocrine System: Key Hormones

  • Hypothalamus: Regulates anterior pituitary via releasing/inhibiting hormones (e.g., GnRH, CRH, TRH). Produces ADH and Oxytocin (stored and released by posterior pituitary).

  • Anterior Pituitary: Secretes GH (Growth Hormone), ACTH (targets adrenal cortex), TSH (targets thyroid), FSH and LH (gonads), and Prolactin (milk production).

  • Pancreatic Islets (Islets of Langerhans):

    • Alpha (\alpha) Cells: Secrete Glucagon (raises blood glucose by breaking down glycogen in the liver / glycogenolysis).

    • Beta (\beta) Cells: Secrete Insulin (lowers blood glucose by promoting cellular uptake and storage as glycogen).

  • Calcium Regulation:

    • Calcitonin (from Thyroid): "Tones down" blood calcium by stimulating osteoblasts (deposits calcium into bone).

    • Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) (from Parathyroid): Raises blood calcium by stimulating osteoclasts (breaks down bone matrix).

7. Nervous System & Neuromuscular Junction

  • Divisions:

    • Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain + Spinal Cord.

    • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Sensory (afferent) and Motor (efferent).

      • Somatic: Voluntary skeletal muscle movement.

      • Autonomic: Involuntary.

        • Sympathetic: "Fight or Flight" (dilated pupils, tachycardia, bronchial dilation, inhibited digestion; releases epinephrine/norepinephrine).

        • Parasympathetic: "Rest and Digest" (constricted pupils, bradycardia, active digestion; mediated by acetylcholine via Vagus nerve).

  • Sliding Filament Theory of Muscle Contraction:

    • Action potential reaches axon terminal \to Calcium influx triggers release of Acetylcholine (ACh) into synaptic cleft.

    • ACh binds nicotinic receptors on motor end plate \to depolarization travels down T-tubules.

    • Depolarization triggers Sarcoplasmic Reticulum to release stored \text{Ca}^{2+}.

    • \text{Ca}^{2+} binds Troponin, shifting Tropomyosin off actin binding sites.

    • Myosin heads bind Actin, forming cross-bridges.

    • Power Stroke: Myosin pulls actin filament inward toward the M-line using energy from hydrolyzed ATP (\text{ADP} + \text{P}_i).

    • A new ATP binds myosin head to cause detachment.

8. Immune System: Innate vs. Adaptive

  • Innate (Non-Specific) Immunity:

    • First line: Skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid, tears/lysozyme, cilia.

    • Second line: Phagocytes (macrophages, neutrophils), natural killer (NK) cells, inflammation, fever, complement cascade, interferons.

  • Adaptive (Specific / Acquired) Immunity:

    • Humoral Immunity: B-lymphocytes differentiate into Plasma cells (which secrete antibodies/immunoglobulins: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, IgD) and Memory B-cells.

    • Cell-Mediated Immunity: T-lymphocytes (mature in thymus).

      • Helper T-cells (\text{CD}4^+): Coordinate immune response by secreting cytokines.

      • Cytotoxic T-cells (\text{CD}8^+): Directly bind and kill infected or cancerous cells via perforins and granzymes.

  • Types of Acquired Immunity:

    • Active Natural: Infection recovery (develop own memory cells).

    • Active Artificial: Vaccines (develop antibodies/memory cells without disease).

    • Passive Natural: Maternal antibodies across placenta (IgG) or breast milk (IgA).

    • Passive Artificial: Injection of preformed antibodies/antitoxins (immediate, temporary protection; no memory cells).

SECTION 2: TEAS MATHEMATICS (Brandon Craft & Jakara Lewis)

1. Essential Formulas & Calculations

  • Percentages: \text{Percent Change} = \frac{\text{New Value} - \text{Original Value}}{\text{Original Value}} \times 100 \text{Part} = \text{Percent (as a decimal)} \times \text{Whole}

  • Fractions & Decimals Operations:

    • Fraction Addition/Subtraction: Find lowest common denominator: \frac{a}{b} + \frac{c}{d} = \frac{ad + bc}{bd}.

    • Fraction Division: Keep, Change, Flip: \frac{a}{b} \div \frac{c}{d} = \frac{a}{b} \times \frac{d}{c} = \frac{ad}{bc}.

  • Ratios and Direct Proportions: \frac{a}{b} = \frac{c}{x} \implies a \cdot x = b \cdot c \implies x = \frac{b \cdot c}{a}

2. Geometry Formulas Cheat Sheet

  • Perimeter:

    • Rectangle: P = 2l + 2w

    • Circle (Circumference): C = 2\pi r = \pi d (use \pi \approx 3.1416)

  • Area:

    • Rectangle / Square: A = l \times w

    • Triangle: A = \frac{1}{2} b \times h

    • Circle: A = \pi r^2

    • Trapezoid: A = \frac{a + b}{2} \times h

  • Volume:

    • Rectangular Prism: V = l \times w \times h

    • Cylinder: V = \pi r^2 h

    • Sphere: V = \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3

3. Metric and Liquid Conversions Master Table

  • Metric Prefixes: \text{Kilo- } (10^3) \;\longleftarrow\; \text{Base (gram, liter, meter) } (10^0) \;\longleftarrow\; \text{Centi- } (10^{-2}) \;\longleftarrow\; \text{Milli- } (10^{-3}) \;\longleftarrow\; \text{Micro- } (10^{-6})

  • Common Clinical & Household Conversions:

    • 1\text{ kg} = 2.2\text{ lbs}

    • 1\text{ in} = 2.54\text{ cm}

    • 1\text{ tsp} = 5\text{ mL}

    • 1\text{ tbsp} = 3\text{ tsp} = 15\text{ mL}

    • 1\text{ fl oz} = 2\text{ tbsp} \approx 30\text{ mL} (exact: 29.57\text{ mL})

    • 1\text{ cup} = 8\text{ fl oz} \approx 240\text{ mL}

    • 1\text{ pt} = 2\text{ cups} = 16\text{ fl oz} \approx 480\text{ mL}

    • 1\text{ qt} = 2\text{ pints} = 4\text{ cups} = 32\text{ fl oz} \approx 946\text{ mL} \approx 0.95\text{ L}

    • 1\text{ gal} = 4\text{ quarts} = 128\text{ fl oz} \approx 3.785\text{ L}

  • Temperature Conversion: ^\circ\text{C} = \frac{^\circ\text{F} - 32}{1.8} \qquad\qquad ^\circ\text{F} = (^\circ\text{C} \times 1.8) + 32

SECTION 3: CHEMISTRY & PHYSICAL SCIENCE (Tyler DeWitt, Professor Yu, Teas with Tyler)

1. Atomic Structure & The Periodic Table

  • Subatomic Particles:

    • Proton: Charge +1, Mass \approx 1\text{ amu}, located in nucleus (Atomic Number Z).

    • Neutron: Charge 0, Mass \approx 1\text{ amu}, located in nucleus (\text{Mass Number } A = \text{Protons} + \text{Neutrons}).

    • Electron: Charge -1, Mass \approx 0\text{ amu}, located in orbitals surrounding nucleus.

  • Isotopes: Same element (identical protons), different number of neutrons (e.g., Carbon-12 vs. Carbon-14).

  • Ions:

    • Cation: Lost electrons \to net positive charge (e.g., \text{Na}^+, \text{Ca}^{2+}).

    • Anion: Gained electrons \to net negative charge (e.g., \text{Cl}^-, \text{O}^{2-}).

  • Periodic Trends (Moving Left to Right across a Period & Bottom to Top up a Group):

    • Electronegativity: Increases up and to the right (Fluorine is highest; noble gases excluded).

    • Ionization Energy: Increases up and to the right.

    • Atomic Radius: Increases down and to the left (Francium has the largest radius).

2. Chemical Bonds & Balancing Reactions

  • Types of Bonds:

    • Ionic: Transfer of electrons between metal and nonmetal (e.g., \text{NaCl}).

    • Covalent: Sharing of electron pairs between nonmetals.

      • Nonpolar Covalent: Equal sharing (e.g., \text{O}_2, \text{CH}_4).

      • Polar Covalent: Unequal sharing due to electronegativity difference (e.g., \text{H}_2\text{O}).

    • Hydrogen Bonds: Intermolecular attraction between hydrogen bonded to electronegative atoms (N, O, F) and a neighboring electronegative atom. Explains water's high boiling point, surface tension, and cohesion.

  • Balancing Equations: \underline{1}\text{ C}_3\text{H}_8 + \underline{5}\text{ O}_2 \longrightarrow \underline{3}\text{ CO}_2 + \underline{4}\text{ H}_2\text{O} (Conserves mass: 3 Carbon, 8 Hydrogen, 10 Oxygen on both sides).

3. States of Matter & Phase Transitions

  • Transitions:

    • Solid to Liquid: Melting | Liquid to Solid: Freezing

    • Liquid to Gas: Vaporization / Evaporation | Gas to Liquid: Condensation

    • Solid directly to Gas: Sublimation (e.g., dry ice)

    • Gas directly to Solid: Deposition (e.g., frost)

  • Phase Diagrams:

    • Triple Point: Temperature and pressure at which solid, liquid, and gas coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium.

    • Critical Point: Temperature and pressure above which liquid and gas states become indistinguishable (supercritical fluid).

4. Acids, Bases, and pH Scale

  • pH Formula: \text{pH} = -\log[\text{H}^+]

    • Each integer step on the pH scale represents a 10-fold change in \text{H}^+ ion concentration.

    • Example: A solution of \text{pH } 3 is 100 times more acidic than a solution of \text{pH } 5 (10 \times 10).

  • Properties:

    • \text{pH} < 7: Acidic (higher [\text{H}^+], turns blue litmus paper red).

    • \text{pH} = 7: Neutral (pure water at 25^\circ\text{C}).

    • \text{pH} > 7: Basic / Alkaline (higher [\text{OH}^-], turns red litmus paper blue).

  • Normal Arterial Blood pH: 7.35 - 7.45.

    • Below 7.35 = \text{Acidosis}; above 7.45 = \text{Alkalosis}.

    • Regulated primarily by the carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system: \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightleftharpoons \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3 \rightleftharpoons \text{H}^+ + \text{HCO}_3^-

5. Scientific Reasoning & Experimental Design (Professor Yu)

  • Variables:

    • Independent Variable (IV): The single factor manipulated or changed by the experimenter (plotted on the X-axis).

    • Dependent Variable (DV): The outcome or response measured by the researcher (plotted on the Y-axis).

    • Controlled Variables (Constants): All environmental conditions and factors held identical across all trial groups to prevent confounding results.

  • Groups:

    • Experimental Group: Receives the treatment/independent variable.

    • Control Group: Serves as baseline; does not receive experimental treatment (used to verify that the independent variable caused the effect).

  • Lab Measurement Tools:

    • Volumetric Flask / Pipette: Highest accuracy for liquid volume.

    • Graduated Cylinder: Standard tool for measuring liquid volume (read from bottom of the meniscus at eye level).

    • Beaker / Erlenmeyer Flask: Approximate estimation only; not for precise measurement.

SECTION 4: READING COMPREHENSION (Carolyn McAllister)

1. Passage Types & Author's Purpose

  • Expository: Informative, educational, strictly factual. Contains historical dates, stats, definitions, or procedural steps without personal opinion (e.g., encyclopedia, textbook).

  • Persuasive: Aims to convince the reader. Contains biased words (should, must, clearly, superior, unacceptable).

  • Narrative: Tells a story, fictional or personal account. Contains characters, sensory description, chronological events, and personal pronouns (I, me, we, they).

  • Technical: Explains a technical process, computer system, mechanical setup, or medical procedure. Features bullet points, schematic references, numbers, and specialized jargon.

2. Main Idea vs. Topic vs. Summary

  • Topic: The general subject matter in 1 to 3 words (e.g., "Antibiotic resistance").

  • Main Idea: The specific overarching point the author makes about that topic (summarized in a complete sentence). Often located in the first or last sentence of the opening paragraph.

  • Supporting Details: Facts, statistics, and examples that directly substantiate the main idea.

  • Summary Sentence: Synthesizes the core argument; usually found in the final concluding paragraph.

3. Fact vs. Opinion & Inference Rules

  • Fact: Can be proven objectively true or false through external empirical evidence, historical records, or measurable data.

  • Opinion: Reflects an author’s belief, aesthetic judgment, or emotional stance.

    • Watch for value-judgment adjectives: best, worst, wonderful, ugly, bad, heroic, essential.

  • Inference Strategy:

    • An inference on the TEAS is not a wild guess. It is a logical conclusion derived strictly from details explicitly in the text.

    • Rule: If an answer choice requires outside information that is not supported or directly implied by the passage, eliminate it.

SECTION 5: ENGLISH & LANGUAGE USAGE

1. Subject-Verb and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

  • Intervening Prepositional Phrases: Cross out words between subject and verb:

    • "The box [of glass ornaments] is fragile" (not are).

  • Indefinite Pronouns (Always Singular):

    • Each, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, neither, either, nobody.

    • Correct: "Everyone on the team has brought his or her gear."

  • Compound Subjects with Correlative Conjunctions:

    • Either... or / Neither... nor: The verb agrees with the subject closest to it:

    • "Neither the doctor nor the nurses were present."

    • "Neither the nurses nor the doctor was present."

2. Punctuation Rules (Commas & Semicolons)

  • Semicolons (;):

    • Connects two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction: \text{Clause 1 [Complete sentence]} \; ; \; \text{Clause 2 [Complete sentence]} Example: "The patient completed physical therapy; her mobility improved markedly."

