ABMDI Scientific Knowledge
Cause of Death - correct answer-The disease, injury, or combination of conditions that leads
to the death of the individual
Manner of Death - correct answer-A classification of death based on how the cause of death
was brought into play, with the typical options being natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or
undetermined
Cause of Death Statement (Part I) - correct answer-Immediate cause of death
Intermediary cause of death
Underlying cause of death
Immediate Cause of Death - correct answer-The condition that was last to occur,
immediately resulted in the death, and was the result of the underlying cause of death
Intermediary Cause of Death - correct answer-A condition that was caused by the underlying
cause of death and resulted in the immediate cause of death or another intermediary cause
of death
Underlying Cause of Death - correct answer-The condition (disease or injury) that started the
downhill course of events leading to death
Cause of Death Statement (Part II) - correct answer-Other significant conditions
Other Significant Conditions - correct answer-Usually consist of co-existing co-morbid
conditions or additional complications of the underlying cause of death, which were less
important than those listed in Part I
Terminal Events - correct answer-Final common pathways of death and include such things
as cardiopulmonary arrest, asystole, ventricular fibrillation, respiratory arrest, and
electromechanical dissociation (typically, these should not be listed on a death certificate
because they are so common and non-specific)
Nonspecific Anatomic Processes (NAP's) - correct answer-Consist of anatomic findings and
include such things as pneumonia and cirrhosis, each of which has multiple underlying
causes, and which may be reported on the death certificate using specific guidelines
Nonspecific Physiologic Derangements (NPD's) - correct answer-Nonanatomical findings
and include such things as hyperkalemia and hypoglycemia, each of which has multiple
possible underlying causes, and which may be reported on the death certificate using
specific guidelines
An individual had insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. He recently obtained cerebral artery
arteriosclerosis which caused him to be in a bedridden state from a previous stroke.
Because he was bedridden, he obtained infected decubitus ulcers that caused him to obtain
, systemic sepsis and died. How should the death certificate be written? - correct answer-Part
I:
a. Systemic sepsis
b. Due to: Infected decubitus ulcers
c. Due to: Bedridden state from previous stroke
d. Due to: Cerebral artery arteriosclerosis
Part II:
OSC: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
An individual was a chronic alcoholic who obtained cirrhosis of the liver. He then had
ruptured esophageal varices and died. How should the death certificate be written? - correct
answer-Part I:
a. Ruptured esophageal varices
b. Due to: Cirrhosis of the liver
c. Due to: Chronic alcoholism
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
An individual obtained metastatic carcinoma of the prostate and died. How should the death
certificate be written? - correct answer-Part I:
a. Metastatic carcinoma of prostate
b. Due to:
c. Due to:
d: Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
An individual had a past medical history of cryptococcal myocarditis. He recently acquired
immune deficiency syndrome and obtained pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and died. How
should the death certificate be written? - correct answer-Part I:
a. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
b. Due to: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
c. Due to:
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC: Cryptococcal myocarditis
(The myocarditis contributed to the death but did not result in the conditions shown in Part I)
An individual was involved in a traffic accident. He was the driver of the vehicle, lost control,
went left of the center and was struck head on by a sports utility vehicle. He obtained blunt
force trauma of thorax and had an atlanto-occipital dislocation and died. How should the
death certificate be written? - correct answer-Part I:
a. Atlanto-occipital dislocation
b. Due to: Blunt force trauma of the head
c. Due to: Collision of motor vehicles
d. Due to:
Cause of Death - correct answer-The disease, injury, or combination of conditions that leads
to the death of the individual
Manner of Death - correct answer-A classification of death based on how the cause of death
was brought into play, with the typical options being natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or
undetermined
Cause of Death Statement (Part I) - correct answer-Immediate cause of death
Intermediary cause of death
Underlying cause of death
Immediate Cause of Death - correct answer-The condition that was last to occur,
immediately resulted in the death, and was the result of the underlying cause of death
Intermediary Cause of Death - correct answer-A condition that was caused by the underlying
cause of death and resulted in the immediate cause of death or another intermediary cause
of death
Underlying Cause of Death - correct answer-The condition (disease or injury) that started the
downhill course of events leading to death
Cause of Death Statement (Part II) - correct answer-Other significant conditions
Other Significant Conditions - correct answer-Usually consist of co-existing co-morbid
conditions or additional complications of the underlying cause of death, which were less
important than those listed in Part I
Terminal Events - correct answer-Final common pathways of death and include such things
as cardiopulmonary arrest, asystole, ventricular fibrillation, respiratory arrest, and
electromechanical dissociation (typically, these should not be listed on a death certificate
because they are so common and non-specific)
Nonspecific Anatomic Processes (NAP's) - correct answer-Consist of anatomic findings and
include such things as pneumonia and cirrhosis, each of which has multiple underlying
causes, and which may be reported on the death certificate using specific guidelines
Nonspecific Physiologic Derangements (NPD's) - correct answer-Nonanatomical findings
and include such things as hyperkalemia and hypoglycemia, each of which has multiple
possible underlying causes, and which may be reported on the death certificate using
specific guidelines
An individual had insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. He recently obtained cerebral artery
arteriosclerosis which caused him to be in a bedridden state from a previous stroke.
Because he was bedridden, he obtained infected decubitus ulcers that caused him to obtain
, systemic sepsis and died. How should the death certificate be written? - correct answer-Part
I:
a. Systemic sepsis
b. Due to: Infected decubitus ulcers
c. Due to: Bedridden state from previous stroke
d. Due to: Cerebral artery arteriosclerosis
Part II:
OSC: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
An individual was a chronic alcoholic who obtained cirrhosis of the liver. He then had
ruptured esophageal varices and died. How should the death certificate be written? - correct
answer-Part I:
a. Ruptured esophageal varices
b. Due to: Cirrhosis of the liver
c. Due to: Chronic alcoholism
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
An individual obtained metastatic carcinoma of the prostate and died. How should the death
certificate be written? - correct answer-Part I:
a. Metastatic carcinoma of prostate
b. Due to:
c. Due to:
d: Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
An individual had a past medical history of cryptococcal myocarditis. He recently acquired
immune deficiency syndrome and obtained pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and died. How
should the death certificate be written? - correct answer-Part I:
a. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
b. Due to: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
c. Due to:
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC: Cryptococcal myocarditis
(The myocarditis contributed to the death but did not result in the conditions shown in Part I)
An individual was involved in a traffic accident. He was the driver of the vehicle, lost control,
went left of the center and was struck head on by a sports utility vehicle. He obtained blunt
force trauma of thorax and had an atlanto-occipital dislocation and died. How should the
death certificate be written? - correct answer-Part I:
a. Atlanto-occipital dislocation
b. Due to: Blunt force trauma of the head
c. Due to: Collision of motor vehicles
d. Due to:
