West Coast EMT Block Exam #3 | Updated
• The spinal cord exits the cranium through the:
Select one:
A. cauda equina.
B. foramen magnum.
C. foramen lamina.
D. vertebral foramen. -✓✓B. foramen magnum.
• A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when:
Select one:
A. a small cerebral artery ruptures and causes minimal damage.
B. medications are given to dissolve a cerebral blood clot.
C. a small clot in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms.
D. signs and symptoms resolve spontaneously within 48 hours. -✓✓C. a small clot
in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms.
• The mental status of a patient who has experienced a generalized seizure:
A. is easily differentiated from that of acute hypoglycemia.
B. progressively worsens over a period of a few hours.
C. typically does not improve, even after several minutes.
D. is likely to improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes. -✓✓D. is likely to
improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes.
• Which of the following is a metabolic cause of a seizure?
A) brain tumor
B) massive stroke
C) poisoning
D) head trauma -✓✓C) poisoning
• Febrile seizures in a child:
A. typically last less than 30 minutes.
B. occur after a week of a febrile illness.
C. are usually caused by viral meningitis.
D. may indicate a serious underlying illness. -✓✓D. may indicate a serious
underlying illness.
,• You arrive at a local grocery store approximately 5 minutes after a 21-year-old
female stopped seizing. She is confused and disoriented; she keeps asking you
what happened and tells you that she is thirsty. Her brother, who witnessed the
seizure, tells you that she takes valproate (Depakote) for her seizures, but has not
taken it in a few days. He also tells you that she has diabetes. In addition to
administering oxygen, you should:
Select one:
A. place her in the recovery position and transport her with lights and siren.
B. monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level.
C. give her small cups of water to drink and observe for further seizure activity.
D. administer one tube of oral glucose and prepare for immediate transport. -✓✓B.
monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level.
• You are assessing the arm drift component of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke
Scale on a 60-year-old woman. When she holds both of her arms out in front of her
and closes her eyes, both of her arms immediately fall to her sides. You should:
Select one:
A. repeat the arm drift test and ensure that her palms are facing downward.
B. repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient's arms into position yourself.
C. defer this part of the test and assess her for facial droop and slurred speech.
D. instruct the patient to keep her eyes open and then repeat the arm drift test. -
✓✓B. repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient's arms into position yourself.
• When transporting a stable stroke patient with a paralyzed extremity, place the
patient in a:
Select one:
A. supine position with the legs elevated 6 feet to 12 feet.
B. recumbent position with the paralyzed side down.
C. sitting position with the head at a 45° to 90° angle.
D. recumbent position with the paralyzed side up. -✓✓B. recumbent position with
the paralyzed side down.
• Which of the following organs assists in the filtration of blood, serves as a blood
reservoir, and produces antibodies?
Select one:
A. Spleen
B. Liver
C. Pancreas
D. Kidneys -✓✓B. Spleen
, • The kidneys help to regulate blood pressure by:
Select one:
A. accommodating a large amount of blood volume.
B. removing sodium and water from the body.
C. eliminating toxic waste products from the body.
D. retaining key electrolytes, such as potassium. -✓✓B. removing sodium and
water from the body.
• The parietal peritoneum lines the:
Select one:
A. surface of the abdominal organs.
B. lungs and chest cavity.
C. walls of the abdominal cavity.
D. retroperitoneal space. -✓✓C. walls of the abdominal cavity.
• In contrast to the parietal peritoneum, the visceral peritoneum:
Select one:
A. lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and is stimulated when the solid
abdominal organs contract.
B. is less likely to become inflamed or infected because it lines the abdominal
organs themselves.
C. is supplied by the same nerves from the spinal cord that supply the skin of the
abdomen.
D. is supplied by nerves of the autonomic nervous system, which are less able to
localize pain or sensation. -✓✓D. is supplied by nerves of the autonomic nervous
system, which are less able to localize pain or sensation.
• Which of the following is characteristic of peptic ulcer disease (PUD)?
Select one:
A. The passage of bright red blood in the stool or coughing up blood
B. Sharp pain that is typically located in both lower abdominal quadrants
C. Burning or gnawing stomach pain that subsides immediately after eating
D. Symptom relief after taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -✓✓C.
Burning or gnawing stomach pain that subsides immediately after eating
• Chronic renal failure is a condition that:
Select one:
• The spinal cord exits the cranium through the:
Select one:
A. cauda equina.
B. foramen magnum.
C. foramen lamina.
D. vertebral foramen. -✓✓B. foramen magnum.
• A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when:
Select one:
A. a small cerebral artery ruptures and causes minimal damage.
B. medications are given to dissolve a cerebral blood clot.
C. a small clot in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms.
D. signs and symptoms resolve spontaneously within 48 hours. -✓✓C. a small clot
in a cerebral artery causes temporary symptoms.
• The mental status of a patient who has experienced a generalized seizure:
A. is easily differentiated from that of acute hypoglycemia.
B. progressively worsens over a period of a few hours.
C. typically does not improve, even after several minutes.
D. is likely to improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes. -✓✓D. is likely to
improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes.
• Which of the following is a metabolic cause of a seizure?
A) brain tumor
B) massive stroke
C) poisoning
D) head trauma -✓✓C) poisoning
• Febrile seizures in a child:
A. typically last less than 30 minutes.
B. occur after a week of a febrile illness.
C. are usually caused by viral meningitis.
D. may indicate a serious underlying illness. -✓✓D. may indicate a serious
underlying illness.
,• You arrive at a local grocery store approximately 5 minutes after a 21-year-old
female stopped seizing. She is confused and disoriented; she keeps asking you
what happened and tells you that she is thirsty. Her brother, who witnessed the
seizure, tells you that she takes valproate (Depakote) for her seizures, but has not
taken it in a few days. He also tells you that she has diabetes. In addition to
administering oxygen, you should:
Select one:
A. place her in the recovery position and transport her with lights and siren.
B. monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level.
C. give her small cups of water to drink and observe for further seizure activity.
D. administer one tube of oral glucose and prepare for immediate transport. -✓✓B.
monitor her airway and breathing status and assess her blood glucose level.
• You are assessing the arm drift component of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke
Scale on a 60-year-old woman. When she holds both of her arms out in front of her
and closes her eyes, both of her arms immediately fall to her sides. You should:
Select one:
A. repeat the arm drift test and ensure that her palms are facing downward.
B. repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient's arms into position yourself.
C. defer this part of the test and assess her for facial droop and slurred speech.
D. instruct the patient to keep her eyes open and then repeat the arm drift test. -
✓✓B. repeat the arm drift test, but move the patient's arms into position yourself.
• When transporting a stable stroke patient with a paralyzed extremity, place the
patient in a:
Select one:
A. supine position with the legs elevated 6 feet to 12 feet.
B. recumbent position with the paralyzed side down.
C. sitting position with the head at a 45° to 90° angle.
D. recumbent position with the paralyzed side up. -✓✓B. recumbent position with
the paralyzed side down.
• Which of the following organs assists in the filtration of blood, serves as a blood
reservoir, and produces antibodies?
Select one:
A. Spleen
B. Liver
C. Pancreas
D. Kidneys -✓✓B. Spleen
, • The kidneys help to regulate blood pressure by:
Select one:
A. accommodating a large amount of blood volume.
B. removing sodium and water from the body.
C. eliminating toxic waste products from the body.
D. retaining key electrolytes, such as potassium. -✓✓B. removing sodium and
water from the body.
• The parietal peritoneum lines the:
Select one:
A. surface of the abdominal organs.
B. lungs and chest cavity.
C. walls of the abdominal cavity.
D. retroperitoneal space. -✓✓C. walls of the abdominal cavity.
• In contrast to the parietal peritoneum, the visceral peritoneum:
Select one:
A. lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and is stimulated when the solid
abdominal organs contract.
B. is less likely to become inflamed or infected because it lines the abdominal
organs themselves.
C. is supplied by the same nerves from the spinal cord that supply the skin of the
abdomen.
D. is supplied by nerves of the autonomic nervous system, which are less able to
localize pain or sensation. -✓✓D. is supplied by nerves of the autonomic nervous
system, which are less able to localize pain or sensation.
• Which of the following is characteristic of peptic ulcer disease (PUD)?
Select one:
A. The passage of bright red blood in the stool or coughing up blood
B. Sharp pain that is typically located in both lower abdominal quadrants
C. Burning or gnawing stomach pain that subsides immediately after eating
D. Symptom relief after taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -✓✓C.
Burning or gnawing stomach pain that subsides immediately after eating
• Chronic renal failure is a condition that:
Select one:
