medical assistant study guide

8/12/2019 Medical Assistant Study Guide

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Copyright 2012 American Association Of Medical Personnel All Rights Reserved

MEDICAL ASSISTANT STUDY GUIDE

BASIC ANATOMY & MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

1) Which of the following suffixes means lack ofstrength?

A. algiaB. tomyC.

astheniaD. trophy

E. phasia2) The body cavity that contains the intestines is the

A. ThoracicB. SpinalC. AbdominalD. PleuralE. Peritoneal

3) The abbreviation q.o.d.as used in prescriptions,means

A. Every hourB. Every two hoursC.

Twice a dayD. Four times a day

E. Every other day4) The pacemaker of the heart is the

A. Septum


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B. SA nodeC. AV nodeD. Left atriumE. Mitral valve

5) Which of the following suffixes refers to pain?A. phageaB. desisC. pneaD. algiaE. lysis

6) The organs of the respiratory system include all ofthe following exceptA. LarynxB. PharynxC. TracheaD. BronchiE. Thoracic duct

7) Which of the following terms means cell eating?A. PinocytosisB. PhagocytosisC. ExocytosisD. EndocytosisE. Cytokinesis

8) Which of the following is not a body plane?A. DorsalB. FrontalC. SagittalD. TransverseE. They are all body planes


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9) The suffix kinesiameansA. MindB. MuscleC. PainD. TouchE. Movement

10) The abbreviation meaning immediately isA. prnB. statC. qodD. ad libE. dc

11) Which of the following is not a type of muscle tissue?A. StriatedB. VisceralC. SkeletalD. SmoothE. Patella

12) The prefix milli-meansA. One-thousandthB. ManyC. OneD. One-hundredthE. One-tenth

LAW & ETHICS

1) Professional negligence is also called


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A. MalpracticeB. MalfunctionC. MaliceD. ArbitrationE. Felony

2) Legally, a physicianA. May not refuse treatment in an emergency

situationB. May refuse to provide follow-up care after initial

treatmentC. Must provide a diagnosis to a patients employer

if requestedD. Must provide a medical history to the patients

insurance company if the insurance companyrequests it

E. May choose to accept a patient if he or shechooses

3) Good Samaritan lawsA. Encourage physicians to render emergency first

aidB. Exist in all 50 statesC. Protect physicians against liability for negligence

in certain circumstancesD. Deal with the treatment of accident victimsE. All of the above

4) A crime punishable by a fine or imprisonment forless than one year is known as a

A. MisdemeanorB. FelonyC. MitigationD. Mutual assent


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E. Arbitration5) All of the following are reasons for revoking a

physicians license except

A. Mental incapacityB. Physical incapacityC. Conviction of a crimeD. Unprofessional conductE. Providing atypical care

6) Which of the following items is the most importantfor medical assistants to keep in mind during their

daily work routine in medical offices?

A. BurglaryB. ConfidentialityC. Privilege granted to a physicianD. ConsentE. Good Samaritan laws

7) The patients medical record belongs toA. The patients spouseB. The physicianC. The patientD. The patients attorneyE. The state medical board

8) In cases of malpractice involving res ipsa loquitur,A. The patient has the burden of proving the

physicians negligenceB. The physician has the burden of proving his or

her innocenceC. The physician is not bound by physician-patient

confidentiality


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D. All of the aboveE. None of the above

9) If a patient refuses to consent to treatment, themedical assistant should

A. Schedule the patient for another appointmentB. Force treatment on the patientC. Force the patient to consentD. Delay treatment and inform/consult the

physicianE. Terminate the patient

10) The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act includes theprovision thatA. Physicians who accept organs and tissue in good

faith, relying on apparently valid documents,are protected from lawsuits

B. The time of death must be determined by aphysician

C. Any person over 18 years of age may give all orany part of his or her body up after death forresearch or transplantation

D. Both A and CE. All of the above

PHARMACOLOGY

1) Which route is involved in administering a drug byplacing it under the patients tongue and leaving itthere until it is dissolved?

A. Buccal routeB. Sublingual routeC. Subcutaneous route


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D. Lozenge routeE. Transdermal route

2) The angle for the insertion of the needle for an IDinjection is

A. 10 15 degreesB. 20 30 degreesC. 45 degreesD. 90 degreesE. Not important

3) Which of the following drug types is used to reducecholesterol?

A. HypolipidemicB. AnticoagulantC. AntiarrhythmicD. CholinergicE. Antisecretory

4) The amount of time required for 50% of a drug to beeliminated from the body is called

A. Half-lifeB. Effective dose 50 (ED50)C. Lethal dose 50 (LD50)D. DosageE. Half dosage

5) The main body part involved in the metabolism ofdrugs is the

A. StomachB. KidneyC. Small intestineD. Large intestineE. Liver


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A. PharmacologyB. ToxicologyC. PosologyD. PharmacognosyE. Pharmacokinetics

EXAMINATION ROOM

1) Which of the following thermometers is consideredthe most accurate indicator of body temperature?

A. OralB. Aural or tympanicC. AxillaryD. RectalE. Both A and B

2) Disposable single-use gloves should be wornA. When taking a blood pressureB. When handling specimensC. When performing venipunctureD. All of the aboveE. B and C

3) Which of the following is not considered a vital sign?A. Blood pressureB. Pulse rateC. Body temperatureD. Respiration rateE. Weight

4) The pulse pressure is


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A. The difference between the systolic and diastolicblood pressure

B. An occasional missed beatC. Absence of a carotid pulseD. Alternating week and strong beatsE. The difference between apical and radial pulses

5) In which of the following positions, used for theexamination of the rectum, does the patient lie onthe left side with the left leg slightly flexed?

A. SimsB. ProneC. LithotomyD. Dorsal recumbentE. Trendelenburgs

6) A patients reaction to stress, use of defensemechanisms, and resources for support would berecorded under

A. Chief complaintB. Past historyC. History of present illnessD. Social historyE. Family history

7) The artery most commonly used for taking a patientspulse is

A. CarotidB. ApicalC. TemporalD. CeliacE. Radial

8) A patient in the Sims position is lying on the


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A. Right side, with left leg flexedB. Left side and chest, with right leg flexedC. Back with both legs bentD. Right side, with right leg flexedE. Left side, with left leg flexed

9) Which of the following respiratory terms meansdifficult breathing?

A. BradypneaB. OrthopneaC. DyspneaD. ApneaE. Eupnea

10) All of the following are responsibilities of the medicalassistant in the physical preparation of the patientexcept

A. Dressing the patient in a full gownB. Asking the patient to empty his or her bladder

and bowel

C. Obtaining and prescribing medications that arenot expiredD. Obtaining and recording the patients weight and

heightE. Obtaining the vital signs

11) A type of instrument that is used to grasp or holdtissues or objects is a

A. ProbeB. ScalpelC. ScissorsD. ForcepsE. Retractor


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12) Youve taken a patients temperature and recorded itas 96.9oF. Later, the physician asks you to convertthis measurement to Celsius. What is the patientstemperature in Celsius?

A. 21.8B. 116.8C. 36.1D. 37.9E. 25.8

13) The pulse rate isA. Usually higher in adults than childrenB. Usually higher in children than adultsC. The same for bothD. Lower at birth than at one yearE. Higher in adults over 60 than in a child under 7

14) A patient lying flat on the abdomen is in theA. Dorsal positionB. Lithotomy positionC. Supine positionD. Prone positionE. Fowlers position

15) Needle holders are also calledA. StaplesB. Thumb forcepsC. Suture forcepsD. Hemostatic forcepsE. Dressing forceps

16) The absence of respiration for periods lasting morethan 15 seconds is called


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A. BradypneaB. HyperpneaC. ShockD. Cheyne-StokesE. Apnea

17) Subjective findings includeA. How the patient feelsB. Information about the patients familyC. Previous pregnanciesD. All of the aboveE. A and B

18) Sterile wrapped items can be safely stored, andconsidered sterile, for up to

A. 7 14 daysB. 14 21 daysC. 21 28 daysD. 28 35 daysE. Indefinitely

19) Which of the following positions requires theexamination table to be raised in the middle withboth ends pointing down?

A. FowlersB. ProctologicC. Knee-chestD. SimsE. None of the above

20) A Holter monitor is also calledA. PhonocardiographB. EchocardiographC. Cardiac stress testing


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D. CardiogramE. Ambulatory electrocardiograph

21) The finest suture material of the following list isA. 0B. 00C. 000D. 4 0E. 8 0

22) A tonometer is used to detectA. Nerve impairment of the earsB. Breathing capacityC. Contact dermatitisD. GlaucomaE. Heart rate

23) Wound drainage that contains pus is charted asA. SerousB. NormalC. SerosanguinousD. SanguinousE. Purulent

24) The position in which the patient is lying flat on theback is known as

A. ProneB. SimsC. SupineD. FowlersE. Lithotomy

25) A high fever occurs when the body temperature, indegrees, is


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A. 98 99 FB. 99 101 FC. 101 103 FD. 103 105 FE. 38.3 39.5 C

26) The best and most accepted method of sterilization isA. Dry heat sterilizationB. Zephrin chlorideC. Bactericidal solutionD. Moist heat sterilizationE. Ultrasound sterilization

27) The physician uses which of the following to examinethe patients eyes?

