AMCA CMAC PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
The opening inside the skull that holds the brain is the:
a. Cranial cavity
b. Orbital cavity
c. Nasal cavity
d. Thoracic cavity - Answers - *The dorsal cavity is divided into the cranial cavity (which
houses the brain)
The answer is: Cranial cavity
A crime punishable by a fine or imprisonment for less than one year is known as a:
a. Misdemeanor
b. Arbitration
c. Felony
d. Mitigation - Answers - *Misdemeanors are less serious crimes than felonies and re
punishable by fines or imprisonment up to a year or less.
The correct answer is: Misdemeanor
Professional negligence is also called:
a. Malfunction
b. Arbitration
c. Malice
d. Malpractice - Answers - Medical negligence is commonly known as malpractice
The correct answer is: Malpractice
Under which of the following circumstances is it permissible to release information from
a patient's records?
a. When the physician calls to request it
b. When the patient signs a release
c. When the insurance company signs a release
d. When the patient has signed a living will - Answers - *Information can be released
only after a patient signs a release statement
The correct answer is: When the patient signs a release
This cavity contains the heart and lungs, among other organs.
a. Thoracic
b. Cranial
c. Orbital
,d. Nasal - Answers - *The thoracic cavity contains the lungs, heart, esophagus and
trachea
The correct answer is: Thoracic
Located near the back of the body, this body cavity is a continuous internal opening that
includes the cranial and spinal cavities.
a. Posterior (dorsal) cavity
b. Transverse plane
c. Pelvic cavity
d. Abdominal cavity - Answers - *The dorsal cavity is divided into the cranial cavity and
the spinal cavity
The correct answer is: Posterior (dorsal) cavity
This is the scrubbing of instruments with special brushes and detergents to remove
blood, mucous, etc.
a. Sterilization
b. Sanitization
c. Distillation
d. Disinfection - Answers - *Sanitization is the scrubbing of instruments and equipment
with special brushes and detergents to remove blood, mucous and other contaminants
The correct answer is: Sanitization
This is the process that involves a soaking or wiping process and inhibits the activity of
disease-causing organisms.
a. Sterilization
b. Sanitizing
c. Disinfection
d. Treated with antiseptics - Answers - *Disinfection is the process that destroys most
micro organisms; however it cannot kill all
The correct answer is: Disinfection
The process used for supplies that would come in contact with internal body tissue or an
open wound. It involves the use of heat (steam) and an autoclave.
a. Disinfection
b. Sterilization
c. Surgical Asepsis
d. Sanitization - Answers - *Sterilization is required for all instruments and supplies that
will penetrate a patient's skin. Sterilization usually involves an autoclave or chemical
(cold) process
The correct answer is: Sterilization
,You are taking vitals on a patient and they complain that they have dizziness every once
in a while. What type of symptom is this?
a. Familial
b. Subjective
c. Objective
d. Social - Answers - *Subjective date is obtained from a conversation with the patient
The correct answer is: Subjective
You are taking vitals on a patient and they complain their right eye is throbbing. Their
right eye is swollen and bruised. What type of symptom is this?
a. Familial
b. Subjective
c. Social
d. Objective - Answers - *Objective data is readily apparent and measurable
The correct answer is: Objective
Which of the following items is the most important for assistive personnel to keep in
mind during their daily routine in medical settings?
a. Burglary
b. Confidentiality
c. Privilege granted to a physician
d. Consent - Answers - *In the Standard of Care the first item the medical assistant
should uphold is maintaining confidentiality
The correct answer is: Confidentiality
In which of the following situations is it permissible to release information from a
patient's records?
a. When the patient's employer requests it
b. When an attorney requests it
c. When a court requests it by means of a subpoena
d. When the patient's best friend requests it - Answers - *The law may require the
physician to release the record when a court subpoenas it
The correct answer is: When a court requests it by means of a subpoena
If you are recording a patient's height and are using centimeters, what is the conversion
formula to go from centimeters to inches?
a. Mulitply by 2.5
b. Subtract 2.5 from the number
c. Divide by 2.5
d. Add 2.5 to the number - Answers - *To go from CM to inches, the formula would be
____ CM ÷2.54 = Inches
, The correct answer is: Divide by 2.5
You are taking the vitals of a patient with pneumonia. The patient coughs near your
face. What could you have done to minimize the risk of contracting the disease?
a. Put on goggles before entering the room
b. Sterilize the examination room
c. Wash your face as soon as the incident occurs.
d. Ask the patient to look the other way while coughing - Answers - *According to
Standard Precautions, the use of PPE in addition to cough etiquette includes covering
mouth and providing at least 3 feet of space between persons
The correct answer is: Ask the patient to look the other way while coughing
Which of the following liquids is used in an autoclave to sterilize instruments and
supplies?
a. Alcohol
b. Sterile water
c. Tap water
d. Distilled water - Answers - When filling an autoclave, distilled water is best
The correct answer is: Distilled water
Which of the following is one of the six C's of charting?
a. Consult
b. Clerical
c. Counsel
d. Client's words - Answers - **The six C's of charting include client's words, clarity,
completeness, conciseness, chronological order and confidentiality
The correct answer is: Client's words
Which suture size listed below is the thickest?
a. 1-0
b. 5-0
c. 7-0
d. 0-0 - Answers - **Suture materials come in thicknesses ranging from size 11-0
(smallest) to size 7 (largest)
The correct answer is: 0-0
The patient has a history of cardiovascular disease. Which of the following tests would
not be used as a screening procedure?
a. Chest x-ray
b. Colonoscopy
c. Blood work
ANSWERS
The opening inside the skull that holds the brain is the:
a. Cranial cavity
b. Orbital cavity
c. Nasal cavity
d. Thoracic cavity - Answers - *The dorsal cavity is divided into the cranial cavity (which
houses the brain)
The answer is: Cranial cavity
A crime punishable by a fine or imprisonment for less than one year is known as a:
a. Misdemeanor
b. Arbitration
c. Felony
d. Mitigation - Answers - *Misdemeanors are less serious crimes than felonies and re
punishable by fines or imprisonment up to a year or less.
The correct answer is: Misdemeanor
Professional negligence is also called:
a. Malfunction
b. Arbitration
c. Malice
d. Malpractice - Answers - Medical negligence is commonly known as malpractice
The correct answer is: Malpractice
Under which of the following circumstances is it permissible to release information from
a patient's records?
a. When the physician calls to request it
b. When the patient signs a release
c. When the insurance company signs a release
d. When the patient has signed a living will - Answers - *Information can be released
only after a patient signs a release statement
The correct answer is: When the patient signs a release
This cavity contains the heart and lungs, among other organs.
a. Thoracic
b. Cranial
c. Orbital
,d. Nasal - Answers - *The thoracic cavity contains the lungs, heart, esophagus and
trachea
The correct answer is: Thoracic
Located near the back of the body, this body cavity is a continuous internal opening that
includes the cranial and spinal cavities.
a. Posterior (dorsal) cavity
b. Transverse plane
c. Pelvic cavity
d. Abdominal cavity - Answers - *The dorsal cavity is divided into the cranial cavity and
the spinal cavity
The correct answer is: Posterior (dorsal) cavity
This is the scrubbing of instruments with special brushes and detergents to remove
blood, mucous, etc.
a. Sterilization
b. Sanitization
c. Distillation
d. Disinfection - Answers - *Sanitization is the scrubbing of instruments and equipment
with special brushes and detergents to remove blood, mucous and other contaminants
The correct answer is: Sanitization
This is the process that involves a soaking or wiping process and inhibits the activity of
disease-causing organisms.
a. Sterilization
b. Sanitizing
c. Disinfection
d. Treated with antiseptics - Answers - *Disinfection is the process that destroys most
micro organisms; however it cannot kill all
The correct answer is: Disinfection
The process used for supplies that would come in contact with internal body tissue or an
open wound. It involves the use of heat (steam) and an autoclave.
a. Disinfection
b. Sterilization
c. Surgical Asepsis
d. Sanitization - Answers - *Sterilization is required for all instruments and supplies that
will penetrate a patient's skin. Sterilization usually involves an autoclave or chemical
(cold) process
The correct answer is: Sterilization
,You are taking vitals on a patient and they complain that they have dizziness every once
in a while. What type of symptom is this?
a. Familial
b. Subjective
c. Objective
d. Social - Answers - *Subjective date is obtained from a conversation with the patient
The correct answer is: Subjective
You are taking vitals on a patient and they complain their right eye is throbbing. Their
right eye is swollen and bruised. What type of symptom is this?
a. Familial
b. Subjective
c. Social
d. Objective - Answers - *Objective data is readily apparent and measurable
The correct answer is: Objective
Which of the following items is the most important for assistive personnel to keep in
mind during their daily routine in medical settings?
a. Burglary
b. Confidentiality
c. Privilege granted to a physician
d. Consent - Answers - *In the Standard of Care the first item the medical assistant
should uphold is maintaining confidentiality
The correct answer is: Confidentiality
In which of the following situations is it permissible to release information from a
patient's records?
a. When the patient's employer requests it
b. When an attorney requests it
c. When a court requests it by means of a subpoena
d. When the patient's best friend requests it - Answers - *The law may require the
physician to release the record when a court subpoenas it
The correct answer is: When a court requests it by means of a subpoena
If you are recording a patient's height and are using centimeters, what is the conversion
formula to go from centimeters to inches?
a. Mulitply by 2.5
b. Subtract 2.5 from the number
c. Divide by 2.5
d. Add 2.5 to the number - Answers - *To go from CM to inches, the formula would be
____ CM ÷2.54 = Inches
, The correct answer is: Divide by 2.5
You are taking the vitals of a patient with pneumonia. The patient coughs near your
face. What could you have done to minimize the risk of contracting the disease?
a. Put on goggles before entering the room
b. Sterilize the examination room
c. Wash your face as soon as the incident occurs.
d. Ask the patient to look the other way while coughing - Answers - *According to
Standard Precautions, the use of PPE in addition to cough etiquette includes covering
mouth and providing at least 3 feet of space between persons
The correct answer is: Ask the patient to look the other way while coughing
Which of the following liquids is used in an autoclave to sterilize instruments and
supplies?
a. Alcohol
b. Sterile water
c. Tap water
d. Distilled water - Answers - When filling an autoclave, distilled water is best
The correct answer is: Distilled water
Which of the following is one of the six C's of charting?
a. Consult
b. Clerical
c. Counsel
d. Client's words - Answers - **The six C's of charting include client's words, clarity,
completeness, conciseness, chronological order and confidentiality
The correct answer is: Client's words
Which suture size listed below is the thickest?
a. 1-0
b. 5-0
c. 7-0
d. 0-0 - Answers - **Suture materials come in thicknesses ranging from size 11-0
(smallest) to size 7 (largest)
The correct answer is: 0-0
The patient has a history of cardiovascular disease. Which of the following tests would
not be used as a screening procedure?
a. Chest x-ray
b. Colonoscopy
c. Blood work
