ABMDI Scientific Knowledge Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Cause of Death -
correct answer ✅The disease, injury, or combination of conditions
that leads to the death of the individual
Manner of Death -
correct answer ✅A classification of death based on how the cause
of death was brought into play, with the typical options being
natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined
Cause of Death Statement (Part I) -
correct answer ✅Immediate cause of death
Intermediary cause of death
Underlying cause of death
Immediate Cause of Death -
correct answer ✅The condition that was last to occur, immediately
resulted in the death, and was the result of the underlying cause of
death
Intermediary Cause of Death -
correct answer ✅A condition that was caused by the underlying
,ABMDI Scientific Knowledge Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
cause of death and resulted in the immediate cause of death or
another intermediary cause of death
Underlying Cause of Death -
correct answer ✅The condition (disease or injury) that started the
downhill course of events leading to death
Cause of Death Statement (Part II) -
correct answer ✅Other significant conditions
Other Significant Conditions -
correct answer ✅Usually consist of co-existing co-morbid
conditions or additional complications of the underlying cause of
death, which were less important than those listed in Part I
Terminal Events -
correct answer ✅Final common pathways of death and include
such things as cardiopulmonary arrest, asystole, ventricular
fibrillation, respiratory arrest, and electromechanical dissociation
(typically, these should not be listed on a death certificate because
they are so common and non-specific)
,ABMDI Scientific Knowledge Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Nonspecific Anatomic Processes (NAP's) -
correct answer ✅Consist of anatomic findings and include such
things as pneumonia and cirrhosis, each of which has multiple
underlying causes, and which may be reported on the death
certificate using specific guidelines
Nonspecific Physiologic Derangements (NPD's) -
correct answer ✅Nonanatomical findings and include such things
as hyperkalemia and hypoglycemia, each of which has multiple
possible underlying causes, and which may be reported on the
death certificate using specific guidelines
An individual had insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. He recently
obtained cerebral artery arteriosclerosis which caused him to be in
a bedridden state from a previous stroke. Because he was
bedridden, he obtained infected decubitus ulcers that caused him
to obtain systemic sepsis and died. How should the death certificate
be written? -
correct answer ✅Part I:
a. Systemic sepsis
b. Due to: Infected decubitus ulcers
c. Due to: Bedridden state from previous stroke
d. Due to: Cerebral artery arteriosclerosis
, ABMDI Scientific Knowledge Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Part II:
OSC: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
An individual was a chronic alcoholic who obtained cirrhosis of the
liver. He then had ruptured esophageal varices and died. How
should the death certificate be written? -
correct answer ✅Part I:
a. Ruptured esophageal varices
b. Due to: Cirrhosis of the liver
c. Due to: Chronic alcoholism
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
An individual obtained metastatic carcinoma of the prostate and
died. How should the death certificate be written? -
correct answer ✅Part I:
a. Metastatic carcinoma of prostate
b. Due to:
c. Due to:
d: Due to:
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Cause of Death -
correct answer ✅The disease, injury, or combination of conditions
that leads to the death of the individual
Manner of Death -
correct answer ✅A classification of death based on how the cause
of death was brought into play, with the typical options being
natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined
Cause of Death Statement (Part I) -
correct answer ✅Immediate cause of death
Intermediary cause of death
Underlying cause of death
Immediate Cause of Death -
correct answer ✅The condition that was last to occur, immediately
resulted in the death, and was the result of the underlying cause of
death
Intermediary Cause of Death -
correct answer ✅A condition that was caused by the underlying
,ABMDI Scientific Knowledge Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
cause of death and resulted in the immediate cause of death or
another intermediary cause of death
Underlying Cause of Death -
correct answer ✅The condition (disease or injury) that started the
downhill course of events leading to death
Cause of Death Statement (Part II) -
correct answer ✅Other significant conditions
Other Significant Conditions -
correct answer ✅Usually consist of co-existing co-morbid
conditions or additional complications of the underlying cause of
death, which were less important than those listed in Part I
Terminal Events -
correct answer ✅Final common pathways of death and include
such things as cardiopulmonary arrest, asystole, ventricular
fibrillation, respiratory arrest, and electromechanical dissociation
(typically, these should not be listed on a death certificate because
they are so common and non-specific)
,ABMDI Scientific Knowledge Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Nonspecific Anatomic Processes (NAP's) -
correct answer ✅Consist of anatomic findings and include such
things as pneumonia and cirrhosis, each of which has multiple
underlying causes, and which may be reported on the death
certificate using specific guidelines
Nonspecific Physiologic Derangements (NPD's) -
correct answer ✅Nonanatomical findings and include such things
as hyperkalemia and hypoglycemia, each of which has multiple
possible underlying causes, and which may be reported on the
death certificate using specific guidelines
An individual had insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. He recently
obtained cerebral artery arteriosclerosis which caused him to be in
a bedridden state from a previous stroke. Because he was
bedridden, he obtained infected decubitus ulcers that caused him
to obtain systemic sepsis and died. How should the death certificate
be written? -
correct answer ✅Part I:
a. Systemic sepsis
b. Due to: Infected decubitus ulcers
c. Due to: Bedridden state from previous stroke
d. Due to: Cerebral artery arteriosclerosis
, ABMDI Scientific Knowledge Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
Part II:
OSC: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
An individual was a chronic alcoholic who obtained cirrhosis of the
liver. He then had ruptured esophageal varices and died. How
should the death certificate be written? -
correct answer ✅Part I:
a. Ruptured esophageal varices
b. Due to: Cirrhosis of the liver
c. Due to: Chronic alcoholism
d. Due to:
Part II:
OSC:
An individual obtained metastatic carcinoma of the prostate and
died. How should the death certificate be written? -
correct answer ✅Part I:
a. Metastatic carcinoma of prostate
b. Due to:
c. Due to:
d: Due to:
