AST Competency Certification Study Guide Exam Questions
with Certified for Accuracy Answers 2025/2026
50. What incision is also known as a lower oblique?
A. Inguinal
B. Paramedian
C. Infraumbilical
D. Thoracoabdominal - correct answer Inguinal
51. The small intestine attaches to the posterior abdominal wall by the:
A. Mesentery
B. Peritoneum
C. Falciform ligament
D. Lesser omentum - correct answer Mesentery
52. What is the term for a relationship in which two organisms occupy the
same area and one organism benefits while the other is unharmed?
A. Commensalism
B. Neutralism
C. Mutualism
D. Parasitism - correct answer Commensalism
53. A topical steroid used to reduce inflammation after eye surgery is:
A. Depo-Medrol
B. Miochol
C. Healon
,D. Wydase - correct answer Depo-Medrol
54. How is the surgical informed consent signed if an adult patient is illiterate?
A. Authorized individuals signs patient's name
B. Patient marks with an "X" and witness verifies
C. RN and surgeon sign that patient gave consent
D. Surgeon and RIsk Manager sign consent - correct answer Patient marks
with an "X" and witness verfies
55. What direction should the stretcher be oriented when transporting a
patient to the OR department?
A. Feet first, side rails up
B. Feet first, side rails down
C. Head first, side rails up
D. Head first, side rails down - correct answer Feet first, side rails up
56. Which of the following routine preoperative laboratory studies would be
ordered for premenopausal women with no history of hysterectomy?
A. HCG
B. HBV
C. HIV
D. HDL - correct answer HCG
57. Which portion of the surgical gown is considered non-sterile?
A. Outside closure ties
B. Two inches below neckline to table level
C. Upper arms, neckline and axillary region
,D. Sleeves; two inches above the elbows to the cuffs - correct answer
Upper arms, neckline and axillary region
58. What is the name of the urinary catheter with a small, curved tapered tip
used on patients with urethral strictures?
A. Iglesias
B. Coude
C. Pigtail
D. Bonanno - correct answer Coude
59. What is the surgical position commonly used for thyroid and gallbladder
surgery?
A. Supine
B. Fowler's
C. Reverse Trendelenburg
D. Lateral Kidney - correct answer Reverse Trendelenburg
60. A congenital defect in which the fetal blood vessels between the
pulmonary artery and aorta does not close is:
A. Coarctation of the aorta
B. Patent ductus arteriosus
C. Tetralogy of Fallot
D. Ventricular septal defect - correct answer Patent ductus arteriosus
61. What is a commonly used preservative for tissue specimens?
A. Saline
B. Formalin
, C. Ethyl alcohol
D. Lugol's solution - correct answer Formalin
62. What is the first step taken for an incorrect sponge count?
A. Notify surgeon
B. X-ray patient
C. Repeat count
D. Complete incident report - correct answer Notify surgeon
63. The mumps may be diagnosed by finding inflammation in which of the
following glands?
A. Sublingual
B. Thyroid
C. Parotid
D. Submandibular - correct answer Parotid
64. What instituional document is completed when an adverse or unusual
event takes place in the OR that may have legal consequences for the staff or
patient?
A. Incident report
B. Operative record
C. Deposition report
D. Advance directive - correct answer Incident report
65. For which procedure would Trendelenburg position provide optimal
visualization?
A. Cholecystectomy
with Certified for Accuracy Answers 2025/2026
50. What incision is also known as a lower oblique?
A. Inguinal
B. Paramedian
C. Infraumbilical
D. Thoracoabdominal - correct answer Inguinal
51. The small intestine attaches to the posterior abdominal wall by the:
A. Mesentery
B. Peritoneum
C. Falciform ligament
D. Lesser omentum - correct answer Mesentery
52. What is the term for a relationship in which two organisms occupy the
same area and one organism benefits while the other is unharmed?
A. Commensalism
B. Neutralism
C. Mutualism
D. Parasitism - correct answer Commensalism
53. A topical steroid used to reduce inflammation after eye surgery is:
A. Depo-Medrol
B. Miochol
C. Healon
,D. Wydase - correct answer Depo-Medrol
54. How is the surgical informed consent signed if an adult patient is illiterate?
A. Authorized individuals signs patient's name
B. Patient marks with an "X" and witness verifies
C. RN and surgeon sign that patient gave consent
D. Surgeon and RIsk Manager sign consent - correct answer Patient marks
with an "X" and witness verfies
55. What direction should the stretcher be oriented when transporting a
patient to the OR department?
A. Feet first, side rails up
B. Feet first, side rails down
C. Head first, side rails up
D. Head first, side rails down - correct answer Feet first, side rails up
56. Which of the following routine preoperative laboratory studies would be
ordered for premenopausal women with no history of hysterectomy?
A. HCG
B. HBV
C. HIV
D. HDL - correct answer HCG
57. Which portion of the surgical gown is considered non-sterile?
A. Outside closure ties
B. Two inches below neckline to table level
C. Upper arms, neckline and axillary region
,D. Sleeves; two inches above the elbows to the cuffs - correct answer
Upper arms, neckline and axillary region
58. What is the name of the urinary catheter with a small, curved tapered tip
used on patients with urethral strictures?
A. Iglesias
B. Coude
C. Pigtail
D. Bonanno - correct answer Coude
59. What is the surgical position commonly used for thyroid and gallbladder
surgery?
A. Supine
B. Fowler's
C. Reverse Trendelenburg
D. Lateral Kidney - correct answer Reverse Trendelenburg
60. A congenital defect in which the fetal blood vessels between the
pulmonary artery and aorta does not close is:
A. Coarctation of the aorta
B. Patent ductus arteriosus
C. Tetralogy of Fallot
D. Ventricular septal defect - correct answer Patent ductus arteriosus
61. What is a commonly used preservative for tissue specimens?
A. Saline
B. Formalin
, C. Ethyl alcohol
D. Lugol's solution - correct answer Formalin
62. What is the first step taken for an incorrect sponge count?
A. Notify surgeon
B. X-ray patient
C. Repeat count
D. Complete incident report - correct answer Notify surgeon
63. The mumps may be diagnosed by finding inflammation in which of the
following glands?
A. Sublingual
B. Thyroid
C. Parotid
D. Submandibular - correct answer Parotid
64. What instituional document is completed when an adverse or unusual
event takes place in the OR that may have legal consequences for the staff or
patient?
A. Incident report
B. Operative record
C. Deposition report
D. Advance directive - correct answer Incident report
65. For which procedure would Trendelenburg position provide optimal
visualization?
A. Cholecystectomy
