CMA Practice Exam Questions
with Correct Answers
What should the medical assistant do if in doubt about the sterility of an article?
Answer-Do not use the article; obtain another one.
Which of the following instruments has teeth that are used to grasp tissue? -
Answer-Tissue forceps
Which of the following instruments has serrated blades, ring handles, and ratchets
and is used to clamp off blood vessels? - Answer-Hemostatic forceps
When not in use, an instrument with a ratchet should be stored - Answer-in an open
position.
The purpose of swabbing the cervix with acetic acid during colposcopy is to Answer-
allow visualization of abnormal areas.
Which of the following instruments is used to hold tissue aside to improve exposure
of the operative area? - Answer-Retractors
Which of the following is not a local sign of inflammation? - Answer-Fever
What occurs during the inflammatory phase in the healing process? - Answer-A
blood clot plugs the opening of the wound.
What occurs during the maturation phase of the healing process? - Answer-Scar
tissue forms.
Which of the following types of exudates contains both serum and blood? - Answer-
Serosanguineous
,Which of the following types of exudates contains pus? - Answer-Purulent
The function of sutures is to - Answer-approximate a wound.
What is another name for a furuncle? - Answer-Boil
What is the name given to the type of sutures that are digested gradually by the
body? - Answer-Absorbable sutures
All of the following are characteristics of benign moles except - Answer-painful and
tender.
All of the following are characteristics of dysplastic nevi except - Answer-always
develop into malignant melanoma.
The purpose of inserting gauze packing after incising a localized infection is to
Answer-facilitate drainage of the exudate.
All of the following are examples of materials used for nonabsorbable sutures except
- Answer-surgical gut.
What type of suture needle has a sharp point? - Answer-Cutting
What information is found on the label of a swaged suture packet? - Answer-a. Type
of suture material
b. Length and gauge of the suture material
c. Type of needle point
d. Shape of suture needle
Correct. All of the above
,The purpose of adding epinephrine to a local anesthetic is to - Answer-prolong the
effect of the anesthetic.
Sutures inserted into the arms or legs are usually removed after - Answer-7 to 14
days.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a sebaceous cyst? - Answer-It usually
occurs on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
What would a physician do if a sebaceous cyst is infected? - Answer-Incise and drain
the cyst.
Shave excision is often used to remove - Answer-skin tags.
What is an abscess? - Answer-A collection of pus in a cavity surrounded by inflamed
tissue
Laser mole surgery is used to remove - Answer-small or flat moles.
A biopsy is usually performed to - Answer-determine whether a tumor is benign or
malignant.
Cryosurgery can be used to - Answer-remove warts and skin tags.
Cryosurgery is used most often for the treatment of - Answer-cervical dysplasia.
Which of the following is not a postoperative instruction for cryosurgery? -
AnswerUse tampons to absorb drainage.
Which of the following bandage turns is used to anchor a bandage? - Answer-Circular
turn
, The Z-track method is used to administer medications that are - Answer-irritating to
subcutaneous tissue.
Cardiac glycoside - Answer-Increases strength and force of myocardial contractions
and slows heart rate
The abbreviation for "left eye" is - Answer-OS - The abbreviation for left eye is "OS"
(oculis sinister).
The first three digits of the ICD code are helpful in - Answer-Locating the general
area in which the code can be found
The "Pap" smear is the primary diagnostic test for cancer of the - Answer-Cervix The
Pap (Papanicolaou) smear is used for the early detection of cervical cancer.
Adopting the feelings of others best describes - Answer-Introjection
An electrocardiogram is a recording of - Answer-The electrical action of the heart in
relation to time
All of the following should be considered in evaluating an employee except - Answer-
Comments and observations made by other staff members
The type of urine specimen to be collected to test for a urinary tract infection should
be - Answer-Clean-catch specimen
The plan that pays the primary doctor monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual
payments in return for providing all care to the patient, including visits to specialists,
is - Answer-Capitation
The type of urine specimen collected for culture and sensitivity testing is a - Answer-
with Correct Answers
What should the medical assistant do if in doubt about the sterility of an article?
