OEC LATEST 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GUARANTEE A+
✔✔anatomy - ✔✔the study of human and animal structures, including gross anatomy
(structures that can be seen with the unaided eye) and microscopic anatomy (structures
visible only through a microscope)
✔✔anerurysm - ✔✔ballooning of an artery that weakens it and predisposes it to rupture
✔✔angina pectoris - ✔✔sudden chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to
the heart muscle; also called angina
✔✔angioedema - ✔✔swelling that occurs beneath the skin or mucosa as a result of an
allergic reaction
✔✔angulation - ✔✔a sharp bend in a broken bone; a broken bone that is visibly
crooked
✔✔anisocoria - ✔✔unequal size of the pupils
✔✔anoxia - ✔✔a condition characterized by the lack of an oxygen supply
✔✔antegrade amnesia - ✔✔loss of memory of events that occurred after a traumatic
event to the brain; an inability to recall new information
✔✔antibody - ✔✔a protein that is produced by the body to neutralize or destroy specific
antigens
✔✔anticoagulant - ✔✔a medication that prevents blood from clotting; a "blood thinner"
✔✔antigen - ✔✔a foreign substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the
production of an antibody; can be a variety of substances, including toxins, bacteria,
foreign blood cells, or the cells of transplanted organs
✔✔antimicrobial ointment - ✔✔a semisolid, oil based preparation that kills or inhibits the
growth of bacteria (antibacterial activity) or fungi (anti-fungal activity)
✔✔antivenom - ✔✔a biological material (antibodies) administered to a patient to
counteract exposure to a specific kind of venom; is produced by injecting the venom into
an animal and then harvesting the antibodies that the animal makes against the venom
✔✔anus - ✔✔the terminal opening of the digestive system
,✔✔aorta - ✔✔the large muscular artery that originates at the heart and serves as the
main trunk of the arterial system
✔✔aortic aneurysm - ✔✔an abnormal dilation, bulging, or ballooning of the aorta
✔✔aphasia - ✔✔an inability to communicate through speech; is often an after-effect of
a stroke (CVA)
✔✔apnea - ✔✔the absence of breathing
✔✔apocrine gland - ✔✔a gland having a duct that opens into hair follicles in the pubic,
anal, axillary, and mammary areas; these glands secretes a a substance that can
produce and become odorous when it comes into contact with bacteria on the skin,
causing what is commonly referred to as "body odor"
✔✔appendicular skeleton - ✔✔the periphery of the skeleton; the bones of the arms and
legs
✔✔arachnoid mater - ✔✔the middle of the three meninges, or membranes that cover
the brain and spinal cord; lies between the dura mater and the pia matter
✔✔arrhythmia - ✔✔abnormal heart rhythm
✔✔arterial gas embolism (AGE) - ✔✔condition that occurs immediately after rapid
ascent in which air bubbles enter the bloodstream from a ruptured alveolus and lodge in
a artery
✔✔articular cartilage - ✔✔the cartilage that is affixed to the end of a bone within a joint
✔✔articulation - ✔✔the site at which the ends of two or more bones come together to
form a joint
✔✔assault - ✔✔placing somebody into a position where he or she reasonable fears that
battery will occur
✔✔assessment - ✔✔the act of determining the nature of a patient's injuries and
illnesses
✔✔assumption of risk - ✔✔the voluntary and knowing acceptance of the potential
hazards associated with an activity; a defense commonly used in cases in which injuries
occur during risky recreational activities such as skiing, paragliding, and scuba diving
✔✔asystole - ✔✔absence of a heartbeat due to lack of cardiac electrical activity
,✔✔ataxia - ✔✔uncoordinated muscle movements; at high altitudes, it is associated with
HACE
✔✔atherosclerosis - ✔✔a form of arteriosclerosis in which cholesterol and lipid plaques
form within the walls of arteries
✔✔athetoid cerebral palsy - ✔✔a form a CP that causes slow, writhing muscle
contractions
✔✔attention deficit disorder - ✔✔a behavioral syndrome that causes short attention
span, impulsive behavior, and restlessness
✔✔aura - ✔✔a subjective sensation that precedes a seizure
✔✔auscultation - ✔✔the act of listening for sounds within the body, typically using a
stethoscope
✔✔autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) - ✔✔developmental disabilities that impair
communication with others
✔✔autoimmune disorder - ✔✔a disease that results when the immune system attacks
the body's own cells as if the were pathogens; examples are systemic lupus
erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis
✔✔auto-injector - ✔✔a spring-loaded device that pushes a hypodermic needle through
the skin and injects a medication when the tip of the device is pressed firmly against the
body
✔✔automated external defibrillator (AED) - ✔✔a medical device used to deliver an
electrical shock to a patient in an effort to restore an effective heart rhythm
✔✔automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) - ✔✔an implantable
defibrillator that recognizes common lethal heart rhythms and then delivers an electrical
shock to the heart to restore an effective heart rhythm
✔✔autonomic dysreflexia (AD) - ✔✔abnormal function of the nervous system
associated with spinal cord injuries; can lead to dangerously high blood pressure
✔✔autonomic nervous system - ✔✔the part of the peripheral nervous system that
controls involuntary motor functions. This includes intestinal function, heart rate,
glandular function, breathing and other involuntary functions
✔✔AVPU - ✔✔a mnemonic for assessing neurological function; represents Awake or
alert, responds to Verbal stimuli or Pain, Unresponsive
, ✔✔avulsion - ✔✔the tearing away of soft tissue, or a piece of soft tissue hanging as a
flap
✔✔axial - ✔✔pertaining to the axis of a body part
✔✔axial loading - ✔✔a method of lifting a heavy object safely by distributing the object's
weight evenly down the entire spinal column through the pelvis to the bones of the legs
✔✔axial skeleton - ✔✔the central core of the bony skeleton, consisting of the skull,
spine, and supporting thoracic bones
✔✔axon - ✔✔long, slender projection of a nerve cell (neuron) that conducts electrical
impulses away from the neuron's cell body
✔✔bacteria - ✔✔primitive, ubiquitous, single-celled microorganism, some of which are
capable of causing disease in humans
✔✔bag-valve mask (BVM) - ✔✔a manually operated resuscitator consisting of three
components: a bag reservoir, a one-way flow valve, and a face mask; used to assist
patient ventilations
✔✔bandage - ✔✔a strip of roll of gauze or other material used for wrapping or binding a
body part
✔✔barometric pressure - ✔✔atmospheric pressure as indicated by a barometer; the
pressure exerted by the earth's atmosphere at any given moment
✔✔barotrauma - ✔✔trauma that is caused by differences in pressure between the body
and the environment
✔✔basal metabolism - ✔✔the minimal amount of energy needed for maintenance of life
when an individual is at rest
✔✔base chemical (base or an alkaline chemical) - ✔✔a substance with a pH greater
than 7, capable of neutralizing an acid; has the properties of or contains an alkali; some
(lye) can be harmful
✔✔basic life support (BLS) - ✔✔a basic level of EMS care for which providers are
trained and authorized to provide basic interventions, including noninvasive airway
devices, application of oxygen, CPR, and basic first aid
✔✔basket stretcher - ✔✔a lightweight device used to transport a patient during a back-
county rescue; sometimes called a "Stokes" stretcher
GUARANTEE A+
✔✔anatomy - ✔✔the study of human and animal structures, including gross anatomy
(structures that can be seen with the unaided eye) and microscopic anatomy (structures
visible only through a microscope)
✔✔anerurysm - ✔✔ballooning of an artery that weakens it and predisposes it to rupture
✔✔angina pectoris - ✔✔sudden chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to
the heart muscle; also called angina
✔✔angioedema - ✔✔swelling that occurs beneath the skin or mucosa as a result of an
allergic reaction
✔✔angulation - ✔✔a sharp bend in a broken bone; a broken bone that is visibly
crooked
✔✔anisocoria - ✔✔unequal size of the pupils
✔✔anoxia - ✔✔a condition characterized by the lack of an oxygen supply
✔✔antegrade amnesia - ✔✔loss of memory of events that occurred after a traumatic
event to the brain; an inability to recall new information
✔✔antibody - ✔✔a protein that is produced by the body to neutralize or destroy specific
antigens
✔✔anticoagulant - ✔✔a medication that prevents blood from clotting; a "blood thinner"
✔✔antigen - ✔✔a foreign substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the
production of an antibody; can be a variety of substances, including toxins, bacteria,
foreign blood cells, or the cells of transplanted organs
✔✔antimicrobial ointment - ✔✔a semisolid, oil based preparation that kills or inhibits the
growth of bacteria (antibacterial activity) or fungi (anti-fungal activity)
✔✔antivenom - ✔✔a biological material (antibodies) administered to a patient to
counteract exposure to a specific kind of venom; is produced by injecting the venom into
an animal and then harvesting the antibodies that the animal makes against the venom
✔✔anus - ✔✔the terminal opening of the digestive system
,✔✔aorta - ✔✔the large muscular artery that originates at the heart and serves as the
main trunk of the arterial system
✔✔aortic aneurysm - ✔✔an abnormal dilation, bulging, or ballooning of the aorta
✔✔aphasia - ✔✔an inability to communicate through speech; is often an after-effect of
a stroke (CVA)
✔✔apnea - ✔✔the absence of breathing
✔✔apocrine gland - ✔✔a gland having a duct that opens into hair follicles in the pubic,
anal, axillary, and mammary areas; these glands secretes a a substance that can
produce and become odorous when it comes into contact with bacteria on the skin,
causing what is commonly referred to as "body odor"
✔✔appendicular skeleton - ✔✔the periphery of the skeleton; the bones of the arms and
legs
✔✔arachnoid mater - ✔✔the middle of the three meninges, or membranes that cover
the brain and spinal cord; lies between the dura mater and the pia matter
✔✔arrhythmia - ✔✔abnormal heart rhythm
✔✔arterial gas embolism (AGE) - ✔✔condition that occurs immediately after rapid
ascent in which air bubbles enter the bloodstream from a ruptured alveolus and lodge in
a artery
✔✔articular cartilage - ✔✔the cartilage that is affixed to the end of a bone within a joint
✔✔articulation - ✔✔the site at which the ends of two or more bones come together to
form a joint
✔✔assault - ✔✔placing somebody into a position where he or she reasonable fears that
battery will occur
✔✔assessment - ✔✔the act of determining the nature of a patient's injuries and
illnesses
✔✔assumption of risk - ✔✔the voluntary and knowing acceptance of the potential
hazards associated with an activity; a defense commonly used in cases in which injuries
occur during risky recreational activities such as skiing, paragliding, and scuba diving
✔✔asystole - ✔✔absence of a heartbeat due to lack of cardiac electrical activity
,✔✔ataxia - ✔✔uncoordinated muscle movements; at high altitudes, it is associated with
HACE
✔✔atherosclerosis - ✔✔a form of arteriosclerosis in which cholesterol and lipid plaques
form within the walls of arteries
✔✔athetoid cerebral palsy - ✔✔a form a CP that causes slow, writhing muscle
contractions
✔✔attention deficit disorder - ✔✔a behavioral syndrome that causes short attention
span, impulsive behavior, and restlessness
✔✔aura - ✔✔a subjective sensation that precedes a seizure
✔✔auscultation - ✔✔the act of listening for sounds within the body, typically using a
stethoscope
✔✔autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) - ✔✔developmental disabilities that impair
communication with others
✔✔autoimmune disorder - ✔✔a disease that results when the immune system attacks
the body's own cells as if the were pathogens; examples are systemic lupus
erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis
✔✔auto-injector - ✔✔a spring-loaded device that pushes a hypodermic needle through
the skin and injects a medication when the tip of the device is pressed firmly against the
body
✔✔automated external defibrillator (AED) - ✔✔a medical device used to deliver an
electrical shock to a patient in an effort to restore an effective heart rhythm
✔✔automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) - ✔✔an implantable
defibrillator that recognizes common lethal heart rhythms and then delivers an electrical
shock to the heart to restore an effective heart rhythm
✔✔autonomic dysreflexia (AD) - ✔✔abnormal function of the nervous system
associated with spinal cord injuries; can lead to dangerously high blood pressure
✔✔autonomic nervous system - ✔✔the part of the peripheral nervous system that
controls involuntary motor functions. This includes intestinal function, heart rate,
glandular function, breathing and other involuntary functions
✔✔AVPU - ✔✔a mnemonic for assessing neurological function; represents Awake or
alert, responds to Verbal stimuli or Pain, Unresponsive
, ✔✔avulsion - ✔✔the tearing away of soft tissue, or a piece of soft tissue hanging as a
flap
✔✔axial - ✔✔pertaining to the axis of a body part
✔✔axial loading - ✔✔a method of lifting a heavy object safely by distributing the object's
weight evenly down the entire spinal column through the pelvis to the bones of the legs
✔✔axial skeleton - ✔✔the central core of the bony skeleton, consisting of the skull,
spine, and supporting thoracic bones
✔✔axon - ✔✔long, slender projection of a nerve cell (neuron) that conducts electrical
impulses away from the neuron's cell body
✔✔bacteria - ✔✔primitive, ubiquitous, single-celled microorganism, some of which are
capable of causing disease in humans
✔✔bag-valve mask (BVM) - ✔✔a manually operated resuscitator consisting of three
components: a bag reservoir, a one-way flow valve, and a face mask; used to assist
patient ventilations
✔✔bandage - ✔✔a strip of roll of gauze or other material used for wrapping or binding a
body part
✔✔barometric pressure - ✔✔atmospheric pressure as indicated by a barometer; the
pressure exerted by the earth's atmosphere at any given moment
✔✔barotrauma - ✔✔trauma that is caused by differences in pressure between the body
and the environment
✔✔basal metabolism - ✔✔the minimal amount of energy needed for maintenance of life
when an individual is at rest
✔✔base chemical (base or an alkaline chemical) - ✔✔a substance with a pH greater
than 7, capable of neutralizing an acid; has the properties of or contains an alkali; some
(lye) can be harmful
✔✔basic life support (BLS) - ✔✔a basic level of EMS care for which providers are
trained and authorized to provide basic interventions, including noninvasive airway
devices, application of oxygen, CPR, and basic first aid
✔✔basket stretcher - ✔✔a lightweight device used to transport a patient during a back-
county rescue; sometimes called a "Stokes" stretcher
