Elsevier MA
ELSEVIER MEDICAL ASSISTANT (MA) VERIFIED
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - LATEST
VERSION 2026/2027
ELSEVIER MEDICAL ASSISTANT (MA)
.
1. The suffix "-ectomy" means:
A. Surgical incision
B. Surgical repair
C. Surgical removal
D. Visual examination
ANSWER : C. Surgical removal
-ectomy denotes excision or removal, as in appendectomy.
2. Which term describes inflammation of the liver?
A. Gastritis
B. Cholecystitis
C. Nephritis
D. Hepatitis
ANSWER : D. Hepatitis
Hepat/o refers to the liver and -itis indicates inflammation.
Page 1 of 51
, Elsevier MA
3. The prefix "brady-" means:
A. Difficult
B. Painful
C. Fast
D. Slow
ANSWER : D. Slow
Brady- means slow, as in bradycardia (heart rate below 60 bpm).
4. A patient with dyspnea is experiencing:
A. Difficult breathing
B. Difficult swallowing
C. Painful urination
D. Absence of menstruation
ANSWER : A. Difficult breathing
Dys- means difficult and -pnea refers to breathing.
5. Which body plane divides the body into right and left portions?
A. Frontal
B. Transverse
C. Sagittal
D. Coronal
ANSWER : C. Sagittal
The sagittal plane runs vertically front to back, splitting right from left.
6. The term "distal" refers to a point:
A. Toward the head
B. Closer to the point of attachment
C. Toward the midline
D. Farther from the point of attachment
ANSWER : D. Farther from the point of attachment
Distal is the opposite of proximal; the wrist is distal to the elbow.
Page 2 of 51
, Elsevier MA
7. Which organ produces insulin?
A. Pancreas
B. Adrenal gland
C. Liver
D. Thyroid gland
ANSWER : A. Pancreas
Beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans secrete insulin.
8. The largest artery in the human body is the:
A. Femoral artery
B. Pulmonary artery
C. Aorta
D. Carotid artery
ANSWER : C. Aorta
The aorta carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the systemic
circulation.
9. Which chamber of the heart pumps blood into the systemic
circulation?
A. Left atrium
B. Right atrium
C. Left ventricle
D. Right ventricle
ANSWER : C. Left ventricle
The left ventricle has the thickest wall and pushes blood into the aorta.
10. The abbreviation "NPO" means:
A. No pain observed
B. Normal pulse ordered
C. Not previously ordered
D. Nothing by mouth
ANSWER : D. Nothing by mouth
NPO comes from the Latin nil per os.
Page 3 of 51
, Elsevier MA
11. Which term refers to a blood clot that travels through the
bloodstream?
A. Embolus
B. Thrombus
C. Aneurysm
D. Hematoma
ANSWER : A. Embolus
A thrombus is stationary; once dislodged and moving it becomes an
embolus.
12. The functional unit of the kidney is the:
A. Glomerulus only
B. Neuron
C. Nephron
D. Alveolus
ANSWER : C. Nephron
Each kidney holds about a million nephrons that filter blood and form
urine.
13. Which gland is known as the "master gland"?
A. Thyroid
B. Adrenal
C. Pineal
D. Pituitary
ANSWER : D. Pituitary
The pituitary regulates many other endocrine glands through its
hormones.
14. The combining form "oste/o" refers to:
A. Muscle
B. Joint
C. Cartilage
D. Bone
ANSWER : D. Bone
Oste/o means bone, as in osteoporosis.
Page 4 of 51
ELSEVIER MEDICAL ASSISTANT (MA) VERIFIED
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - LATEST
VERSION 2026/2027
ELSEVIER MEDICAL ASSISTANT (MA)
.
1. The suffix "-ectomy" means:
A. Surgical incision
B. Surgical repair
C. Surgical removal
D. Visual examination
ANSWER : C. Surgical removal
-ectomy denotes excision or removal, as in appendectomy.
2. Which term describes inflammation of the liver?
A. Gastritis
B. Cholecystitis
C. Nephritis
D. Hepatitis
ANSWER : D. Hepatitis
Hepat/o refers to the liver and -itis indicates inflammation.
Page 1 of 51
, Elsevier MA
3. The prefix "brady-" means:
A. Difficult
B. Painful
C. Fast
D. Slow
ANSWER : D. Slow
Brady- means slow, as in bradycardia (heart rate below 60 bpm).
4. A patient with dyspnea is experiencing:
A. Difficult breathing
B. Difficult swallowing
C. Painful urination
D. Absence of menstruation
ANSWER : A. Difficult breathing
Dys- means difficult and -pnea refers to breathing.
5. Which body plane divides the body into right and left portions?
A. Frontal
B. Transverse
C. Sagittal
D. Coronal
ANSWER : C. Sagittal
The sagittal plane runs vertically front to back, splitting right from left.
6. The term "distal" refers to a point:
A. Toward the head
B. Closer to the point of attachment
C. Toward the midline
D. Farther from the point of attachment
ANSWER : D. Farther from the point of attachment
Distal is the opposite of proximal; the wrist is distal to the elbow.
Page 2 of 51
, Elsevier MA
7. Which organ produces insulin?
A. Pancreas
B. Adrenal gland
C. Liver
D. Thyroid gland
ANSWER : A. Pancreas
Beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans secrete insulin.
8. The largest artery in the human body is the:
A. Femoral artery
B. Pulmonary artery
C. Aorta
D. Carotid artery
ANSWER : C. Aorta
The aorta carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the systemic
circulation.
9. Which chamber of the heart pumps blood into the systemic
circulation?
A. Left atrium
B. Right atrium
C. Left ventricle
D. Right ventricle
ANSWER : C. Left ventricle
The left ventricle has the thickest wall and pushes blood into the aorta.
10. The abbreviation "NPO" means:
A. No pain observed
B. Normal pulse ordered
C. Not previously ordered
D. Nothing by mouth
ANSWER : D. Nothing by mouth
NPO comes from the Latin nil per os.
Page 3 of 51
, Elsevier MA
11. Which term refers to a blood clot that travels through the
bloodstream?
A. Embolus
B. Thrombus
C. Aneurysm
D. Hematoma
ANSWER : A. Embolus
A thrombus is stationary; once dislodged and moving it becomes an
embolus.
12. The functional unit of the kidney is the:
A. Glomerulus only
B. Neuron
C. Nephron
D. Alveolus
ANSWER : C. Nephron
Each kidney holds about a million nephrons that filter blood and form
urine.
13. Which gland is known as the "master gland"?
A. Thyroid
B. Adrenal
C. Pineal
D. Pituitary
ANSWER : D. Pituitary
The pituitary regulates many other endocrine glands through its
hormones.
14. The combining form "oste/o" refers to:
A. Muscle
B. Joint
C. Cartilage
D. Bone
ANSWER : D. Bone
Oste/o means bone, as in osteoporosis.
Page 4 of 51
