COMPREHENSIVE NBE SCIENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.
TOP RATED EXAM STUDY GUIDE CURRENT
UPDATED 2026/2027
The lower jaw is commonly called the - ansMandible
According to the canon of beauty, the length of the head is divided into halves by: - ansthe
line of eye closure.
The facial marking which is classified as natural - ansLabiomental sulcus
The transverse dipping furrows of the anterior neck - ansPlatysmal sulci
The distance across base of nose is approximately the width of ________ eye(s). - ansOne
What are acceptable corrective treatments for protruding eyes? - ansExternal pressure,
aspiration of the cranial vault, and surgical reduction of fatty tissue.
Hypodermic injection of tissue builder is usually done - ansAfter embalming
The distance from the base of the nose to the base of the chin is approximately equal to the
distance from base of nose to - ansEyebrow
Another name for the occipital frontalis muscle - ansEpicranius
A prognathism which is the projection of the upper jaw - ansMaxillary prognathism
Another name for the square geometric head shape - ansStrong
What are considerations for the restoration following a penetrating wound? - ansapply wax to
surface, use filler to prevent leakage,
and embalming should be done with a strong preservative.
The color scheme of pigmentation which uses two complementary colors only, though this
may include tints and shades - ansComplementary color scheme
Another name for egg shaped geometric head shape - ansOval
The skin is composed of how many layers? - ans3
The bony landmark which marks the measurement of the widest part of the human face -
ansZygomatic arches
The color scheme of pigmentation using two adjacent hues plus their respective complements
- ansDouble complementary color scheme
The primary colors of the subtractive method of illumination - ansYellow, magenta, and blue-
green
The following muscles are part of the quadratus labii superiorus - ansLevator labii superiorus,
zygomaticus minor, levator labii superiorus alaque nasi
The least common form of facial profiles - ansConcave
As applies to color theory, the lightness or darkness of a color refers to the - ansValue
The tendinous chords connecting the atrio-ventricular valves of the heart to the papillary
muscles - ansChordae tendinae
Characteristics of the lymphatic system - ansInvolved with the immunological activity of the
body, filters out foreign matter in the lymph, returns escaped protein to the blood stream
What are the branches of the internal iliac arteries? - ansSuperior vesicular arteries, superior
gluteal arteries, inferior gluteal arteries
The 'moth-shaped' bone forming a portion of the floor of the cranial cavity - ansSphenoid
bone
The major muscle of respiration - ansDiaphragm
Most extrinsic muscles of the eyeball are innervated by - ansThe occulomotor nerve
The gonadal arteries are branches of the - ansAbdominal aorta
,COMPREHENSIVE NBE SCIENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.
TOP RATED EXAM STUDY GUIDE CURRENT
UPDATED 2026/2027
If a piece of muscle tissue has fibers which are branching and anastomosing in a continuous
network, which kind would it be? - ansCardiac muscle
The ileocolic artery provides some of the blood supply to - ansPart of the small intestine, the
appendix and the cecum
The longest anatomical unit of the alimentary canal - ansIleum
Veins below the level of the heart have - ansValves in them
What are examples of paired-bone sets in the face? - ansMaxilla, zygomatic bone, nasal bone
The thick middle layer of the heart wall - ansMyocardium
The superior border of "Scarpa's Triangle" - ansInguinal ligament
The veins from the organs of digestion drain into - ansThe portal vein
The vessel which originates on the lateral side of the hand, and terminates by becoming a
tributary to the superior portion of the axillary vein - ansCephalic vein
The 2nd branch of the aortic arch - ansLeft common carotid
The vertebral column consists of five regions. From superior to inferior, the number of bones
originally in each section (prior to fusion of some) - ans7,12,5,5,4
The structure leading from the urinary bladder to the outside - ansUrethra
The medial artery of the forearm between the elbow and wrist - ansUlnar artery
The vein that receives venous blood directly from the cranial cavity - ansInternal jugular vein
The separation of colloids from crystalloids by means of a semipermeable membrane -
ansDialysis
A saturated hydrocarbon; a hydrocarbon that has no carbon-carbon multiple bonds; formerly
called the paraffin (or methane) series. - ansAlkane
Polymers made up by linking together a number of similar but different small particles called
amino acids - ansProteins
Ca is the chemical symbol for - ansCalcium
When we employ compounds to prevent dehydration, we use - ansHumectants
Hydrogen can be generated by reacting water with what? - ansSodium
The basic unit of length in the metric system - ansMeter
Examples of embalming humectants - ansGlycerol and sorbitol.
