EMT AAOS Section 7: Trauma Exam|
WITH MUST KNOW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 LATEST UPDATED
TEST
.
1. Which of the following BEST defines the term "mechanism of injury" (MOI)?
a) The force that causes the patient to lose consciousness
b) The way in which traumatic injuries occur
c) The patient's past medical history related to trauma
d) The specific anatomical injuries sustained
Correct Answer: b) The way in which traumatic injuries occur
2. A patient fell from a second-story window. This is considered a _________ fall.
a) Low-level
b) Moderate-level
c) Significant
d) High-energy
Correct Answer: c) Significant
(Rationale: Falls greater than 15 feet or 3 times the patient's height are considered significant.)
3. In a motor vehicle collision, which of the following is an example of the "third collision"?
a) The car striking a tree
,b) The driver's chest striking the steering wheel
c) The driver's aorta tearing as the heart continues to move forward
d) The car coming to a sudden stop
Correct Answer: c) The driver's aorta tearing as the heart continues to move forward
(Rationale: The three collisions are: 1) car vs. object, 2) body vs. car interior, 3) internal organs vs. body
structures.)
4. Which type of impact occurs when a restrained driver's head rotates and snaps back during a rear-
end collision?
a) Lateral impact
b) Rotational impact
c) Compression impact
d) Hyperextension/hyperflexion
Correct Answer: d) Hyperextension/hyperflexion
5. You are assessing a patient who was involved in a head-on collision. The steering wheel is bent and
the dashboard is collapsed. Based on this MOI, which injury pattern should you suspect?
a) Spinal cord injury only
b) "Up and over" injuries to the chest and abdomen
c) "Lateral" injuries to the pelvis and femurs
d) "Down and under" injuries to the lower extremities
Correct Answer: b) "Up and over" injuries to the chest and abdomen
(Rationale: In a head-on, the unrestrained driver goes up and over the steering wheel, impacting the
chest and abdomen.)
6. A patient struck a tree while riding a motorcycle. What is this type of injury mechanism called?
a) Ejection
b) Rotational impact
,c) Deceleration
d) Axial loading
Correct Answer: c) Deceleration
7. Which of the following is a component of the "kinetic chain" concept in trauma?
a) The weight of the vehicle only
b) The speed of the vehicle and the weight of the patient
c) The patient's age and gender
d) The type of road surface
Correct Answer: b) The speed of the vehicle and the weight of the patient
(Rationale: Kinetic energy = ½ mass × velocity².)
8. Lacerations to the liver and spleen are most commonly associated with which type of impact?
a) Frontal impact
b) Rear impact
c) Lateral impact
d) Rollover impact
Correct Answer: c) Lateral impact
(Rationale: Lateral impacts crush the side of the body, often causing solid organ damage on the side of
impact.)
9. Which of the following findings would be LEAST suggestive of a serious head injury?
a) One pupil larger than the other
b) Clear fluid draining from the ear
c) A hematoma on the scalp
d) A depressed skull fracture
, Correct Answer: c) A hematoma on the scalp
(Rationale: While a scalp hematoma indicates trauma, it is a soft tissue injury and less indicative of
underlying brain injury than the other options.)
10. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess:
a) Level of consciousness only
b) Level of consciousness, motor function, and eye opening
c) Pupillary response and verbal response
d) Motor function and blood pressure
Correct Answer: b) Level of consciousness, motor function, and eye opening
(Rationale: GCS assesses Eye opening, Verbal response, and Motor response.)
11. A patient with a GCS of 8 or less indicates:
a) A mild traumatic brain injury
b) A moderate traumatic brain injury
c) A severe traumatic brain injury
d) No significant brain injury
Correct Answer: c) A severe traumatic brain injury
*(Rationale: Mild=13-15, Moderate=9-12, Severe=8 or less.)*
12. What is Cushing’s triad?
a) Hypotension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
b) Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
c) Hypertension, tachycardia, and irregular respirations
d) Hypotension, tachycardia, and tachypnea
Correct Answer: b) Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
(Rationale: Cushing's triad is a sign of increased intracranial pressure.)