Answer-Do not use the article; obtain another one.
Which of the following instruments has teeth that are used to grasp tissue? -
Answer-Tissue forceps
Which of the following instruments has serrated blades, ring handles, and ratchets
and is used to clamp off blood vessels? - Answer-Hemostatic forceps
When not in use, an instrument with a ratchet should be stored - Answer-in an open
position.
The purpose of swabbing the cervix with acetic acid during colposcopy is to Answer-
allow visualization of abnormal areas.
Which of the following instruments is used to hold tissue aside to improve exposure
of the operative area? - Answer-Retractors
Which of the following is not a local sign of inflammation? - Answer-Fever
What occurs during the inflammatory phase in the healing process? - Answer-A
blood clot plugs the opening of the wound.
What occurs during the maturation phase of the healing process? - Answer-Scar
tissue forms.
Which of the following types of exudates contains both serum and blood? - Answer-
Serosanguineous
,Which of the following types of exudates contains pus? - Answer-Purulent
The function of sutures is to - Answer-approximate a wound.
What is another name for a furuncle? - Answer-Boil
What is the name given to the type of sutures that are digested gradually by the
body? - Answer-Absorbable sutures
All of the following are characteristics of benign moles except - Answer-painful and
tender.
All of the following are characteristics of dysplastic nevi except - Answer-always
develop into malignant melanoma.
The purpose of inserting gauze packing after incising a localized infection is to
Answer-facilitate drainage of the exudate.
All of the following are examples of materials used for nonabsorbable sutures except
- Answer-surgical gut.
What type of suture needle has a sharp point? - Answer-Cutting
What information is found on the label of a swaged suture packet? - Answer-a. Type
of suture material
b. Length and gauge of the suture material
c. Type of needle point
d. Shape of suture needle
Correct. All of the above
,The purpose of adding epinephrine to a local anesthetic is to - Answer-prolong the
effect of the anesthetic.
Sutures inserted into the arms or legs are usually removed after - Answer-7 to 14
days.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a sebaceous cyst? - Answer-It usually
occurs on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
What would a physician do if a sebaceous cyst is infected? - Answer-Incise and drain
the cyst.
Shave excision is often used to remove - Answer-skin tags.
What is an abscess? - Answer-A collection of pus in a cavity surrounded by inflamed
tissue
Laser mole surgery is used to remove - Answer-small or flat moles.
A biopsy is usually performed to - Answer-determine whether a tumor is benign or
malignant.
Cryosurgery can be used to - Answer-remove warts and skin tags.
Cryosurgery is used most often for the treatment of - Answer-cervical dysplasia.
Which of the following is not a postoperative instruction for cryosurgery? -
AnswerUse tampons to absorb drainage.
Which of the following bandage turns is used to anchor a bandage? - Answer-Circular
turn
, The Z-track method is used to administer medications that are - Answer-irritating to
subcutaneous tissue.
Cardiac glycoside - Answer-Increases strength and force of myocardial contractions
and slows heart rate
The abbreviation for "left eye" is - Answer-OS - The abbreviation for left eye is "OS"
(oculis sinister).
The first three digits of the ICD code are helpful in - Answer-Locating the general
area in which the code can be found
The "Pap" smear is the primary diagnostic test for cancer of the - Answer-Cervix The
Pap (Papanicolaou) smear is used for the early detection of cervical cancer.
Adopting the feelings of others best describes - Answer-Introjection
An electrocardiogram is a recording of - Answer-The electrical action of the heart in
relation to time
All of the following should be considered in evaluating an employee except - Answer-
Comments and observations made by other staff members
The type of urine specimen to be collected to test for a urinary tract infection should
be - Answer-Clean-catch specimen
The plan that pays the primary doctor monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual
payments in return for providing all care to the patient, including visits to specialists,
is - Answer-Capitation
The type of urine specimen collected for culture and sensitivity testing is a - Answer-
