CERTIFIED SURGICAL ASSISTANT
EXAM-STUDY GUIDE EXAM WITH
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025
The surgeon asks you to first gently supinate, then gently pronate the
operative wrist of a 14-year old patient in supine position. The operative
extremity is positioned at 80 degrees to the torso. Which of the following
most accurately describes the movement of the operative thumb (which
direction it points) as you carry out the instructions?
o Thumb lateral, then back to medial.
o Thumb medial, then back to lateral.
o Thumb superior, then back inferior
o Thumb inferior, then back to superior - CORRECT-ANSWERS Thumb inferior,
then back to superior
With patient in the prone position, the dorsal roots of the spinal nerves are
oriented:
o Deep to its corresponding ventral roots
o Superficial to its corresponding ventral roots
o Cranial to its corresponding ventral roots
o Caudal to its corresponding medial roots - CORRECT-ANSWERS Superficial
to its corresponding ventral roots
A choledoco-duodenostomy refers to the surgical anastomosis of which of
the following two structures:
o Gall bladder with the common bile duct
o Common bile duct and fundus of the stomach
o Duodenum and common bile duct
o Pancreatic duct and antrum of the stomach - CORRECT-ANSWERS
Duodenum and common bile duct
,In knee arthroscopy, the antero-medial portal is placed:
o on the same side of the patella as the Ilio-tibial band.
o on the opposite side of the patella from the pes anserinus.
o superior to the quadriceps insertion on the patella.
o proximal and anterior to the pes anserinus, medial to the patellar ligament.
- CORRECT-ANSWERS proximal and anterior to the pes anserinus, medial to
the patellar ligament
Epidural anesthesia is administered:
o Anterior (deep to) to the lumbar or sacral nerve roots.
o Into the space between the spinal canal and the dura mater covering the
nerve roots.
o Into precisely the same subarachnoid space as spinal anesthesia, but in the
sacral area.
o Directly into the cerebral spinal fluid at any point from the ventricles in the
brain, to the cauda equina. - CORRECT-ANSWERS Into the space between the
spinal canal and the dura mater covering the nerve roots
The connective tissue between the patella and the tibial tuberosity in the
knee facilitates quadriceps muscle contraction across the knee joint. What is
this structure?
o Patellar Ligament
o Quadriceps Tendon
o Vastis Lateralis
o Vastis Medialis - CORRECT-ANSWERS Patellar Ligament
The talus forms an articulation with which of the following lists of bones:
o Navicular, cuneiform, fibula and calcaneus
o Tibia, cuboid, fibula, and cuneiform
o Calcaneus, navicular, tibia, and calcaneus
o Fibula, cuneiform, calcaneus, and tibia - CORRECT-ANSWERS Calcaneus,
navicular, tibia, and calcaneus
The acetabulum, or hip socket, is comprised of the fusion of which of the
three bone choices below?
, o Ilium, sacrum, and pubis.
o Pubis, sacrum, and ischium.
o Pubis, ischium, and ilium.
o Sacrum, ischium, and ilium. - CORRECT-ANSWERS Pubis, ischium, and
ilium.
A large bolus of potassium given intravenously to a patient may have
catastrophic effects on cardiac muscle and ultimately arrest cardiac function.
The mechanism for this problem is described in which of the following
statements:
• Potassium in the intracellular space blocks repolarization of the muscle cell
membrane
• Calcium and potassium inside the cell reach toxic levels
• Potassium displaces calcium across the nuclear membrane
• Calcium displaces sodium across the nuclear membrane - CORRECT-
ANSWERS Potassium in the intracellular space blocks repolarization of the
muscle cell membrane
The superior mesenteric artery provides primary blood supply for which of
the following structures:
o Esophagus
o Pancreas
o Stomach
o Spleen - CORRECT-ANSWERS o Pancreas
The uterine artery is a most commonly a direct branch of the:
o Internal iliac artery
o External iliac artery
o Common iliac artery
o Gonadal artery - CORRECT-ANSWERS o Internal iliac artery
After what percent of total blood volume may arterial pressure AND cardiac
output begin to significantly (and precipitously) drop?
