ABMDI DEMONSTRATING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
ACTUAL EXAM SCRIPT Questions with Correct Answers (Grade
A+)
Question 1: Manner of Death.
Answer:
1. A classification of death based on how the cause of death was brought into play
2. with the typical options being natural
3. accident
4. suicide
5. homicide
6. or undetermined
Question 2: Cause of Death Statement (Part I).
Answer:
1. Immediate cause of death
2. Intermediary cause of death
3. Underlying cause of death
Question 3: Immediate Cause of Death.
Answer: The condition that was last to occur, immediately resulted in the death, and was the result of the
underlying cause of death
Question 4: Intermediary Cause of Death.
Answer: A condition that was caused by the underlying cause of death and resulted in the immediate cause
of death or another intermediary cause of death
Question 5: Underlying Cause of Death.
Answer: The condition (disease or injury) that started the downhill course of events leading to death
Question 6: Cause of Death Statement (Part II).
Answer: Other significant conditions
Question 7: Other Significant Conditions.
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
Page 1
,Question 8: Terminal Events.
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)
Question 9: 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
Answer: Nonspecific Anatomic Processes (NAP's).
Question 10: 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
Answer: Nonspecific Physiologic Derangements (NPD's).
Question 11: 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?
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 Part II: OSC: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
Question 12: 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?
Answer:
1. Part I:
2. a. Ruptured esophageal varices
3. b. Due to: Cirrhosis of the liver
4. c. Due to: Chronic alcoholism
5. d. Due to:
6. Part II:
7. OSC:
Page 2
, Question 13: An individual obtained metastatic carcinoma of the prostate and died. How should the
death certificate be written?
Answer:
1. Part I:
2. a. Metastatic carcinoma of prostate
3. b. Due to:
4. c. Due to:
5. d: Due to:
6. Part II:
7. OSC:
Question 14: An individual had a past medical history of cryptococcal myocarditis. He recently
acquired immune deficiency syndrome and obtained pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and died. How
should the death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I: a. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia b. Due to: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome c.
Due to: d. Due to: Part II: OSC: Cryptococcal myocarditis (The myocarditis contributed to the death but did
not result in the conditions shown in Part I)
Question 15: An individual was involved in a traffic accident. He was the driver of the vehicle, lost
control, went left of the center and was struck head on by a sports utility vehicle. He obtained blunt
force trauma of thorax and had an atlanto-occipital dislocation and died. How should the death
certificate be written?
Answer: Part I: a. Atlanto-occipital dislocation b. Due to: Blunt force trauma of the head c. Due to:
Collision of motor vehicles d. Due to: Part II: OSC: Blunt force trauma of thorax Manner of Death:
Accident How Injury Occurred: Driver of car. Lost control. Went left of center. Struck head-on by sports
utility vehicle
Question 16: Algor Mortis.
Answer: Cooling of the body
Question 17: Variables Affecting Algor Mortis:.
Answer: Temperature of body at TOD Environmental temperature Habitus (fat serves as an insulator)
Amount of clothing/bedding
Question 18: Rigor Mortis.
Answer: Stiffening of the body
Question 19: Cause of Rigor Mortis:.
Answer: Continued consumption of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by muscles after death, without
concurrent production of ATP
Page 3
ACTUAL EXAM SCRIPT Questions with Correct Answers (Grade
A+)
Question 1: Manner of Death.
Answer:
1. A classification of death based on how the cause of death was brought into play
2. with the typical options being natural
3. accident
4. suicide
5. homicide
6. or undetermined
Question 2: Cause of Death Statement (Part I).
Answer:
1. Immediate cause of death
2. Intermediary cause of death
3. Underlying cause of death
Question 3: Immediate Cause of Death.
Answer: The condition that was last to occur, immediately resulted in the death, and was the result of the
underlying cause of death
Question 4: Intermediary Cause of Death.
Answer: A condition that was caused by the underlying cause of death and resulted in the immediate cause
of death or another intermediary cause of death
Question 5: Underlying Cause of Death.
Answer: The condition (disease or injury) that started the downhill course of events leading to death
Question 6: Cause of Death Statement (Part II).
Answer: Other significant conditions
Question 7: Other Significant Conditions.
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
Page 1
,Question 8: Terminal Events.
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)
Question 9: 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
Answer: Nonspecific Anatomic Processes (NAP's).
Question 10: 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
Answer: Nonspecific Physiologic Derangements (NPD's).
Question 11: 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?
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 Part II: OSC: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
Question 12: 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?
Answer:
1. Part I:
2. a. Ruptured esophageal varices
3. b. Due to: Cirrhosis of the liver
4. c. Due to: Chronic alcoholism
5. d. Due to:
6. Part II:
7. OSC:
Page 2
, Question 13: An individual obtained metastatic carcinoma of the prostate and died. How should the
death certificate be written?
Answer:
1. Part I:
2. a. Metastatic carcinoma of prostate
3. b. Due to:
4. c. Due to:
5. d: Due to:
6. Part II:
7. OSC:
Question 14: An individual had a past medical history of cryptococcal myocarditis. He recently
acquired immune deficiency syndrome and obtained pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and died. How
should the death certificate be written?
Answer: Part I: a. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia b. Due to: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome c.
Due to: d. Due to: Part II: OSC: Cryptococcal myocarditis (The myocarditis contributed to the death but did
not result in the conditions shown in Part I)
Question 15: An individual was involved in a traffic accident. He was the driver of the vehicle, lost
control, went left of the center and was struck head on by a sports utility vehicle. He obtained blunt
force trauma of thorax and had an atlanto-occipital dislocation and died. How should the death
certificate be written?
Answer: Part I: a. Atlanto-occipital dislocation b. Due to: Blunt force trauma of the head c. Due to:
Collision of motor vehicles d. Due to: Part II: OSC: Blunt force trauma of thorax Manner of Death:
Accident How Injury Occurred: Driver of car. Lost control. Went left of center. Struck head-on by sports
utility vehicle
Question 16: Algor Mortis.
Answer: Cooling of the body
Question 17: Variables Affecting Algor Mortis:.
Answer: Temperature of body at TOD Environmental temperature Habitus (fat serves as an insulator)
Amount of clothing/bedding
Question 18: Rigor Mortis.
Answer: Stiffening of the body
Question 19: Cause of Rigor Mortis:.
Answer: Continued consumption of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by muscles after death, without
concurrent production of ATP
Page 3
