ABSA STUDY GUIDE ACTUAL 2026 /2027 150 Multiple
Choice Questions with Bold Italic Answers and Italic
Explanations (100% correct answers) | ABSAS Study
GuidDOMAIN 1: SURGICAL ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
1. What do ligaments connect?
A) Muscle to bone
B) Bone to bone
C) Muscle to muscle
D) Bone to cartilage
Ligaments are fibrous connective tissue that connect bone to bone, providing joint stability. Tendons
connect muscle to bone. This is a fundamental anatomical distinction tested on the ABSA exam .
2. The taenia coli are:
A) Glands in the colon
B) Three longitudinal bands of muscle located beneath the serosa of the colon
C) Layers of the stomach wall
D) Valves in the small intestine
The taenia coli are three distinct longitudinal bands of smooth muscle that run the length of the colon.
They are a defining feature of the large intestine and are found beneath the serosa. They converge at the
appendix .
3. The spleen is classified as:
A) A gland
B) A lymphatic organ
C) A vesicle
D) An endocrine organ
The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. It functions in immune response and filtration of
blood, not as a gland or vesicle .
4. The concave notch in the kidney through which the ureter, arteries, and veins enter and leave is
the:
,A) Cortex
B) Medulla
C) Hilum
D) Pelvis
The hilum is the entry and exit point for the renal artery, renal vein, and ureter. It is a critical anatomical
landmark in renal anatomy and is frequently tested .
5. Calot's Triangle is formed by which structures?
A) Common bile duct, portal vein, and hepatic artery
B) Common hepatic duct, cystic duct, and cystic artery
C) Hepatic artery, portal vein, and cystic duct
D) Cystic duct, common bile duct, and duodenum
Calot's triangle is an anatomical space in the hepatobiliary region. Its boundaries are the common
hepatic duct medially, the cystic duct laterally, and the cystic artery superiorly. It is crucial for identifying
structures during cholecystectomy .
6. The piriformis muscle:
A) Flexes the hip
B) Abducts and laterally rotates the thigh at the hip
C) Adducts the thigh
D) Extends the knee
The piriformis is a deep gluteal muscle that abducts and laterally rotates the thigh. It is also an important
landmark in the gluteal region, relevant to surgical approaches and sciatic nerve injury .
7. A Berry aneurysm is most often located in the:
A) Abdomen
B) Lower extremity
C) Head (Circle of Willis)
D) Thorax
Berry aneurysms are small, spherical dilations of cerebral vessels, most often found in the circle of Willis
in the brain. They can rupture and cause subarachnoid hemorrhage .
8. Complete removal of the parathyroid glands results in:
A) Tinnitus
B) Increased serum calcium
,C) Tetany
D) Decreased serum calcium
The parathyroid glands regulate serum calcium through PTH. Complete removal leads to hypocalcemia,
causing tetany (prolonged, repeated muscle contractions). This is why subtotal parathyroidectomy is
preferred in hyperplasia .
9. The average length of the large intestine is approximately:
A) 4 feet
B) 5 feet
C) 6 feet
D) 7 feet
The large intestine averages about 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length. It extends from the ileocecal valve to the
anus .
10. The sternocleidomastoid muscle is located in the:
A) Hip
B) Knee
C) Ankle
D) Neck
The sternocleidomastoid is a prominent neck muscle that rotates and flexes the head. It is a key
landmark in neck surgery, including thyroidectomy and carotid endarterectomy .
11. The vastus lateralis muscle is located in the:
A) Arm
B) Leg (thigh)
C) Pelvis
D) Chest
The vastus lateralis is one of the four quadriceps muscles in the anterior thigh. It is a common
intramuscular injection site in infants .
12. A blood vessel transporting deoxygenated blood is the:
A) Abdominal aorta
B) Pulmonary vein
C) Innominate artery
D) Pulmonary artery
, The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. This is unique, as
most arteries carry oxygenated blood .
13. What is the drainage of the left testicular vein?
A) Left renal vein
B) Inferior vena cava (directly)
C) Left common iliac vein
D) Renal artery
The left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein, which then drains into the inferior vena cava. The
right testicular vein drains directly into the IVC .
14. The interpleural space of the chest cavity is the:
A) Pericardium
B) Mediastinum
C) Hilum
D) Mesion
The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity, located between the two pleural
sacs. It contains the heart, great vessels, trachea, and esophagus .
15. Which organ or structure is partially retroperitoneal?
A) Spleen
B) Jejunum
C) Pancreas
D) Kidney
The pancreas is partially retroperitoneal, with its head and body fixed behind the peritoneum. The
duodenum (except the first part), ascending and descending colon, and kidneys are also retroperitoneal .
16. The antecubital fossa is located in the:
A) Leg
B) Pelvis
C) Chest
D) Arm
The antecubital fossa is the triangular area on the anterior aspect of the elbow. It is a common site for
venipuncture, blood pressure measurement, and IV access .
Choice Questions with Bold Italic Answers and Italic
Explanations (100% correct answers) | ABSAS Study
GuidDOMAIN 1: SURGICAL ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
1. What do ligaments connect?
A) Muscle to bone
B) Bone to bone
C) Muscle to muscle
D) Bone to cartilage
Ligaments are fibrous connective tissue that connect bone to bone, providing joint stability. Tendons
connect muscle to bone. This is a fundamental anatomical distinction tested on the ABSA exam .
2. The taenia coli are:
A) Glands in the colon
B) Three longitudinal bands of muscle located beneath the serosa of the colon
C) Layers of the stomach wall
D) Valves in the small intestine
The taenia coli are three distinct longitudinal bands of smooth muscle that run the length of the colon.
They are a defining feature of the large intestine and are found beneath the serosa. They converge at the
appendix .
3. The spleen is classified as:
A) A gland
B) A lymphatic organ
C) A vesicle
D) An endocrine organ
The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. It functions in immune response and filtration of
blood, not as a gland or vesicle .
4. The concave notch in the kidney through which the ureter, arteries, and veins enter and leave is
the:
,A) Cortex
B) Medulla
C) Hilum
D) Pelvis
The hilum is the entry and exit point for the renal artery, renal vein, and ureter. It is a critical anatomical
landmark in renal anatomy and is frequently tested .
5. Calot's Triangle is formed by which structures?
A) Common bile duct, portal vein, and hepatic artery
B) Common hepatic duct, cystic duct, and cystic artery
C) Hepatic artery, portal vein, and cystic duct
D) Cystic duct, common bile duct, and duodenum
Calot's triangle is an anatomical space in the hepatobiliary region. Its boundaries are the common
hepatic duct medially, the cystic duct laterally, and the cystic artery superiorly. It is crucial for identifying
structures during cholecystectomy .
6. The piriformis muscle:
A) Flexes the hip
B) Abducts and laterally rotates the thigh at the hip
C) Adducts the thigh
D) Extends the knee
The piriformis is a deep gluteal muscle that abducts and laterally rotates the thigh. It is also an important
landmark in the gluteal region, relevant to surgical approaches and sciatic nerve injury .
7. A Berry aneurysm is most often located in the:
A) Abdomen
B) Lower extremity
C) Head (Circle of Willis)
D) Thorax
Berry aneurysms are small, spherical dilations of cerebral vessels, most often found in the circle of Willis
in the brain. They can rupture and cause subarachnoid hemorrhage .
8. Complete removal of the parathyroid glands results in:
A) Tinnitus
B) Increased serum calcium
,C) Tetany
D) Decreased serum calcium
The parathyroid glands regulate serum calcium through PTH. Complete removal leads to hypocalcemia,
causing tetany (prolonged, repeated muscle contractions). This is why subtotal parathyroidectomy is
preferred in hyperplasia .
9. The average length of the large intestine is approximately:
A) 4 feet
B) 5 feet
C) 6 feet
D) 7 feet
The large intestine averages about 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length. It extends from the ileocecal valve to the
anus .
10. The sternocleidomastoid muscle is located in the:
A) Hip
B) Knee
C) Ankle
D) Neck
The sternocleidomastoid is a prominent neck muscle that rotates and flexes the head. It is a key
landmark in neck surgery, including thyroidectomy and carotid endarterectomy .
11. The vastus lateralis muscle is located in the:
A) Arm
B) Leg (thigh)
C) Pelvis
D) Chest
The vastus lateralis is one of the four quadriceps muscles in the anterior thigh. It is a common
intramuscular injection site in infants .
12. A blood vessel transporting deoxygenated blood is the:
A) Abdominal aorta
B) Pulmonary vein
C) Innominate artery
D) Pulmonary artery
, The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. This is unique, as
most arteries carry oxygenated blood .
13. What is the drainage of the left testicular vein?
A) Left renal vein
B) Inferior vena cava (directly)
C) Left common iliac vein
D) Renal artery
The left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein, which then drains into the inferior vena cava. The
right testicular vein drains directly into the IVC .
14. The interpleural space of the chest cavity is the:
A) Pericardium
B) Mediastinum
C) Hilum
D) Mesion
The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity, located between the two pleural
sacs. It contains the heart, great vessels, trachea, and esophagus .
15. Which organ or structure is partially retroperitoneal?
A) Spleen
B) Jejunum
C) Pancreas
D) Kidney
The pancreas is partially retroperitoneal, with its head and body fixed behind the peritoneum. The
duodenum (except the first part), ascending and descending colon, and kidneys are also retroperitoneal .
16. The antecubital fossa is located in the:
A) Leg
B) Pelvis
C) Chest
D) Arm
The antecubital fossa is the triangular area on the anterior aspect of the elbow. It is a common site for
venipuncture, blood pressure measurement, and IV access .
