ABSA (American Board of Surgical
Assistant) Exam Test Bank Questions with
Verified Answers
Question 1: In the surgical setting, which of the following best describes the
primary responsibility of the surgical assistant during the intraoperative
phase of patient care?
A. Administering general anesthesia under the direction of the circulating nurse
B. Performing the initial patient assessment and obtaining informed consent
C. Providing continuous retraction, hemostasis assistance, and tissue handling
under the surgeon’s direction
D. Documenting all medication administration and sponge counts
independently
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Providing continuous retraction, hemostasis
assistance, and tissue handling under the surgeon’s direction
Rationale: The surgical assistant’s core intraoperative role centers on direct
technical support to the surgeon, including retraction, suctioning, hemostasis,
and tissue manipulation, always under the surgeon’s supervision and within the
defined scope of practice.
Question 2: Which anatomical structure forms the superior boundary of the
femoral triangle and serves as a critical landmark during open inguinal
hernia repair?
A. Inguinal ligament
B. Adductor longus muscle
C. Sartorius muscle
D. Pectineus muscle
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Inguinal ligament
Rationale: The femoral triangle is bounded superiorly by the inguinal ligament,
medially by the adductor longus, and laterally by the sartorius. Accurate
identification of the inguinal ligament is essential for safe dissection and hernia
repair.
Question 3: During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which structure must be
clearly identified and isolated within the critical view of safety before
clipping and division?
Page 1 of 90
,A. Common hepatic duct
B. Cystic duct and cystic artery
C. Right hepatic artery
D. Portal vein
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Cystic duct and cystic artery
Page 2 of 90
,Rationale: The critical view of safety requires clear visualization of the cystic
duct and cystic artery entering the gallbladder, with the hepatocystic triangle
cleared of tissue, to minimize the risk of bile duct injury.
Question 4: Which of the following instrument sets is most appropriate for a
standard open appendectomy?
A. Major abdominal set with self-retaining retractors
B. Minor procedure tray with basic soft-tissue instruments
C. Thoracic instrument set with rib spreaders
D. Vascular instrument set with bulldog clamps
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Minor procedure tray with basic soft-tissue
instruments
Rationale: An uncomplicated open appendectomy typically requires only a
minor soft-tissue set containing scalpels, forceps, scissors, retractors, and needle
holders, rather than specialized major or vascular instrumentation.
Question 5: The surgical assistant notices that a sterile package has a small
tear in the outer wrap but the inner wrap appears intact. What is the most
appropriate action?
A. Use the package after carefully inspecting the contents
B. Consider the package contaminated and discard it
C. Resterilize the package immediately using flash sterilization
D. Cover the tear with sterile tape and proceed
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Consider the package contaminated and discard it
Rationale: Any compromise of the sterile packaging barrier renders the contents
unsterile. The item must be discarded or reprocessed according to facility policy;
inspection or temporary repair is not acceptable.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the correct sequence for
donning sterile surgical attire after performing the surgical scrub?
A. Gown, gloves, mask, eye protection
B. Mask, eye protection, gown, gloves
C. Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
D. Eye protection, mask, gloves, gown
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Mask, eye protection, gown, gloves
Rationale: Personal protective equipment that is not sterile (mask and eye
protection) is applied before the sterile gown and gloves to maintain the sterile
field once the gown and gloves are donned.
Page 3 of 90
, Question 7: During a total hip arthroplasty, the surgical assistant is asked to
hold the leg in external rotation and adduction. This maneuver primarily
facilitates access to which structure?
A. Anterior acetabular wall
B. Posterior acetabular wall and greater trochanter
C. Femoral neck only
D. Iliac crest
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Posterior acetabular wall and greater trochanter
Rationale: External rotation and adduction of the hip improves exposure of the
posterior structures of the hip joint, including the greater trochanter and
posterior acetabulum, which is essential during posterior approaches.
Question 8: Which of the following is the most appropriate method for
counting sharps on the sterile field?
A. Counting only at the beginning and end of the procedure
B. Counting simultaneously with the circulating nurse at designated times using
a standardized process
C. Allowing the surgical technologist to count independently
D. Counting only instruments that have been used
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Counting simultaneously with the circulating nurse at
designated times using a standardized process
Rationale: Sharps counts must be performed concurrently by the scrub person
and circulating nurse at established intervals (before incision, at cavity closure,
at skin closure, and when relieving personnel) to ensure accuracy and patient
safety.
Question 9: In the context of electrosurgery, which type of current is
primarily used for cutting tissue with minimal thermal damage?
A. Coagulation current
B. Blend current
C. Pure cutting current
D. Fulgurating current
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Pure cutting current
Rationale: Pure cutting current produces a continuous waveform that vaporizes
tissue with relatively little lateral thermal spread, making it the preferred setting
when precise tissue division is required.
Question 10: Which of the following positions places the patient at greatest
risk for brachial plexus injury if improper padding or arm positioning
Page 4 of 90
Assistant) Exam Test Bank Questions with
Verified Answers
Question 1: In the surgical setting, which of the following best describes the
primary responsibility of the surgical assistant during the intraoperative
phase of patient care?
A. Administering general anesthesia under the direction of the circulating nurse
B. Performing the initial patient assessment and obtaining informed consent
C. Providing continuous retraction, hemostasis assistance, and tissue handling
under the surgeon’s direction
D. Documenting all medication administration and sponge counts
independently
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Providing continuous retraction, hemostasis
assistance, and tissue handling under the surgeon’s direction
Rationale: The surgical assistant’s core intraoperative role centers on direct
technical support to the surgeon, including retraction, suctioning, hemostasis,
and tissue manipulation, always under the surgeon’s supervision and within the
defined scope of practice.
Question 2: Which anatomical structure forms the superior boundary of the
femoral triangle and serves as a critical landmark during open inguinal
hernia repair?
A. Inguinal ligament
B. Adductor longus muscle
C. Sartorius muscle
D. Pectineus muscle
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Inguinal ligament
Rationale: The femoral triangle is bounded superiorly by the inguinal ligament,
medially by the adductor longus, and laterally by the sartorius. Accurate
identification of the inguinal ligament is essential for safe dissection and hernia
repair.
Question 3: During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which structure must be
clearly identified and isolated within the critical view of safety before
clipping and division?
Page 1 of 90
,A. Common hepatic duct
B. Cystic duct and cystic artery
C. Right hepatic artery
D. Portal vein
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Cystic duct and cystic artery
Page 2 of 90
,Rationale: The critical view of safety requires clear visualization of the cystic
duct and cystic artery entering the gallbladder, with the hepatocystic triangle
cleared of tissue, to minimize the risk of bile duct injury.
Question 4: Which of the following instrument sets is most appropriate for a
standard open appendectomy?
A. Major abdominal set with self-retaining retractors
B. Minor procedure tray with basic soft-tissue instruments
C. Thoracic instrument set with rib spreaders
D. Vascular instrument set with bulldog clamps
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Minor procedure tray with basic soft-tissue
instruments
Rationale: An uncomplicated open appendectomy typically requires only a
minor soft-tissue set containing scalpels, forceps, scissors, retractors, and needle
holders, rather than specialized major or vascular instrumentation.
Question 5: The surgical assistant notices that a sterile package has a small
tear in the outer wrap but the inner wrap appears intact. What is the most
appropriate action?
A. Use the package after carefully inspecting the contents
B. Consider the package contaminated and discard it
C. Resterilize the package immediately using flash sterilization
D. Cover the tear with sterile tape and proceed
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Consider the package contaminated and discard it
Rationale: Any compromise of the sterile packaging barrier renders the contents
unsterile. The item must be discarded or reprocessed according to facility policy;
inspection or temporary repair is not acceptable.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the correct sequence for
donning sterile surgical attire after performing the surgical scrub?
A. Gown, gloves, mask, eye protection
B. Mask, eye protection, gown, gloves
C. Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
D. Eye protection, mask, gloves, gown
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Mask, eye protection, gown, gloves
Rationale: Personal protective equipment that is not sterile (mask and eye
protection) is applied before the sterile gown and gloves to maintain the sterile
field once the gown and gloves are donned.
Page 3 of 90
, Question 7: During a total hip arthroplasty, the surgical assistant is asked to
hold the leg in external rotation and adduction. This maneuver primarily
facilitates access to which structure?
A. Anterior acetabular wall
B. Posterior acetabular wall and greater trochanter
C. Femoral neck only
D. Iliac crest
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Posterior acetabular wall and greater trochanter
Rationale: External rotation and adduction of the hip improves exposure of the
posterior structures of the hip joint, including the greater trochanter and
posterior acetabulum, which is essential during posterior approaches.
Question 8: Which of the following is the most appropriate method for
counting sharps on the sterile field?
A. Counting only at the beginning and end of the procedure
B. Counting simultaneously with the circulating nurse at designated times using
a standardized process
C. Allowing the surgical technologist to count independently
D. Counting only instruments that have been used
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Counting simultaneously with the circulating nurse at
designated times using a standardized process
Rationale: Sharps counts must be performed concurrently by the scrub person
and circulating nurse at established intervals (before incision, at cavity closure,
at skin closure, and when relieving personnel) to ensure accuracy and patient
safety.
Question 9: In the context of electrosurgery, which type of current is
primarily used for cutting tissue with minimal thermal damage?
A. Coagulation current
B. Blend current
C. Pure cutting current
D. Fulgurating current
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Pure cutting current
Rationale: Pure cutting current produces a continuous waveform that vaporizes
tissue with relatively little lateral thermal spread, making it the preferred setting
when precise tissue division is required.
Question 10: Which of the following positions places the patient at greatest
risk for brachial plexus injury if improper padding or arm positioning
Page 4 of 90
