CAA – Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
CAA - CERTIFIED ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT | COMPLETE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026/2027
CERTIFIED ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT (CAA)
1. Which nerve provides the motor supply to the diaphragm?
A. Intercostal nerves (T1–T11)
B. Long thoracic nerve (C5–C7)
C. Phrenic nerve (C3–C5)
D. Vagus nerve (cranial nerve X)
C. Phrenic nerve (C3–C5)
The phrenic nerve arises from C3, C4, and C5 and is the sole motor supply to
the diaphragm.
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, CAA – Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
2. A rightward shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is produced by
which change?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Increased body temperature
C. Decreased 2,3-DPG
D. Decreased PaCO2
B. Increased body temperature
Heat, acidosis, hypercarbia, and higher 2,3-DPG all reduce hemoglobin's
affinity for oxygen and shift the curve to the right.
3. The normal P50 of adult hemoglobin is approximately:
A. 26–27 mmHg
B. 60–61 mmHg
C. 15–16 mmHg
D. 40–41 mmHg
A. 26–27 mmHg
P50 is the PO2 at which hemoglobin is 50% saturated, and in a healthy adult it
is about 26–27 mmHg.
4. Cerebral autoregulation keeps cerebral blood flow relatively constant
across a mean arterial pressure range of about:
A. 20–60 mmHg
B. 80–200 mmHg
C. 50–150 mmHg
D. 100–180 mmHg
C. 50–150 mmHg
Between roughly 50 and 150 mmHg, cerebral arterioles adjust their tone to
hold flow steady; chronic hypertension shifts the curve to the right.
5. What is the effect of acute hypocapnia on the cerebral vasculature?
A. Vasoconstriction with reduced cerebral blood flow
B. No effect on vessel caliber
C. Vasodilation with increased cerebral blood flow
D. Loss of autoregulation with increased flow
A. Vasoconstriction with reduced cerebral blood flow
Cerebral blood flow varies directly with PaCO2, so hyperventilation constricts
cerebral vessels and lowers flow and intracranial pressure.
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, CAA – Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
6. Which laryngeal muscle is the only abductor of the vocal cords?
A. Thyroarytenoid
B. Lateral cricoarytenoid
C. Cricothyroid
D. Posterior cricoarytenoid
D. Posterior cricoarytenoid
The posterior cricoarytenoid opens the glottis; the others adduct or tense the
cords.
7. The cricothyroid muscle, which tenses the vocal cords, is supplied by the:
A. Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
B. External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
C. Glossopharyngeal nerve
D. Recurrent laryngeal nerve
B. External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
All intrinsic laryngeal muscles are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve
except the cricothyroid, which is supplied by the external superior laryngeal
branch.
8. Bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury most characteristically presents
with:
A. Isolated mild hoarseness
B. Loss of sensation above the cords
C. Inability to tense the vocal cords
D. Stridor and airway obstruction
D. Stridor and airway obstruction
With both cords paralyzed near the midline the glottic opening is narrowed,
producing stridor and possible airway compromise.
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, CAA – Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
9. The internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve provides sensation to
the:
A. Larynx above the vocal cords
B. Trachea below the vocal cords
C. Anterior two-thirds of the tongue
D. Nasal mucosa
A. Larynx above the vocal cords
The internal superior laryngeal branch is sensory to the supraglottic region,
while the recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies sensation below the cords.
10. In an adult, the cricoid cartilage lies at approximately which vertebral
level?
A. T2
B. C3
C. C4
D. C6
D. C6
The hyoid sits near C3, the thyroid cartilage near C4–C5, and the cricoid at
about C6.
11. Functional residual capacity is the sum of:
A. Tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume
B. Expiratory reserve volume and residual volume
C. Inspiratory reserve volume and expiratory reserve volume
D. Residual volume and tidal volume
B. Expiratory reserve volume and residual volume
FRC is the volume left in the lungs after a normal passive exhalation, equal to
ERV plus RV.
12. Which lung volume cannot be measured by simple spirometry?
A. Tidal volume
B. Residual volume
C. Vital capacity
D. Inspiratory capacity
B. Residual volume
Residual volume stays in the lungs after maximal exhalation and needs helium
dilution, nitrogen washout, or plethysmography.
