AST PRACTICE EXAM #6 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The plicae circulares, microvilli and villi:
A. Produce bacteria
B. Increase absorption area
C. Secrete digestive enzymes
D. Initiate peristalsis - Answer -B. Increase absorption area
The microvilli, villi, and the plicae circulares increase the surface area for absorption
and digestion in the small intestine.
Which of the following come as numbered sets frequently used in neurosurgical
procedures?
A. Lacrimal probes
B. Hegar dilators
C. Van Buren sounds
D. Penfield dissectors - Answer -D. Penfield dissectors
Penfield dissectors are used to separate the dura mater from the cranium during a
craniotomy. The Penfield is atraumatic and its use prevents tearing the dura mater.
What pathogen is most commonly associated with surgical wound infections?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Klebsiella pneumonia
C. Bacteroides fragilis
D. Clostridium tetani - Answer -A. Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a common flora of the skin and also thrives in the nares of the
nose which are the primary source of the microorganism in the operating room.
Padgett and Reese are types of:
A. Retractors
B. Catheters
C. Dermatomes
D. Implants - Answer -C. Dermatomes
Padgett and Reese are types of dermatomes used to take skin grafts.
Which of the following is a uterine dressing forceps?
A. Schubert
B. Bozeman
C. Staude
D. Ballantine - Answer -B. Bozeman
,Bozeman forceps are long with a double curve and are included in a D & C instrument
set.
Which burn degree classification involves erythema without blisters?
A. First
B. Second
C. Third
D. Fourth - Answer -A. First
A sunburn usually only involves the epidermis (first degree) and is characterized by
erythema, but not blisters.
What instrument is used to remove plaque during a carotid endarterectomy?
A. Allis
B. Freer
C. Ferris-Smith
D. Potts-Smith - Answer -B. Freer
During an endarterectomy, loosely attached plaque can be removed from the carotid
artery with the use of a Freer elevator.
Which of the following neuroglia are star-shaped?
A. Ependyma
B. Oligodendroglia
C. Astrocytes
D. Dermoid - Answer -C. Astrocytes
Astrocytes are starshaped neuroglia that attach neurons to their blood vessels.
Which device could be used when placing a patient in the operative position for a
thyroidectomy?
A. Shoulder roll
B. Chest roll
C. Bean bag
D. Axillary roll - Answer -A. Shoulder roll
A shoulder roll can be used to slightly hyperextend the region to facilitate making the
incision and exposing the thyroid.
In order to expand the abdominal cavity with CO2 prior to a laparoscopic procedure, the
surgeon must use a/an:
A. Aspiration unit
B. Infusion pump
C. Tissue expander
D. Insufflator machine - Answer -D. Insufflator machine
,The machine that infuses the CO2 gas into the abdominal cavity is called an insufflator.
Which of these surgical instruments would be used during a tonsillectomy?
A. Gerald forceps
B. Pillar retractor
C. Cottle osteotome
D. Vienna speculum - Answer -B. Pillar retractor
Yankauer suction tip, Hurd dissector & Pillar retractor and palate retractor are all
included on a tonsillectomy instrument set.
Which type of cast would be appropriate for a fractured metacarpal?
A. Short arm
B. Long arm
C. Cylinder
D. Spica - Answer -A. Short arm
A short arm cast is applied from below the elbow to the metacarpal heads and is used
for fractures of the wrist and metacarpals.
What is the medical term for accumulation of squamous epithelium that forms a mass
that is destructive to the middle ear?
A. Otosclerosis
B. Otitis media
C. Cholesteatoma
D. Chondrolipoma - Answer -C. Cholesteatoma
Cholesteatoma is an accumulation of squamous epithelium that forms an encrusted
mass that is destructive to the middle ear.
Which muscle alters the shape of the lens to accommodate vision?
A. Rectus
B. Oblique
C. Circular
D. Ciliary - Answer -D. Ciliary
The ciliary muscle alters the shape of the lens to accommodate near or far vision.
What is the term for a nonpathogenic organism that is capable of producing disease in
an immunocompromised patient? A. Spore-forming
B. Fomite
C. Opportunistic
D. Vector - Answer -C. Opportunistic
, Opportunistic is the microorganism that is capable of producing disease in an
immunocompromised patient.
Filiforms are used to:
A. Bypass urethral obstruction
B. Perform urethrogram
C. Stent the ureter
D. Remove ureteral stones - Answer -A. Bypass urethral obstruction
Filiforms are used to bypass an obstruction.
What is the name of this needle holder? ( Castroviejo picture)
A. Mayo-Hegar
B. Webster
C. Collier
D. Castroviejo - Answer -D. Castroviejo
The Castroviejo needle holder is used in many surgical specialties for microsurgical
purposes including ophthalmologic, plastic, vascular and neurosurgical procedures.
Which of the following non-invasive diagnostic techniques provides the best imaging of
soft tissues?
A. Isotope scanning
B. Magnetic resonance imaging
C. Computed axial tomography
D. Doppler ultrasonography - Answer -B. Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is especially useful for imaging of soft tissue. It is
frequently useful for the diagnosis and evaluation of brain disorders.
Which of the following defines cryptorchidism?
A. Stones
B. Impotence
C. Undescended testes
D. Undeveloped testes - Answer -C. Undescended testes
Cryptorchidism is when one or both testicles fail to descend within the first year of life.
What type of procedure is performed to correct panfacial fractures?
A. Le Fort II
B. Odontotomy
C. Dental implants
D. Palatoplasty - Answer -A. Le Fort II
Le Fort II and III are performed to correct panfacial fractures.
The plicae circulares, microvilli and villi:
A. Produce bacteria
B. Increase absorption area
C. Secrete digestive enzymes
D. Initiate peristalsis - Answer -B. Increase absorption area
The microvilli, villi, and the plicae circulares increase the surface area for absorption
and digestion in the small intestine.
Which of the following come as numbered sets frequently used in neurosurgical
procedures?
A. Lacrimal probes
B. Hegar dilators
C. Van Buren sounds
D. Penfield dissectors - Answer -D. Penfield dissectors
Penfield dissectors are used to separate the dura mater from the cranium during a
craniotomy. The Penfield is atraumatic and its use prevents tearing the dura mater.
What pathogen is most commonly associated with surgical wound infections?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Klebsiella pneumonia
C. Bacteroides fragilis
D. Clostridium tetani - Answer -A. Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a common flora of the skin and also thrives in the nares of the
nose which are the primary source of the microorganism in the operating room.
Padgett and Reese are types of:
A. Retractors
B. Catheters
C. Dermatomes
D. Implants - Answer -C. Dermatomes
Padgett and Reese are types of dermatomes used to take skin grafts.
Which of the following is a uterine dressing forceps?
A. Schubert
B. Bozeman
C. Staude
D. Ballantine - Answer -B. Bozeman
,Bozeman forceps are long with a double curve and are included in a D & C instrument
set.
Which burn degree classification involves erythema without blisters?
A. First
B. Second
C. Third
D. Fourth - Answer -A. First
A sunburn usually only involves the epidermis (first degree) and is characterized by
erythema, but not blisters.
What instrument is used to remove plaque during a carotid endarterectomy?
A. Allis
B. Freer
C. Ferris-Smith
D. Potts-Smith - Answer -B. Freer
During an endarterectomy, loosely attached plaque can be removed from the carotid
artery with the use of a Freer elevator.
Which of the following neuroglia are star-shaped?
A. Ependyma
B. Oligodendroglia
C. Astrocytes
D. Dermoid - Answer -C. Astrocytes
Astrocytes are starshaped neuroglia that attach neurons to their blood vessels.
Which device could be used when placing a patient in the operative position for a
thyroidectomy?
A. Shoulder roll
B. Chest roll
C. Bean bag
D. Axillary roll - Answer -A. Shoulder roll
A shoulder roll can be used to slightly hyperextend the region to facilitate making the
incision and exposing the thyroid.
In order to expand the abdominal cavity with CO2 prior to a laparoscopic procedure, the
surgeon must use a/an:
A. Aspiration unit
B. Infusion pump
C. Tissue expander
D. Insufflator machine - Answer -D. Insufflator machine
,The machine that infuses the CO2 gas into the abdominal cavity is called an insufflator.
Which of these surgical instruments would be used during a tonsillectomy?
A. Gerald forceps
B. Pillar retractor
C. Cottle osteotome
D. Vienna speculum - Answer -B. Pillar retractor
Yankauer suction tip, Hurd dissector & Pillar retractor and palate retractor are all
included on a tonsillectomy instrument set.
Which type of cast would be appropriate for a fractured metacarpal?
A. Short arm
B. Long arm
C. Cylinder
D. Spica - Answer -A. Short arm
A short arm cast is applied from below the elbow to the metacarpal heads and is used
for fractures of the wrist and metacarpals.
What is the medical term for accumulation of squamous epithelium that forms a mass
that is destructive to the middle ear?
A. Otosclerosis
B. Otitis media
C. Cholesteatoma
D. Chondrolipoma - Answer -C. Cholesteatoma
Cholesteatoma is an accumulation of squamous epithelium that forms an encrusted
mass that is destructive to the middle ear.
Which muscle alters the shape of the lens to accommodate vision?
A. Rectus
B. Oblique
C. Circular
D. Ciliary - Answer -D. Ciliary
The ciliary muscle alters the shape of the lens to accommodate near or far vision.
What is the term for a nonpathogenic organism that is capable of producing disease in
an immunocompromised patient? A. Spore-forming
B. Fomite
C. Opportunistic
D. Vector - Answer -C. Opportunistic
, Opportunistic is the microorganism that is capable of producing disease in an
immunocompromised patient.
Filiforms are used to:
A. Bypass urethral obstruction
B. Perform urethrogram
C. Stent the ureter
D. Remove ureteral stones - Answer -A. Bypass urethral obstruction
Filiforms are used to bypass an obstruction.
What is the name of this needle holder? ( Castroviejo picture)
A. Mayo-Hegar
B. Webster
C. Collier
D. Castroviejo - Answer -D. Castroviejo
The Castroviejo needle holder is used in many surgical specialties for microsurgical
purposes including ophthalmologic, plastic, vascular and neurosurgical procedures.
Which of the following non-invasive diagnostic techniques provides the best imaging of
soft tissues?
A. Isotope scanning
B. Magnetic resonance imaging
C. Computed axial tomography
D. Doppler ultrasonography - Answer -B. Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is especially useful for imaging of soft tissue. It is
frequently useful for the diagnosis and evaluation of brain disorders.
Which of the following defines cryptorchidism?
A. Stones
B. Impotence
C. Undescended testes
D. Undeveloped testes - Answer -C. Undescended testes
Cryptorchidism is when one or both testicles fail to descend within the first year of life.
What type of procedure is performed to correct panfacial fractures?
A. Le Fort II
B. Odontotomy
C. Dental implants
D. Palatoplasty - Answer -A. Le Fort II
Le Fort II and III are performed to correct panfacial fractures.