WITH MUST KNOW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 LATEST UPDATED
TEST
.
1. Which of the following BEST defines the term "mechanism of injury" (MOI)?
a) The force that causes the patient to lose consciousness
b) The way in which traumatic injuries occur
c) The patient's past medical history related to trauma
d) The specific anatomical injuries sustained
Correct Answer: b) The way in which traumatic injuries occur
2. A patient fell from a second-story window. This is considered a _________ fall.
a) Low-level
b) Moderate-level
c) Significant
d) High-energy
Correct Answer: c) Significant
(Rationale: Falls greater than 15 feet or 3 times the patient's height are considered significant.)
3. In a motor vehicle collision, which of the following is an example of the "third collision"?
a) The car striking a tree
,b) The driver's chest striking the steering wheel
c) The driver's aorta tearing as the heart continues to move forward
d) The car coming to a sudden stop
Correct Answer: c) The driver's aorta tearing as the heart continues to move forward
(Rationale: The three collisions are: 1) car vs. object, 2) body vs. car interior, 3) internal organs vs. body
structures.)
4. Which type of impact occurs when a restrained driver's head rotates and snaps back during a rear-
end collision?
a) Lateral impact
b) Rotational impact
c) Compression impact
d) Hyperextension/hyperflexion
Correct Answer: d) Hyperextension/hyperflexion
5. You are assessing a patient who was involved in a head-on collision. The steering wheel is bent and
the dashboard is collapsed. Based on this MOI, which injury pattern should you suspect?
a) Spinal cord injury only
b) "Up and over" injuries to the chest and abdomen
c) "Lateral" injuries to the pelvis and femurs
d) "Down and under" injuries to the lower extremities
Correct Answer: b) "Up and over" injuries to the chest and abdomen
(Rationale: In a head-on, the unrestrained driver goes up and over the steering wheel, impacting the
chest and abdomen.)
6. A patient struck a tree while riding a motorcycle. What is this type of injury mechanism called?
a) Ejection
b) Rotational impact
,c) Deceleration
d) Axial loading
Correct Answer: c) Deceleration
7. Which of the following is a component of the "kinetic chain" concept in trauma?
a) The weight of the vehicle only
b) The speed of the vehicle and the weight of the patient
c) The patient's age and gender
d) The type of road surface
Correct Answer: b) The speed of the vehicle and the weight of the patient
(Rationale: Kinetic energy = ½ mass × velocity².)
8. Lacerations to the liver and spleen are most commonly associated with which type of impact?
a) Frontal impact
b) Rear impact
c) Lateral impact
d) Rollover impact
Correct Answer: c) Lateral impact
(Rationale: Lateral impacts crush the side of the body, often causing solid organ damage on the side of
impact.)
9. Which of the following findings would be LEAST suggestive of a serious head injury?
a) One pupil larger than the other
b) Clear fluid draining from the ear
c) A hematoma on the scalp
d) A depressed skull fracture
, Correct Answer: c) A hematoma on the scalp
(Rationale: While a scalp hematoma indicates trauma, it is a soft tissue injury and less indicative of
underlying brain injury than the other options.)
10. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess:
a) Level of consciousness only
b) Level of consciousness, motor function, and eye opening
c) Pupillary response and verbal response
d) Motor function and blood pressure
Correct Answer: b) Level of consciousness, motor function, and eye opening
(Rationale: GCS assesses Eye opening, Verbal response, and Motor response.)
11. A patient with a GCS of 8 or less indicates:
a) A mild traumatic brain injury
b) A moderate traumatic brain injury
c) A severe traumatic brain injury
d) No significant brain injury
Correct Answer: c) A severe traumatic brain injury
*(Rationale: Mild=13-15, Moderate=9-12, Severe=8 or less.)*
12. What is Cushing’s triad?
a) Hypotension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
b) Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
c) Hypertension, tachycardia, and irregular respirations
d) Hypotension, tachycardia, and tachypnea
Correct Answer: b) Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
(Rationale: Cushing's triad is a sign of increased intracranial pressure.)