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CAA - CERTIFIED ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT | COMPLETE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026/2027
CERTIFIED ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT (CAA)
1. Which nerve provides the motor supply to the diaphragm?
A. Intercostal nerves (T1–T11)
B. Long thoracic nerve (C5–C7)
C. Phrenic nerve (C3–C5)
D. Vagus nerve (cranial nerve X)
C. Phrenic nerve (C3–C5)
The phrenic nerve arises from C3, C4, and C5 and is the sole motor supply to
the diaphragm.
Page 1
, CAA – Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
2. A rightward shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is produced by
which change?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Increased body temperature
C. Decreased 2,3-DPG
D. Decreased PaCO2
B. Increased body temperature
Heat, acidosis, hypercarbia, and higher 2,3-DPG all reduce hemoglobin's
affinity for oxygen and shift the curve to the right.
3. The normal P50 of adult hemoglobin is approximately:
A. 26–27 mmHg
B. 60–61 mmHg
C. 15–16 mmHg
D. 40–41 mmHg
A. 26–27 mmHg
P50 is the PO2 at which hemoglobin is 50% saturated, and in a healthy adult it
is about 26–27 mmHg.
4. Cerebral autoregulation keeps cerebral blood flow relatively constant
across a mean arterial pressure range of about:
A. 20–60 mmHg
B. 80–200 mmHg
C. 50–150 mmHg
D. 100–180 mmHg
C. 50–150 mmHg
Between roughly 50 and 150 mmHg, cerebral arterioles adjust their tone to
hold flow steady; chronic hypertension shifts the curve to the right.
5. What is the effect of acute hypocapnia on the cerebral vasculature?
A. Vasoconstriction with reduced cerebral blood flow
B. No effect on vessel caliber
C. Vasodilation with increased cerebral blood flow
D. Loss of autoregulation with increased flow
A. Vasoconstriction with reduced cerebral blood flow
Cerebral blood flow varies directly with PaCO2, so hyperventilation constricts
cerebral vessels and lowers flow and intracranial pressure.
Page 2
, CAA – Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
6. Which laryngeal muscle is the only abductor of the vocal cords?
A. Thyroarytenoid
B. Lateral cricoarytenoid
C. Cricothyroid
D. Posterior cricoarytenoid
D. Posterior cricoarytenoid
The posterior cricoarytenoid opens the glottis; the others adduct or tense the
cords.
7. The cricothyroid muscle, which tenses the vocal cords, is supplied by the:
A. Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
B. External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
C. Glossopharyngeal nerve
D. Recurrent laryngeal nerve
B. External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
All intrinsic laryngeal muscles are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve
except the cricothyroid, which is supplied by the external superior laryngeal
branch.
8. Bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury most characteristically presents
with:
A. Isolated mild hoarseness
B. Loss of sensation above the cords
C. Inability to tense the vocal cords
D. Stridor and airway obstruction
D. Stridor and airway obstruction
With both cords paralyzed near the midline the glottic opening is narrowed,
producing stridor and possible airway compromise.
Page 3
, CAA – Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
9. The internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve provides sensation to
the:
A. Larynx above the vocal cords
B. Trachea below the vocal cords
C. Anterior two-thirds of the tongue
D. Nasal mucosa
A. Larynx above the vocal cords
The internal superior laryngeal branch is sensory to the supraglottic region,
while the recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies sensation below the cords.
10. In an adult, the cricoid cartilage lies at approximately which vertebral
level?
A. T2
B. C3
C. C4
D. C6
D. C6
The hyoid sits near C3, the thyroid cartilage near C4–C5, and the cricoid at
about C6.
11. Functional residual capacity is the sum of:
A. Tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume
B. Expiratory reserve volume and residual volume
C. Inspiratory reserve volume and expiratory reserve volume
D. Residual volume and tidal volume
B. Expiratory reserve volume and residual volume
FRC is the volume left in the lungs after a normal passive exhalation, equal to
ERV plus RV.
12. Which lung volume cannot be measured by simple spirometry?
A. Tidal volume
B. Residual volume
C. Vital capacity
D. Inspiratory capacity
B. Residual volume
Residual volume stays in the lungs after maximal exhalation and needs helium
dilution, nitrogen washout, or plethysmography.
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