o More than about 5%
o More than about 10%
EXAM-STUDY GUIDE EXAM WITH
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025
The surgeon asks you to first gently supinate, then gently pronate the
operative wrist of a 14-year old patient in supine position. The operative
extremity is positioned at 80 degrees to the torso. Which of the following
most accurately describes the movement of the operative thumb (which
direction it points) as you carry out the instructions?
o Thumb lateral, then back to medial.
o Thumb medial, then back to lateral.
o Thumb superior, then back inferior
o Thumb inferior, then back to superior - CORRECT-ANSWERS Thumb inferior,
then back to superior
With patient in the prone position, the dorsal roots of the spinal nerves are
oriented:
o Deep to its corresponding ventral roots
o Superficial to its corresponding ventral roots
o Cranial to its corresponding ventral roots
o Caudal to its corresponding medial roots - CORRECT-ANSWERS Superficial
to its corresponding ventral roots
A choledoco-duodenostomy refers to the surgical anastomosis of which of
the following two structures:
o Gall bladder with the common bile duct
o Common bile duct and fundus of the stomach
o Duodenum and common bile duct
o Pancreatic duct and antrum of the stomach - CORRECT-ANSWERS
Duodenum and common bile duct
,In knee arthroscopy, the antero-medial portal is placed:
o on the same side of the patella as the Ilio-tibial band.
o on the opposite side of the patella from the pes anserinus.
o superior to the quadriceps insertion on the patella.
o proximal and anterior to the pes anserinus, medial to the patellar ligament.
- CORRECT-ANSWERS proximal and anterior to the pes anserinus, medial to
the patellar ligament
Epidural anesthesia is administered:
o Anterior (deep to) to the lumbar or sacral nerve roots.
o Into the space between the spinal canal and the dura mater covering the
nerve roots.
o Into precisely the same subarachnoid space as spinal anesthesia, but in the
sacral area.
o Directly into the cerebral spinal fluid at any point from the ventricles in the
brain, to the cauda equina. - CORRECT-ANSWERS Into the space between the
spinal canal and the dura mater covering the nerve roots
The connective tissue between the patella and the tibial tuberosity in the
knee facilitates quadriceps muscle contraction across the knee joint. What is
this structure?
o Patellar Ligament
o Quadriceps Tendon
o Vastis Lateralis
o Vastis Medialis - CORRECT-ANSWERS Patellar Ligament
The talus forms an articulation with which of the following lists of bones:
o Navicular, cuneiform, fibula and calcaneus
o Tibia, cuboid, fibula, and cuneiform
o Calcaneus, navicular, tibia, and calcaneus
o Fibula, cuneiform, calcaneus, and tibia - CORRECT-ANSWERS Calcaneus,
navicular, tibia, and calcaneus
The acetabulum, or hip socket, is comprised of the fusion of which of the
three bone choices below?
, o Ilium, sacrum, and pubis.
o Pubis, sacrum, and ischium.
o Pubis, ischium, and ilium.
o Sacrum, ischium, and ilium. - CORRECT-ANSWERS Pubis, ischium, and
ilium.
A large bolus of potassium given intravenously to a patient may have
catastrophic effects on cardiac muscle and ultimately arrest cardiac function.
The mechanism for this problem is described in which of the following
statements:
• Potassium in the intracellular space blocks repolarization of the muscle cell
membrane
• Calcium and potassium inside the cell reach toxic levels
• Potassium displaces calcium across the nuclear membrane
• Calcium displaces sodium across the nuclear membrane - CORRECT-
ANSWERS Potassium in the intracellular space blocks repolarization of the
muscle cell membrane
The superior mesenteric artery provides primary blood supply for which of
the following structures:
o Esophagus
o Pancreas
o Stomach
o Spleen - CORRECT-ANSWERS o Pancreas
The uterine artery is a most commonly a direct branch of the:
o Internal iliac artery
o External iliac artery
o Common iliac artery
o Gonadal artery - CORRECT-ANSWERS o Internal iliac artery
After what percent of total blood volume may arterial pressure AND cardiac
output begin to significantly (and precipitously) drop?
o More than about 5%
o More than about 10%