    • Used before transitional adverbs: "...therapy; however, she still felt fatigue."

  • Commas with Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So):

    • Use a comma before a conjunction only if both sides can stand alone as complete sentences:

      • "The nurse checked the vitals, and she recorded them immediately." (Two independent clauses)

      • "The nurse checked the vitals and recorded them immediately." (No comma needed; second part lacks a subject).

3. Frequently Tested Confusing Words & Spelling

  • Affect vs. Effect:

    • Affect (Verb): To influence or produce a change ("The medication will affect your heart rate").

    • Effect (Noun): The result or consequence ("The side effects were minimal").

    • (Mnemonic: RAVEN = Remember Affect is a Verb, Effect is a Noun).

  • There vs. Their vs. They're:

    • There: Location or dummy pronoun ("Over there").

    • Their: Possessive pronoun ("Their coats").

    • They're: Contraction of they are ("They're leaving").

  • Its vs. It's:

    • Its: Possessive pronoun ("The dog wagged its tail").

    • It's: Contraction of it is ("It's cold outside").

  • Spelling Demons on TEAS:

    • Accommodate (2 c’s, 2 m’s)

    • Embarrass (2 r’s, 2 s’s)

    • Separate (remember there is "a rat" in sep-a-rat-e)

    • Definite (de-fini-te, contains "finite")

    • Maintenance (main-ten-ance, not maintainance)

    • Rhythm (no standard vowels except y)

SECTION 6: HIGH-YIELD PRACTICE DRILL & ANSWER RATIONALES

(Test your recall on the concepts above)

Practice Questions

  1. (A&P) Which of the following chambers of the heart has the thickest muscular wall, and what vessel carries blood directly out of it?

    • A) Right atrium; Superior vena cava

    • B) Right ventricle; Pulmonary artery

    • C) Left ventricle; Aorta

    • D) Left atrium; Pulmonary vein

  2. (A&P / Endocrine) A patient presents with elevated blood glucose levels. Which cells of the pancreas secrete the hormone responsible for lowering blood sugar, and what hormone do they secrete?

    • A) Alpha cells; Glucagon

    • B) Beta cells; Insulin

    • C) Acinar cells; Lipase

    • D) Parietal cells; Pepsinogen

  3. (Chemistry) If a solution has a pH of 3, how does its hydronium ion concentration [\text{H}^+] compare to a solution with a pH of 6?

    • A) 3 times more acidic

    • B) 30 times more acidic

    • C) 1,000 times more acidic

    • D) 3,000 times more acidic

  4. (Math) A physician orders 750 mg of an antibiotic. The medication is supplied in a liquid suspension containing 250 mg per 5 mL. How many tablespoons should the nurse administer?

    • A) 1 tablespoon

    • B) 2 tablespoons

    • C) 3 tablespoons

    • D) 15 tablespoons

  5. (Reading) Read the sentence: "All citizens must immediately transition to electric vehicles to prevent irreversible environmental destruction." What type of passage is this sentence most likely from?

    • A) Expository

    • B) Persuasive

    • C) Narrative

    • D) Technical

Answer Explanations & Rationales

  1. Correct: C (Left ventricle; Aorta)

    • Rationale: The left ventricle must generate enough contractile force to pump blood throughout the entire systemic circuit, giving it the thickest myocardium. It ejects blood directly through the aortic semilunar valve into the aorta.

  2. Correct: B (Beta cells; Insulin)

    • Rationale: Beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans produce insulin, which facilitates glucose uptake into somatic cells and storage as glycogen in hepatocytes. Alpha cells produce glucagon (which raises blood glucose).

  3. Correct: C (1,000 times more acidic)

    • Rationale: The pH scale is logarithmic (base 10). The difference between pH 3 and pH 6 is 6 - 3 = 3 logarithmic units. Thus, the solution is 10^3 = 10 \times 10 \times 10 = 1,000\text{ times} more acidic.

  4. Correct: A (1 tablespoon)

    • Rationale:

      • Step 1: Calculate mL needed: \frac{750\text{ mg}}{250\text{ mg}} \times 5\text{ mL} = 3 \times 5\text{ mL} = 15\text{ mL}.

      • Step 2: Convert mL to tablespoons: 1\text{ tbsp} = 15\text{ mL}. Therefore, 15\text{ mL} = 1\text{ tbsp}.

  5. Correct: B (Persuasive)

    • Rationale: The author uses prescriptive modal verbs ("must") and emotional/value-laden phrasing ("irreversible destruction") intended to convince the audience rather than just report objective facts.