NBSTSA CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026
ACTUAL EXAM SCRIPT FULL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
⩥ Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of:
A. Calcium
B. Nitrogen
C. Potassium
D. Albumin. Answer: C. Potassium
•Potassium plays four important roles: influences the electrical
excitability of cells; the amount of potassium in cells affects cell
volume; potassium balance is important in maintaining the acid-base
balance; the amount of potassium in cells affects cell metabolism.
Hyperkalemia, an abnormal level of potassium, can be life threatening,
causing cardiac irregularities.
⩥ Which of the following tissues are cut using curved mayo scissors?
A. Fascia
B. Periosteum
C. Dura mater
D. Arterial wall. Answer: A. Fascia
•Curved mayo scissors are large scissors, with thick blades used to cut
tough tissue, such as fascia, tendons and muscle.
,⩥ Which laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating
them?
A. Argon
B. Excimer
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Neodymium: YAG. Answer: A. Argon
•The argon laser beam can travel through clear fluids and tissues.
⩥ Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is
a/an:
A. Tort
B. Malpractice
C. Personal liability
D. Informed consent. Answer: D. Informed consent
•informed consent must be obtained from the patient before any invasive
procedure can be performed. It protects the patient because it verifies
that he/she understands the condition to be treated and the intervention
to be performed.
⩥ Which portion of the stomach surrounds the lower esophageal
sphincter?
A. Cardia
B. Fundus
,C. Pylorus
D. Antrum. Answer: A. Cardia
•The cardia is the portion of the stomach that surrounds the superior
opening of the stomach.
⩥ Low-level disinfectants kill most microbes, but do not destroy:
A. Viruses
B. Bacteria
C. Fungi
D. Spores. Answer: D. Spores
•Low-level disinfectants kill most types of bacteria and some fungi and
viruses, but do not kill spores and M. Tuberculosis
⩥ Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed fingers
C. Fused tarsals
D. Torn ligaments. Answer: B. Webbed fingers
•Webbing of the digits is syndactyly
⩥ The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened
on the:
A. Stretcher
, B. OR table
C. Backtable
D. Mayo stand. Answer: C. Backtable
•Surgical packs should be opened on the backtable.
⩥ The islets of langerhans secrete:
A. Bile
B. Insulin
C. Intrinsic factor
D. Inhibiting hormones. Answer: B. Insulin
•The islets of langerhans secrete glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, and
pancreatic polypeptide.
⩥ What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth?
A. Cleft palate repair
B. Arch bar application
C. Extractions
D. Implants. Answer: C. The removal of a tooth or teeth is an extraction
procedure. The resection of the soft tissue and excision of the bone
surrounding the tooth prior to the removal is called odontectomy.
⩥ Which organism is a normal resident flora of the intestinal tract?
A. Escherichia coli
ACTUAL EXAM SCRIPT FULL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
⩥ Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of:
A. Calcium
B. Nitrogen
C. Potassium
D. Albumin. Answer: C. Potassium
•Potassium plays four important roles: influences the electrical
excitability of cells; the amount of potassium in cells affects cell
volume; potassium balance is important in maintaining the acid-base
balance; the amount of potassium in cells affects cell metabolism.
Hyperkalemia, an abnormal level of potassium, can be life threatening,
causing cardiac irregularities.
⩥ Which of the following tissues are cut using curved mayo scissors?
A. Fascia
B. Periosteum
C. Dura mater
D. Arterial wall. Answer: A. Fascia
•Curved mayo scissors are large scissors, with thick blades used to cut
tough tissue, such as fascia, tendons and muscle.
,⩥ Which laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating
them?
A. Argon
B. Excimer
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Neodymium: YAG. Answer: A. Argon
•The argon laser beam can travel through clear fluids and tissues.
⩥ Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is
a/an:
A. Tort
B. Malpractice
C. Personal liability
D. Informed consent. Answer: D. Informed consent
•informed consent must be obtained from the patient before any invasive
procedure can be performed. It protects the patient because it verifies
that he/she understands the condition to be treated and the intervention
to be performed.
⩥ Which portion of the stomach surrounds the lower esophageal
sphincter?
A. Cardia
B. Fundus
,C. Pylorus
D. Antrum. Answer: A. Cardia
•The cardia is the portion of the stomach that surrounds the superior
opening of the stomach.
⩥ Low-level disinfectants kill most microbes, but do not destroy:
A. Viruses
B. Bacteria
C. Fungi
D. Spores. Answer: D. Spores
•Low-level disinfectants kill most types of bacteria and some fungi and
viruses, but do not kill spores and M. Tuberculosis
⩥ Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed fingers
C. Fused tarsals
D. Torn ligaments. Answer: B. Webbed fingers
•Webbing of the digits is syndactyly
⩥ The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened
on the:
A. Stretcher
, B. OR table
C. Backtable
D. Mayo stand. Answer: C. Backtable
•Surgical packs should be opened on the backtable.
⩥ The islets of langerhans secrete:
A. Bile
B. Insulin
C. Intrinsic factor
D. Inhibiting hormones. Answer: B. Insulin
•The islets of langerhans secrete glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, and
pancreatic polypeptide.
⩥ What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth?
A. Cleft palate repair
B. Arch bar application
C. Extractions
D. Implants. Answer: C. The removal of a tooth or teeth is an extraction
procedure. The resection of the soft tissue and excision of the bone
surrounding the tooth prior to the removal is called odontectomy.
⩥ Which organism is a normal resident flora of the intestinal tract?
A. Escherichia coli