Examples of inert (noble) gases - ansArgon, Neon, and Helium
Polymerization of formaldehyde in an arterial solution is inhibited by the addition of what? -
ansMethanol
Deamination occurs when what is broken off the amino acid? - ansAmino group
The flow of solvent through a semipermeable membrane with the solvent passing from a
dilute to a more concentrated solution - ansOsmosis
An organic compound that takes the general formula R-O-R is said to be - ansEther
Benzene is - ansCarbocyclic
Hydroxides change the color of - ansRed litmus to blue
If a solution is acid, what will its ph value be? - ansBelow seven
A ph value of 9 indicates that the solution contains an excess of - ansHydroxyl ions
An organic compound containing two aldehyde (-CHO) radicals. An example would include
the preservative glutaraldehyde normally found in some arterial fluids. - ansDialdehyde
,COMPREHENSIVE NBE SCIENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.
TOP RATED EXAM STUDY GUIDE CURRENT
UPDATED 2026/2027
Due to their action as both acids and bases; amino acids are said to be - ansAmphoteric
What is an example of a mold inhibitor? - ansParadichlorobenzene
Syneresis means - ansDrawing together to contract
An approach to infection control. This concepts dictates that all human blood and certain
body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other bloodborne
pathogens. - ansUniversal precautions
Assume your are preparing to embalm a normal body exhibiting the following conditions:
dead less than six hours, no edema, no chemotherapy, some livor mortis. Which of the
following is a reasonable treatment for said body? - ansThree to five gallons of preservative
solution may be injected (depending upon body size). There is no restriction on the selection
of vessels for injection & drainage. Inject mild to moderate solutions. Pre-injection may be
used.
The axillary artery terminates at the - ansLower border of teres major muscles
The presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious
materials on an item or surface. - ansContaminated
Which heart chamber receives venous blood returning from all body parts except the lungs? -
ansRight atrium
To clear the hand and fingers, an embalmer would select what artery as a secondary injection
point? - ansUlnar
From the center of the anterior surface of the ankle joint to a point between the first and
second toes is the linear guide for which artery - ansDorsalis pedis
A fluid used primarily to supplement and enhance the action of vascular (arterial) solutions. -
ansCo-injection fluid
If one made an incision between the tendons of the flexor carpi ulnaris and the flexor
digitorum superficialis muscle, the person would be attempting to find which artery -
ansUlnar
A two piece embalming instrument consisting of a handle and a blade used to make incisions
and excisions. - ansScalpel
Assume you are preparing to embalm a body exhibiting generalized edema. Which of the
following is a reasonable treatment for said body? - ansStart with solution strength above
normal; continue to increase.
One advantage in the use of the common carotid arteries as points of injection in arterial
embalming is - ansThey are close to the center of circulation
An embalming instrument that is used for blunt dissection and in raising vessels (contains no
eye in its structure). - ansAneurysm hook
The science of treating the body chemically so as to temporarily inhibit decomposition. -
ansTemporary preservation
Skatole, indole, cadaverine, and putrecine - ansAmines
According to the glossary, the body of a deceased person, including cremated remains. -
ansHuman remains
One example of a physical postmortem change is - ansAlgor mortis
, COMPREHENSIVE NBE SCIENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.
TOP RATED EXAM STUDY GUIDE CURRENT
UPDATED 2026/2027
Which of the following problems might an embalmer encounter when embalming a body
dead from acute myocardial infarction? - ansBlood clots
The time between exposure and active evidence of the disease - ansIncubation period
Substances produced by body cells to combat foreign proteins introduced into the living body
- ansAntibodies
A relative term describing one's ability to resist or overcome a harmful antigen, such as an
infecting bacterium or virus. - ansImmunity
Any infection that first weakens and lowers body resistance - ansPrimary infection
True fungi that reproduce by budding is which of the following - ansYeasts
What must obtain its material for energy generation from living material? - ansParasite
An infection lasting a long period of time - ansA chronic infection
When disease producing organisms have gained entrance, are multiplying, and producing
symptoms of the disease - ansAn infection
Septic sore throat is caused by - ansStreptococcus pyogenes
An injection of a vaccine or a detoxified product which stimulates antibody formation. -
ansArtificially acquired active
A foreign protein that when introduced into the body, excites the body cells to produce
antibodies against it is called a/an - ansAntigen
The genus of the bacteria responsible for cholera is - ansVibrio
Which of the following bacteria grow best at a relatively high temperature? -
ansThermophilic bacteria
An inherited immunity is called - ansInnate
The best temperature to produce greatest bacterial growth - ansOptimum
Which genus of bacteria can have a 'comma' shape? - ansVibrio
Any organism that can utilize inorganic matter as food - ansAutotroph
Bacteria with a spherical shape - ansCocci
Spherical shaped bacteria forming 'grape like' clusters are called? - ansStaphylococcus
The relationship of two organisms living together to the advantage of one without injury to
the other is designated by which one of the following terms? - ansCommensalism
On the basis of food requirements, why are some bacteria termed facultative organisms? -
ansThey can act as saprophyte or parasite
Irritating gases cause which type of inflammation? - ansChemical
An abnormal channel connecting two surfaces - ansFistula
Increase in the number of erythrocytes - ansPolycythemia
The prefix for the word flesh - ans"Sarco"
The escape of blood to the outside area of the dura mater is from an extradural hemorrhage. -
ansFalse
Which of the following causes Graves disease? - ansHyperthyroidism
A condition whereby the walls of the alveoli break down and become distended -
ansEmphysema
Spread of tumors through blood or lymph - ansMetastasis
Arteriosclerosis in the extremities may cause - ansCyanosis
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.
TOP RATED EXAM STUDY GUIDE CURRENT
UPDATED 2026/2027
The lower jaw is commonly called the - ansMandible
According to the canon of beauty, the length of the head is divided into halves by: - ansthe
line of eye closure.
The facial marking which is classified as natural - ansLabiomental sulcus
The transverse dipping furrows of the anterior neck - ansPlatysmal sulci
The distance across base of nose is approximately the width of ________ eye(s). - ansOne
What are acceptable corrective treatments for protruding eyes? - ansExternal pressure,
aspiration of the cranial vault, and surgical reduction of fatty tissue.
Hypodermic injection of tissue builder is usually done - ansAfter embalming
The distance from the base of the nose to the base of the chin is approximately equal to the
distance from base of nose to - ansEyebrow
Another name for the occipital frontalis muscle - ansEpicranius
A prognathism which is the projection of the upper jaw - ansMaxillary prognathism
Another name for the square geometric head shape - ansStrong
What are considerations for the restoration following a penetrating wound? - ansapply wax to
surface, use filler to prevent leakage,
and embalming should be done with a strong preservative.
The color scheme of pigmentation which uses two complementary colors only, though this
may include tints and shades - ansComplementary color scheme
Another name for egg shaped geometric head shape - ansOval
The skin is composed of how many layers? - ans3
The bony landmark which marks the measurement of the widest part of the human face -
ansZygomatic arches
The color scheme of pigmentation using two adjacent hues plus their respective complements
- ansDouble complementary color scheme
The primary colors of the subtractive method of illumination - ansYellow, magenta, and blue-
green
The following muscles are part of the quadratus labii superiorus - ansLevator labii superiorus,
zygomaticus minor, levator labii superiorus alaque nasi
The least common form of facial profiles - ansConcave
As applies to color theory, the lightness or darkness of a color refers to the - ansValue
The tendinous chords connecting the atrio-ventricular valves of the heart to the papillary
muscles - ansChordae tendinae
Characteristics of the lymphatic system - ansInvolved with the immunological activity of the
body, filters out foreign matter in the lymph, returns escaped protein to the blood stream
What are the branches of the internal iliac arteries? - ansSuperior vesicular arteries, superior
gluteal arteries, inferior gluteal arteries
The 'moth-shaped' bone forming a portion of the floor of the cranial cavity - ansSphenoid
bone
The major muscle of respiration - ansDiaphragm
Most extrinsic muscles of the eyeball are innervated by - ansThe occulomotor nerve
The gonadal arteries are branches of the - ansAbdominal aorta
,COMPREHENSIVE NBE SCIENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.
TOP RATED EXAM STUDY GUIDE CURRENT
UPDATED 2026/2027
If a piece of muscle tissue has fibers which are branching and anastomosing in a continuous
network, which kind would it be? - ansCardiac muscle
The ileocolic artery provides some of the blood supply to - ansPart of the small intestine, the
appendix and the cecum
The longest anatomical unit of the alimentary canal - ansIleum
Veins below the level of the heart have - ansValves in them
What are examples of paired-bone sets in the face? - ansMaxilla, zygomatic bone, nasal bone
The thick middle layer of the heart wall - ansMyocardium
The superior border of "Scarpa's Triangle" - ansInguinal ligament
The veins from the organs of digestion drain into - ansThe portal vein
The vessel which originates on the lateral side of the hand, and terminates by becoming a
tributary to the superior portion of the axillary vein - ansCephalic vein
The 2nd branch of the aortic arch - ansLeft common carotid
The vertebral column consists of five regions. From superior to inferior, the number of bones
originally in each section (prior to fusion of some) - ans7,12,5,5,4
The structure leading from the urinary bladder to the outside - ansUrethra
The medial artery of the forearm between the elbow and wrist - ansUlnar artery
The vein that receives venous blood directly from the cranial cavity - ansInternal jugular vein
The separation of colloids from crystalloids by means of a semipermeable membrane -
ansDialysis
A saturated hydrocarbon; a hydrocarbon that has no carbon-carbon multiple bonds; formerly
called the paraffin (or methane) series. - ansAlkane
Polymers made up by linking together a number of similar but different small particles called
amino acids - ansProteins
Ca is the chemical symbol for - ansCalcium
When we employ compounds to prevent dehydration, we use - ansHumectants
Hydrogen can be generated by reacting water with what? - ansSodium
The basic unit of length in the metric system - ansMeter
Examples of embalming humectants - ansGlycerol and sorbitol.
