CST EXAM QUESTIONS (VERSIONS A AND B) | 200
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS COVERING ALL
TESTED TOPICS
1. What is the primary purpose of applying a pneumatic tourniquet
during extremity surgery?
A) To prevent blood loss and provide a bloodless surgical field
B) To maintain patient body temperature
C) To reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis
D) To administer local anesthesia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A pneumatic tourniquet is applied to a proximal extremity to
occlude arterial blood flow, creating a bloodless surgical field that
improves visualization and reduces blood loss during procedures on
limbs. It is not used for temperature regulation, DVT prevention, or
anesthesia administration.
2. Which surgical position involves the patient lying face down with
the head supported?
A) Supine
B) Lithotomy
C) Prone
D) Lateral
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The prone position places the patient face down, commonly
used for posterior spinal procedures, rectal surgeries, and certain
neurosurgical approaches. The supine position is face up, lithotomy
involves legs in stirrups, and lateral is side-lying.
3. What type of suture is absorbable and derived from purified
collagen?
A) Silk
B) Nylon
C) Polyglactin 910 (Vicryl)
D) Chromic gut
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Chromic gut is an absorbable suture made from purified
collagen derived from bovine intestines, treated with chromium salts to
slow absorption. Silk and nylon are non-absorbable, while Vicryl is a
synthetic absorbable polymer.
4. The surgical technologist should open the sterile pack on which
surface?
A) The patient stretcher
B) The OR table
C) The back table
D) The Mayo stand
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The back table provides a stable, sterile surface for opening
surgical packs and arranging instruments. Opening on the OR table risks
contamination during patient positioning, and the Mayo stand is for
immediate-use instruments during surgery.
,5. Which of the following is considered a Class I (Clean) wound?
A) An elective hernia repair with no inflammation
B) A laparoscopic cholecystectomy with bile spillage
C) A bowel resection with fecal contamination
D) An abscess incision and drainage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A clean wound (Class I) is uninfected with no inflammation,
created under sterile conditions, and does not enter the respiratory,
alimentary, or genitourinary tracts. Bile spillage indicates contaminated,
bowel resection with feces is dirty, and abscess drainage is infected.
6. What is the normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult?
A) 40-60 beats per minute
B) 60-100 beats per minute
C) 100-140 beats per minute
D) 140-180 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal adult resting heart rate ranges from 60-100 beats
per minute. Bradycardia is below 60, and tachycardia exceeds 100.
Athletes may have lower resting rates.
7. Which instrument is used to grasp tissue and provide hemostasis by
crushing?
A) Babcock clamp
B) Allis clamp
C) Kocher clamp
D) Kelly clamp
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Kocher clamp is a crushing instrument with serrated
jaws and teeth, used to grasp heavy tissue and provide hemostasis.
, Babcock and Allis are non-crushing or traumatic graspers, while Kelly is
used for delicate tissue.
8. In which layer of the skin are sebaceous glands located?
A) Epidermis
B) Dermis
C) Subcutaneous tissue
D) Fascia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sebaceous glands are located in the dermis, the middle layer
of skin. They secrete sebum for lubrication. The epidermis is the
outermost layer, subcutaneous tissue contains fat, and fascia covers
muscles.
9. What is the first step in the event of an unanticipated count
discrepancy?
A) Inform the surgeon immediately
B) Request an X-ray
C) Perform a second count
D) Document the discrepancy in the patient's chart
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The first step when a count discrepancy occurs is to perform
a second, thorough search and count of the area. If still unresolved, the
surgeon is notified, and X-rays may be considered. Documentation
occurs after all steps are completed.
10. Which of the following is a normal resident flora of the human
intestinal tract?
A) Staphylococcus aureus
B) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS COVERING ALL
TESTED TOPICS
1. What is the primary purpose of applying a pneumatic tourniquet
during extremity surgery?
A) To prevent blood loss and provide a bloodless surgical field
B) To maintain patient body temperature
C) To reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis
D) To administer local anesthesia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A pneumatic tourniquet is applied to a proximal extremity to
occlude arterial blood flow, creating a bloodless surgical field that
improves visualization and reduces blood loss during procedures on
limbs. It is not used for temperature regulation, DVT prevention, or
anesthesia administration.
2. Which surgical position involves the patient lying face down with
the head supported?
A) Supine
B) Lithotomy
C) Prone
D) Lateral
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The prone position places the patient face down, commonly
used for posterior spinal procedures, rectal surgeries, and certain
neurosurgical approaches. The supine position is face up, lithotomy
involves legs in stirrups, and lateral is side-lying.
3. What type of suture is absorbable and derived from purified
collagen?
A) Silk
B) Nylon
C) Polyglactin 910 (Vicryl)
D) Chromic gut
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Chromic gut is an absorbable suture made from purified
collagen derived from bovine intestines, treated with chromium salts to
slow absorption. Silk and nylon are non-absorbable, while Vicryl is a
synthetic absorbable polymer.
4. The surgical technologist should open the sterile pack on which
surface?
A) The patient stretcher
B) The OR table
C) The back table
D) The Mayo stand
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The back table provides a stable, sterile surface for opening
surgical packs and arranging instruments. Opening on the OR table risks
contamination during patient positioning, and the Mayo stand is for
immediate-use instruments during surgery.
,5. Which of the following is considered a Class I (Clean) wound?
A) An elective hernia repair with no inflammation
B) A laparoscopic cholecystectomy with bile spillage
C) A bowel resection with fecal contamination
D) An abscess incision and drainage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A clean wound (Class I) is uninfected with no inflammation,
created under sterile conditions, and does not enter the respiratory,
alimentary, or genitourinary tracts. Bile spillage indicates contaminated,
bowel resection with feces is dirty, and abscess drainage is infected.
6. What is the normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult?
A) 40-60 beats per minute
B) 60-100 beats per minute
C) 100-140 beats per minute
D) 140-180 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal adult resting heart rate ranges from 60-100 beats
per minute. Bradycardia is below 60, and tachycardia exceeds 100.
Athletes may have lower resting rates.
7. Which instrument is used to grasp tissue and provide hemostasis by
crushing?
A) Babcock clamp
B) Allis clamp
C) Kocher clamp
D) Kelly clamp
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Kocher clamp is a crushing instrument with serrated
jaws and teeth, used to grasp heavy tissue and provide hemostasis.
, Babcock and Allis are non-crushing or traumatic graspers, while Kelly is
used for delicate tissue.
8. In which layer of the skin are sebaceous glands located?
A) Epidermis
B) Dermis
C) Subcutaneous tissue
D) Fascia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sebaceous glands are located in the dermis, the middle layer
of skin. They secrete sebum for lubrication. The epidermis is the
outermost layer, subcutaneous tissue contains fat, and fascia covers
muscles.
9. What is the first step in the event of an unanticipated count
discrepancy?
A) Inform the surgeon immediately
B) Request an X-ray
C) Perform a second count
D) Document the discrepancy in the patient's chart
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The first step when a count discrepancy occurs is to perform
a second, thorough search and count of the area. If still unresolved, the
surgeon is notified, and X-rays may be considered. Documentation
occurs after all steps are completed.
10. Which of the following is a normal resident flora of the human
intestinal tract?
A) Staphylococcus aureus
B) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
