Page 1 of 31
Prehospital Emergency Care Chapter #23 EXAM GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026 VERIFIED
1) A patient informs you that he previously had a section of his small intestine
removed due to cancer. You recognize that with the removal of small intestine,
the patient is less able to:
A) Digest food
B) Absorb nutrients
C) Secrete insulin
D) Break down fats
B) Absorb nutrients
2) You have been called for a patient with abdominal pain. The patient states
that he recently had his gallbladder removed. As an EMT, you realize that:
A) His ability to digest fats properly is impaired
B) He cannot filter blood normally through the liver
C) His ability to absorb nutrients from the intestines is decreased
D) He has a more difficult time urinating due to ureter stenosis
A) His ability to digest fats properly is impaired
3) Which of these definitions best describes the structure and function of the
stomach?
A) A vascular abdominal organ that filters nutrients from the blood
B) A hollow organ that allows the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream
C) A solid organ that regulates the balance of water in the body
D) A hollow organ that secretes digestive enzymes and churns food
D) A hollow organ that secretes digestive enzymes and churns food
4) The spleen of a patient has ruptured following a traumatic injury. Because it
is a solid organ, the EMT recognizes that the primary threat to life is:
A) Blood loss
B) Pain
C) Infection
D) Inflammation
A) Blood loss
5) A female patient has developed bacterial peritonitis after sustaining blunt
trauma to the abdomen. Damage to which organ was most likely responsible
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for this condition?
A) Spleen
B) Small intestine
C) Liver
D) Ovary
B) Small intestine
6) When palpating the anterior portion of a patient's abdomen, you note
tenderness to the left upper quadrant. As a knowledgeable EMT, you would
recognize that which organ is most likely to be involved?
A) Kidney
B) Gallbladder
C) Spleen
D) Liver
D) Liver
7) If a patient has a retroperitoneal infection, which organ is most likely
involved?
A) Bladder
B) Kidney
C) Gallbladder
D) Small intestine
B) Kidney
8) You have been called to transfer a male patient from an outpatient clinic to
the hospital. The patient has been diagnosed with peritonitis and requires
transport to the hospital for definitive care. As a knowledgeable EMT, you
would recognize which of these statements as true?
A) The lining of the patient's abdominal cavity is inflamed
B) The patient's kidneys and pancreas are infected
C) The patient is actively hemorrhaging and requires blood
D) The abdominal aorta is inflamed and in danger of rupture
A) The lining of the patient's abdominal cavity is inflamed
9) A patient complains of severe and sharp pain to the right lower abdominal
quadrant. Based on location, which organ or structure is most likely involved?
A) Liver
B) Kidney
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C) Spleen
D) Appendix
D) Appendix
10) Which of these conditions would the EMT recognize as an acute abdominal
emergency?
A) Inflammation of the lower portion of the right lung
B) Swelling of the brain and spinal cord
C) Infection of the lining surrounding the heart
D) Rupture of the bladder
D) Rupture of the bladder
11) The EMT knows that the abdomen is located:
A) Between the diaphragm and the top of the pelvis
B) From the mid-chest to the umbilicus
C) Between the nipple line and the coccyx of the spine
D) From the bottom of the rib cage to the pelvis
A) Between the diaphragm and the top of the pelvis
12) The pancreas would best be described as which type of organ?
A) Vascular
B) Hollow
C) Solid
D) Perforated
C) Solid
13) The EMT understands the major function of most organs in the abdomen
when he states:
A) "The major function of the organs in the abdominal cavity is digestion."
B) "The basic function of the abdominal organs is the storage of fat for reserve
energy."
C) "The primary role of the organs in the abdominal cavity is the utilization of
oxygen."
D) "The fundamental role of the organs in the abdomen is the cleansing and
filtering of blood."
A) "The major function of the organs in the abdominal cavity is digestion."
14) The EMT has an accurate understanding of the solid organs contained
within the abdomen when she states:
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A) "Solid organs contain less blood than hollow organs, but will still bleed if
injured."
B) "Solid organs like the gallbladder are covered by a thick fibrous capsule for
protection."
C) "Solid organs are structures in the abdomen that break down and absorb
nutrients into the blood."
D) "Solid organs may receive a lot of blood flow and may bleed excessively if
injured."
D) "Solid organs may receive a lot of blood flow and may bleed excessively if
injured."
15) The EMT would identify which of these patients as having an acute
abdomen?
A) A 71-year-old female in respiratory distress and complaining of nausea
B) A 37-year-old male with history of drug abuse and liver disease
C) A 62-year-old male with no medical history with sudden pain to the lower
abdomen
D) A 17-year-old female who is pregnant with twins and whose delivery date is
next month
C) A 62-year-old male with no medical history with sudden pain to the lower
abdomen
16) Of these statements, which best demonstrates that the EMT has an
accurate understanding of acute abdominal pain?
A) "Abdominal pain is more of an emergency when the patient has a medical
history related to the abdominal organs."
B) "If the abdominal pain is not sharp in nature, it is most likely not a life-
threatening condition."
C) "Sometimes the cause of abdominal pain will be obvious, but often the
cause will not be that apparent."
D) "If the patient complains of 'crampy' or colicky pain, the EMT should
suspect that a solid organ has ruptured and is bleeding."
C) "Sometimes the cause of abdominal pain will be obvious, but often the cause will
not be that apparent."
17) Which of these statements made by the patient would most likely be
associated with parietal or somatic pain?
Prehospital Emergency Care Chapter #23 EXAM GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026 VERIFIED
1) A patient informs you that he previously had a section of his small intestine
removed due to cancer. You recognize that with the removal of small intestine,
the patient is less able to:
A) Digest food
B) Absorb nutrients
C) Secrete insulin
D) Break down fats
B) Absorb nutrients
2) You have been called for a patient with abdominal pain. The patient states
that he recently had his gallbladder removed. As an EMT, you realize that:
A) His ability to digest fats properly is impaired
B) He cannot filter blood normally through the liver
C) His ability to absorb nutrients from the intestines is decreased
D) He has a more difficult time urinating due to ureter stenosis
A) His ability to digest fats properly is impaired
3) Which of these definitions best describes the structure and function of the
stomach?
A) A vascular abdominal organ that filters nutrients from the blood
B) A hollow organ that allows the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream
C) A solid organ that regulates the balance of water in the body
D) A hollow organ that secretes digestive enzymes and churns food
D) A hollow organ that secretes digestive enzymes and churns food
4) The spleen of a patient has ruptured following a traumatic injury. Because it
is a solid organ, the EMT recognizes that the primary threat to life is:
A) Blood loss
B) Pain
C) Infection
D) Inflammation
A) Blood loss
5) A female patient has developed bacterial peritonitis after sustaining blunt
trauma to the abdomen. Damage to which organ was most likely responsible
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for this condition?
A) Spleen
B) Small intestine
C) Liver
D) Ovary
B) Small intestine
6) When palpating the anterior portion of a patient's abdomen, you note
tenderness to the left upper quadrant. As a knowledgeable EMT, you would
recognize that which organ is most likely to be involved?
A) Kidney
B) Gallbladder
C) Spleen
D) Liver
D) Liver
7) If a patient has a retroperitoneal infection, which organ is most likely
involved?
A) Bladder
B) Kidney
C) Gallbladder
D) Small intestine
B) Kidney
8) You have been called to transfer a male patient from an outpatient clinic to
the hospital. The patient has been diagnosed with peritonitis and requires
transport to the hospital for definitive care. As a knowledgeable EMT, you
would recognize which of these statements as true?
A) The lining of the patient's abdominal cavity is inflamed
B) The patient's kidneys and pancreas are infected
C) The patient is actively hemorrhaging and requires blood
D) The abdominal aorta is inflamed and in danger of rupture
A) The lining of the patient's abdominal cavity is inflamed
9) A patient complains of severe and sharp pain to the right lower abdominal
quadrant. Based on location, which organ or structure is most likely involved?
A) Liver
B) Kidney
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C) Spleen
D) Appendix
D) Appendix
10) Which of these conditions would the EMT recognize as an acute abdominal
emergency?
A) Inflammation of the lower portion of the right lung
B) Swelling of the brain and spinal cord
C) Infection of the lining surrounding the heart
D) Rupture of the bladder
D) Rupture of the bladder
11) The EMT knows that the abdomen is located:
A) Between the diaphragm and the top of the pelvis
B) From the mid-chest to the umbilicus
C) Between the nipple line and the coccyx of the spine
D) From the bottom of the rib cage to the pelvis
A) Between the diaphragm and the top of the pelvis
12) The pancreas would best be described as which type of organ?
A) Vascular
B) Hollow
C) Solid
D) Perforated
C) Solid
13) The EMT understands the major function of most organs in the abdomen
when he states:
A) "The major function of the organs in the abdominal cavity is digestion."
B) "The basic function of the abdominal organs is the storage of fat for reserve
energy."
C) "The primary role of the organs in the abdominal cavity is the utilization of
oxygen."
D) "The fundamental role of the organs in the abdomen is the cleansing and
filtering of blood."
A) "The major function of the organs in the abdominal cavity is digestion."
14) The EMT has an accurate understanding of the solid organs contained
within the abdomen when she states:
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A) "Solid organs contain less blood than hollow organs, but will still bleed if
injured."
B) "Solid organs like the gallbladder are covered by a thick fibrous capsule for
protection."
C) "Solid organs are structures in the abdomen that break down and absorb
nutrients into the blood."
D) "Solid organs may receive a lot of blood flow and may bleed excessively if
injured."
D) "Solid organs may receive a lot of blood flow and may bleed excessively if
injured."
15) The EMT would identify which of these patients as having an acute
abdomen?
A) A 71-year-old female in respiratory distress and complaining of nausea
B) A 37-year-old male with history of drug abuse and liver disease
C) A 62-year-old male with no medical history with sudden pain to the lower
abdomen
D) A 17-year-old female who is pregnant with twins and whose delivery date is
next month
C) A 62-year-old male with no medical history with sudden pain to the lower
abdomen
16) Of these statements, which best demonstrates that the EMT has an
accurate understanding of acute abdominal pain?
A) "Abdominal pain is more of an emergency when the patient has a medical
history related to the abdominal organs."
B) "If the abdominal pain is not sharp in nature, it is most likely not a life-
threatening condition."
C) "Sometimes the cause of abdominal pain will be obvious, but often the
cause will not be that apparent."
D) "If the patient complains of 'crampy' or colicky pain, the EMT should
suspect that a solid organ has ruptured and is bleeding."
C) "Sometimes the cause of abdominal pain will be obvious, but often the cause will
not be that apparent."
17) Which of these statements made by the patient would most likely be
associated with parietal or somatic pain?
