NBC BOARD EXAM NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM|
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ GRADED A+| NBC HIS BOARD
EXAM REVIEW 2026/2027 (MOST RECENT!!)
1. The auricle (pinna) is composed primarily of which type of
tissue?
A) Bone
B) Elastic cartilage
C) Fibrocartilage
D) Hyaline cartilage
Answer: B – Elastic cartilage
Rationale: The auricle (pinna) is made of elastic cartilage covered
by thin skin. Elastic cartilage provides flexibility and maintains
shape. Fibrocartilage is found in intervertebral discs. Hyaline
1
,cartilage is found at the ends of long bones and in the nasal
septum.
2. Which structure separates the external ear from the middle
ear?
A) Round window
B) Oval window
C) Tympanic membrane
D) Eustachian tube
Answer: C – Tympanic membrane
Rationale: The tympanic membrane (eardrum) forms the boundary
between the external auditory canal (outer ear) and the middle ear
cavity. Sound waves cause it to vibrate, transmitting energy to the
ossicular chain.
3. The ossicular chain consists of which three bones in correct
order?
A) Malleus, incus, stapes
2
,B) Incus, malleus, stapes
C) Stapes, incus, malleus
D) Malleus, stapes, incus
Answer: A – Malleus, incus, stapes
Rationale: The malleus (hammer) attaches to the tympanic
membrane, the incus (anvil) connects to the malleus, and the stapes
(stirrup) attaches to the oval window of the cochlea.
4. Which structure connects the middle ear to the
nasopharynx?
A) Cochlea
B) Eustachian tube
C) Semicircular canals
D) Round window
Answer: B – Eustachian tube
3
, Rationale: The Eustachian tube (auditory tube) equalizes pressure
between the middle ear and the atmosphere. Dysfunction can lead
to middle ear effusion and conductive hearing loss.
5. The organ of Corti is located within which structure?
A) Semicircular canals
B) Vestibule
C) Scala media (cochlear duct)
D) Scala vestibuli
Answer: C – Scala media (cochlear duct)
Rationale: The organ of Corti, the sensory organ of hearing, rests
on the basilar membrane within the scala media (cochlear duct) of
the cochlea. It contains inner and outer hair cells.
6. What is the function of the inner hair cells (IHCs)?
A) Amplify low-level sounds
B) Transduce mechanical vibration into neural signals
4
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ GRADED A+| NBC HIS BOARD
EXAM REVIEW 2026/2027 (MOST RECENT!!)
1. The auricle (pinna) is composed primarily of which type of
tissue?
A) Bone
B) Elastic cartilage
C) Fibrocartilage
D) Hyaline cartilage
Answer: B – Elastic cartilage
Rationale: The auricle (pinna) is made of elastic cartilage covered
by thin skin. Elastic cartilage provides flexibility and maintains
shape. Fibrocartilage is found in intervertebral discs. Hyaline
1
,cartilage is found at the ends of long bones and in the nasal
septum.
2. Which structure separates the external ear from the middle
ear?
A) Round window
B) Oval window
C) Tympanic membrane
D) Eustachian tube
Answer: C – Tympanic membrane
Rationale: The tympanic membrane (eardrum) forms the boundary
between the external auditory canal (outer ear) and the middle ear
cavity. Sound waves cause it to vibrate, transmitting energy to the
ossicular chain.
3. The ossicular chain consists of which three bones in correct
order?
A) Malleus, incus, stapes
2
,B) Incus, malleus, stapes
C) Stapes, incus, malleus
D) Malleus, stapes, incus
Answer: A – Malleus, incus, stapes
Rationale: The malleus (hammer) attaches to the tympanic
membrane, the incus (anvil) connects to the malleus, and the stapes
(stirrup) attaches to the oval window of the cochlea.
4. Which structure connects the middle ear to the
nasopharynx?
A) Cochlea
B) Eustachian tube
C) Semicircular canals
D) Round window
Answer: B – Eustachian tube
3
, Rationale: The Eustachian tube (auditory tube) equalizes pressure
between the middle ear and the atmosphere. Dysfunction can lead
to middle ear effusion and conductive hearing loss.
5. The organ of Corti is located within which structure?
A) Semicircular canals
B) Vestibule
C) Scala media (cochlear duct)
D) Scala vestibuli
Answer: C – Scala media (cochlear duct)
Rationale: The organ of Corti, the sensory organ of hearing, rests
on the basilar membrane within the scala media (cochlear duct) of
the cochlea. It contains inner and outer hair cells.
6. What is the function of the inner hair cells (IHCs)?
A) Amplify low-level sounds
B) Transduce mechanical vibration into neural signals
4
