TECH IN SURGERY – CERTIFIED (TS-C) EXAM PREP 2026
Latest Comprehensive Study Guide with Practice
Questions, Comprehensive Surgical Technologist
Review, Detailed Explanations, Verified Answers,
Complete Success Workbook
Key Content Areas
The TS-C exam covers:
• Medical Terminology and Anatomy: Word structures, body systems,
directional terms, system pathologies
• Asepsis and Infection Control: Infectious processes, pathogenic
microorganisms, wound healing, sanitation, disinfection, sterilization
• Pharmacology: Drug groups, metric conversions, medication
administration
• OSHA and Safety: Universal precautions, PPE, biohazardous materials,
fire safety, CDC guidelines
• Surgical Environment: OR knowledge, scrub/gown/glove techniques,
patient prepping, medical law and ethics
• Perioperative Procedures: Surgical instrumentation, patient transfer,
prepping and positioning, draping, hemostasis, sutures, counts,
specimen handling
• Instruments and Sterilization: Instrument identification, handling,
arrangement, decontamination, sterilization methods
SECTION 1: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY, ANATOMY, AND BASIC SCIENCE
(Questions 1-15)
Question 1
,The suffix "-ectomy" in medical terminology means:
A) Surgical repair
B) Surgical removal
C) Incision into
D) Creation of an opening
E) Visual examination
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" means surgical removal or excision (e.g.,
appendectomy = removal of the appendix). "-plasty" (A) means surgical
repair. "-otomy" (C) means incision into. "-ostomy" (D) means creation of an
opening. "-scopy" (E) means visual examination.
Question 2
The anatomical term "superior" means:
A) Toward the head or above
B) Toward the feet or below
C) Toward the front
D) Toward the back
E) Toward the midline
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: "Superior" means toward the head or above another structure.
"Inferior" (B) means toward the feet or below. "Anterior" (C) means toward
the front. "Posterior" (D) means toward the back. "Medial" (E) means toward
the midline.
Question 3
The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is:
,A) 40-60 beats per minute
B) 60-100 beats per minute
C) 100-120 beats per minute
D) 120-140 beats per minute
E) 140-160 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is 60-100 beats
per minute. A rate below 60 bpm is bradycardia; a rate above 100 bpm is
tachycardia.
Question 4
Which abdominal quadrant contains the appendix?
A) Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
B) Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
C) Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
D) Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
E) Epigastric region
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The appendix is located in the right lower quadrant (RLQ) of the
abdomen. The right upper quadrant (A) contains the liver and gallbladder.
The left upper quadrant (B) contains the stomach and spleen. The left lower
quadrant (D) contains the sigmoid colon. The epigastric region (E) is in the
upper midline.
Question 5
Which of the following is a normal finding for adult respiratory rate?
A) 4-8 breaths per minute
B) 8-12 breaths per minute
, C) 12-20 breaths per minute
D) 20-28 breaths per minute
E) 28-36 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute.
Rates below 12 bpm indicate bradypnea; rates above 20 bpm indicate
tachypnea.
Question 6
The medical term for inflammation of the peritoneum is:
A) Pericarditis
B) Peritonitis
C) Appendicitis
D) Cholecystitis
E) Diverticulitis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum (the lining of the
abdominal cavity). Pericarditis (A) is inflammation of the pericardium (heart
lining). Appendicitis (C) is inflammation of the appendix. Cholecystitis (D) is
inflammation of the gallbladder. Diverticulitis (E) is inflammation of
diverticula in the colon.
Question 7
The normal oxygen saturation (SpO₂) range for a healthy adult is:
A) 85-89%
B) 90-94%
C) 95-100%
Latest Comprehensive Study Guide with Practice
Questions, Comprehensive Surgical Technologist
Review, Detailed Explanations, Verified Answers,
Complete Success Workbook
Key Content Areas
The TS-C exam covers:
• Medical Terminology and Anatomy: Word structures, body systems,
directional terms, system pathologies
• Asepsis and Infection Control: Infectious processes, pathogenic
microorganisms, wound healing, sanitation, disinfection, sterilization
• Pharmacology: Drug groups, metric conversions, medication
administration
• OSHA and Safety: Universal precautions, PPE, biohazardous materials,
fire safety, CDC guidelines
• Surgical Environment: OR knowledge, scrub/gown/glove techniques,
patient prepping, medical law and ethics
• Perioperative Procedures: Surgical instrumentation, patient transfer,
prepping and positioning, draping, hemostasis, sutures, counts,
specimen handling
• Instruments and Sterilization: Instrument identification, handling,
arrangement, decontamination, sterilization methods
SECTION 1: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY, ANATOMY, AND BASIC SCIENCE
(Questions 1-15)
Question 1
,The suffix "-ectomy" in medical terminology means:
A) Surgical repair
B) Surgical removal
C) Incision into
D) Creation of an opening
E) Visual examination
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" means surgical removal or excision (e.g.,
appendectomy = removal of the appendix). "-plasty" (A) means surgical
repair. "-otomy" (C) means incision into. "-ostomy" (D) means creation of an
opening. "-scopy" (E) means visual examination.
Question 2
The anatomical term "superior" means:
A) Toward the head or above
B) Toward the feet or below
C) Toward the front
D) Toward the back
E) Toward the midline
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: "Superior" means toward the head or above another structure.
"Inferior" (B) means toward the feet or below. "Anterior" (C) means toward
the front. "Posterior" (D) means toward the back. "Medial" (E) means toward
the midline.
Question 3
The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is:
,A) 40-60 beats per minute
B) 60-100 beats per minute
C) 100-120 beats per minute
D) 120-140 beats per minute
E) 140-160 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is 60-100 beats
per minute. A rate below 60 bpm is bradycardia; a rate above 100 bpm is
tachycardia.
Question 4
Which abdominal quadrant contains the appendix?
A) Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
B) Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
C) Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
D) Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
E) Epigastric region
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The appendix is located in the right lower quadrant (RLQ) of the
abdomen. The right upper quadrant (A) contains the liver and gallbladder.
The left upper quadrant (B) contains the stomach and spleen. The left lower
quadrant (D) contains the sigmoid colon. The epigastric region (E) is in the
upper midline.
Question 5
Which of the following is a normal finding for adult respiratory rate?
A) 4-8 breaths per minute
B) 8-12 breaths per minute
, C) 12-20 breaths per minute
D) 20-28 breaths per minute
E) 28-36 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute.
Rates below 12 bpm indicate bradypnea; rates above 20 bpm indicate
tachypnea.
Question 6
The medical term for inflammation of the peritoneum is:
A) Pericarditis
B) Peritonitis
C) Appendicitis
D) Cholecystitis
E) Diverticulitis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum (the lining of the
abdominal cavity). Pericarditis (A) is inflammation of the pericardium (heart
lining). Appendicitis (C) is inflammation of the appendix. Cholecystitis (D) is
inflammation of the gallbladder. Diverticulitis (E) is inflammation of
diverticula in the colon.
Question 7
The normal oxygen saturation (SpO₂) range for a healthy adult is:
A) 85-89%
B) 90-94%
C) 95-100%