A. OphthalmoscopeB. Percussion hammerC. TonometerD. OtoscopeE. Speculum

28) The general term for a surgical suture isA. StapleB. LigatureC. Needle biopsyD. Pointed needleE. Gauge

29) The purpose of a proctoscopy is to examine theA. Prostrate glandB. UterusC. RectumD. Sigmoid colon


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E. Esophagus30) The scalpel blade size often used to perform minor

surgeries is number

A. 5B. 10C. 15D. 25E. 30

DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES

1) When you suspect neck injury, what action shouldyou take to open the patients airway beforeadministering rescue breathing?

A. Place your mouth over the patients nose andblow air into it until the patients chest rises

B. Put your fingers behind the jawbone just belowthe ear and push the jaw forward

C. Wait for EMS personnel, and do not administerrescue breathing

D. Hold the patients neck rigidly while you lift thepatients chin up and push back on the forehead

E. Open an airway in the patients neck with asterile instrument

2) What percentage of the body is involved in a burnthat covers one arm and the head of an adult?

A. 1%B. 9%C. 18%D. 36%E. 40%


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3) Which of the following is a correct way to treat asnakebite?

A. Administer activated charcoalB. Walk the patient to a hospitalC. Suction the wound and apply iceD. Immobilize the bitten area and wash it with soap

and waterE. Cut out the affected area

4) Symptoms of head injury may include all of thefollowing EXCEPT

A. Skull deformity and/or unconsciousnessB. Unequal pupils of the eyeC. Extreme thirstD. Bleeding from nose, mouth, or earsE. Vomiting and convulsions

5) A patient with hives most likely will report that he orshe has

A. UrticariaB. VerrucaC. A nevusD. ShinglesE. Alopecia

6) Chest pain might indicateA. Cocaine useB. Myocardial infarctionC. EpistaxisD. Both B and CE. Both A and B


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7) Irreversible brain damage can be caused by tissueanoxia lasting

A. More than 2 minutesB. More than 3 minutesC. More than 6 minutesD. More than 45 minutesE. More than 3 hours

8) Closed wounds are calledA. Bruises or contusionsB. LacerationsC. AbrasionsD. ScrapesE. None of the above

9) Heat applicationA. Dilates blood vesselsB. Constricts blood vesselsC. Elevates blood pressureD. Decreases respirationE. Produces weight loss

10)The Rule of Nines classifies third-degree burns byassigning a percentage value to different bodysurfaces. In the case of a small child, which of thefollowing is given a value of 18%?

A. HeadB. Each lower limbC. Each armD. GenitaliaE. Both palms

11)Which of the following are symptoms of heatstroke?


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A. The body tingles, and the patient feels painB. There is a white, waxy, or grayish yellow build-

up on the skin, and the patient has a high bodytemperature

C. The skin feels moist and hot, and the patientfeels dizzy with a possibly altered mental stateD. The pulse is rapid, the skin is hot and dry, and

the patient feels weakE. The patient has a strange metallic taste in his or

her mouth and feels hot

12)According to Good Samaritan laws,A. Emergency care is required of all medicalpersonnel in all situationsB. Emergency care is permitted only with the

verbal consent of the patientC. Emergency care is permitted when it is within

the scope of competence of the personD. Possible negligence is never a factor in providing

emergency careE. Both B and D

13)Which of the following is a possible treatment ofsyncope?

A. Having the patient lower his or her headbetween the legs

B. Laying the patient flat on the patients back withthe feet slightly elevated

C. Loosening tight clothing and applying a coldcloth to the patients face

D. Both B and CE. All of the above

14)Skin contact with poisonous plants is characterized byall of the following EXCEPT


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A. ItchingB. NauseaC. RednessD. RashE. Headache and fever

15)To treat frostbite, a medical assistant canA. Massage the affected area gentlyB. Rub the affected area with a warmed towelC. Keep the patients head and shoulders slightly

elevatedD. Wash the area with soap and waterE. Place warm clothing and blankets around theaffected area

16)When administering CPR, how many compressionsshould you do?

A. 15 in 1 minuteB. 20 in 1 minuteC. 25 in 2 minutesD. 60 in 1 minuteE. 30 in 2 minutes

17)One possible cause of stroke isA. Occlusion in the brain by a thrombusB. Decreased cerebral blood flowC. Ingested poisonsD. HypocalcemiaE. Hyperthermia

18)The Heimlich maneuver is used for which of thefollowing?

A. ConvulsionB. Epistaxis


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C. HematemesisD. ShockE. Choking

19) In emergency childbirth, at what point should theumbilical cord be tied and cut?A. When the infant is fully outB. Within 10 minutes of birthC. When the infant starts breathingD. When the mother and baby get to the hospitalE. When the baby is ready to nurse

20)A characteristic of second-degree but notfirst-degreeburns isA. RednessB. DiscolorationC. Development of blistersD. SwellingE. Pain

21)When a patient scraped his skin, he most likely gota(n)A. IncisionB. LacerationC. AbrasionD. PunctureE. Bruise

22)Which of the following should notbe done when apatient complains of abdominal pain?A. Have the patient lie on the backB. Apply heat to the patients abdomenC. Have the patient flex the kneesD. Monitor the patients pulse


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E. Check for signs of shock23)Treat hypoglycemia by

A. Administering glucoseB. Giving the patient plain orange juiceC. Loosening the patients restrictive clothing and

elevating the patients headD. Administering immunization as soon as possibleE. None of the above

24) If a patient describes an aura before the onset of asevere headache, this is often a sign of

A. CVAB. MigraineC. Hay feverD. Brain tumorE. Seizure

25)Anaphylactic shock occurs followingA. HemorrhageB. Allergic reactionC. Toxemia of pregnancyD. Cardiac arrestE. None of the above

26)A patient is obviously suffering with epistaxis, andthe physician is unavailable. A medical assistantshould

A. Refer the patient to a specialistB. Send the patient to the nearest hospitalC. Apply cold packs or cotton moistened with cold

waterD. Have patient place the head between the kneesE. Apply artificial respiration


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27)When treating a second-degree burn, a medicalassistant should

A. Break blisters to relieve the patients painB. Immerse the burned area in cold waterC. Remove charred or adhered clothingD. Apply medical ointments to the affected areaE. Apply a wet, sterile dressing

28)White, waxy, or grayish yellow skin that also feelscrusty and softness in tissue beneath the skin couldindicate

A. HeatstrokeB. FrostbiteC. ContusionD. HypothermiaE. Shock

29)The most severe and major complication for burnvictims is

A. PainB. AnemiaC. InfectionD. Malignant feverE. Both B and C

30) In poisoning emergencies, the medical assistantshould, in order to gather information for the Poison

Center and treatment of the victim, determine

A. What type of poison was takenB. When the poison was takenC. How much of the poison was takenD. Under what circumstances the poison was takenE. All of the above


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31)Which is nota common symptom of a myocardialinfarction?

A. NauseaB. AnginaC. DyspneaD. DiaphoresisE. Polyuria

32)Which of the following should notbe done by apatient with a concussion?

A. EatB. Take aspirinC. Take acetaminophenD. RestE. Gradually resume normal activities

33)Symptoms of insulin shock includeA. Restless and confusionB. Cold, clammy skinC. Profuse sweatingD. Rapid, weak pulseE. All of the above

34)The Good Samaritan law explicitly allows medicalassistants

A. To administer first aid within the scope of theircompetence

B. To call the EMS system and stay with the victimuntil EMS personnel arrive

C. To act feely in an emergency situation to savethe victims life

D. To diagnose the patient at the scene of anaccident or emergency


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E. Only to call the EMS system and wait forauthorized personnel but not to touch orcommunicate with an accident victim

35)An antihistamine that may be used to treat anallergic reaction isA. BactrimB. MotrinC. BenadrylD. InderalE. Indorin

36)A temporary absence of respiration isA. InfiltrationB. ApneaC. DyspneaD. HyperpneaE. Atelectasis

37)A wound that barely penetrates the skin is charted asbeing

A. SuperiorB. SuperficialC. ProximalD. DistalE. Deep

38)An antipyretic agent works againstA. FeverB. RashC. ToothachesD. PoisonE. Acne


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39) If a patient is bleeding from the lower arm and directpressure and elevation do not stop the bleeding,where should pressure be applied?

A. Radial-ulnar arteryB. Brachial arteryC. Subclavian arteryD. Carotid arteryE. Phrenic artery

40)The first thing that should be done in an emergentsituation involving an unconscious person is to

A. Assess victims airwayB. Control any bleedingC. Apply a tourniquetD. Call for helpE. Give breaths

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