Examples of inert (noble) gases - ansArgon, Neon, and Helium
Polymerization of formaldehyde in an arterial solution is inhibited by the addition of what? -
ansMethanol
Deamination occurs when what is broken off the amino acid? - ansAmino group
The flow of solvent through a semipermeable membrane with the solvent passing from a
dilute to a more concentrated solution - ansOsmosis
An organic compound that takes the general formula R-O-R is said to be - ansEther
Benzene is - ansCarbocyclic
Hydroxides change the color of - ansRed litmus to blue
If a solution is acid, what will its ph value be? - ansBelow seven
A ph value of 9 indicates that the solution contains an excess of - ansHydroxyl ions
An organic compound containing two aldehyde (-CHO) radicals. An example would include
the preservative glutaraldehyde normally found in some arterial fluids. - ansDialdehyde
,COMPREHENSIVE NBE SCIENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.
TOP RATED EXAM STUDY GUIDE CURRENT
UPDATED 2026/2027
Due to their action as both acids and bases; amino acids are said to be - ansAmphoteric
What is an example of a mold inhibitor? - ansParadichlorobenzene
Syneresis means - ansDrawing together to contract
An approach to infection control. This concepts dictates that all human blood and certain
body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other bloodborne
pathogens. - ansUniversal precautions
Assume your are preparing to embalm a normal body exhibiting the following conditions:
dead less than six hours, no edema, no chemotherapy, some livor mortis. Which of the
following is a reasonable treatment for said body? - ansThree to five gallons of preservative
solution may be injected (depending upon body size). There is no restriction on the selection
of vessels for injection & drainage. Inject mild to moderate solutions. Pre-injection may be
used.
The axillary artery terminates at the - ansLower border of teres major muscles
The presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious
materials on an item or surface. - ansContaminated
Which heart chamber receives venous blood returning from all body parts except the lungs? -
ansRight atrium
To clear the hand and fingers, an embalmer would select what artery as a secondary injection
point? - ansUlnar
From the center of the anterior surface of the ankle joint to a point between the first and
second toes is the linear guide for which artery - ansDorsalis pedis
A fluid used primarily to supplement and enhance the action of vascular (arterial) solutions. -
ansCo-injection fluid
If one made an incision between the tendons of the flexor carpi ulnaris and the flexor
digitorum superficialis muscle, the person would be attempting to find which artery -
ansUlnar
A two piece embalming instrument consisting of a handle and a blade used to make incisions
and excisions. - ansScalpel
Assume you are preparing to embalm a body exhibiting generalized edema. Which of the
following is a reasonable treatment for said body? - ansStart with solution strength above
normal; continue to increase.
One advantage in the use of the common carotid arteries as points of injection in arterial
embalming is - ansThey are close to the center of circulation
An embalming instrument that is used for blunt dissection and in raising vessels (contains no
eye in its structure). - ansAneurysm hook
The science of treating the body chemically so as to temporarily inhibit decomposition. -
ansTemporary preservation
Skatole, indole, cadaverine, and putrecine - ansAmines
According to the glossary, the body of a deceased person, including cremated remains. -
ansHuman remains
One example of a physical postmortem change is - ansAlgor mortis
, COMPREHENSIVE NBE SCIENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.
TOP RATED EXAM STUDY GUIDE CURRENT
UPDATED 2026/2027
Which of the following problems might an embalmer encounter when embalming a body
dead from acute myocardial infarction? - ansBlood clots
The time between exposure and active evidence of the disease - ansIncubation period
Substances produced by body cells to combat foreign proteins introduced into the living body
- ansAntibodies
A relative term describing one's ability to resist or overcome a harmful antigen, such as an
infecting bacterium or virus. - ansImmunity
Any infection that first weakens and lowers body resistance - ansPrimary infection
True fungi that reproduce by budding is which of the following - ansYeasts
What must obtain its material for energy generation from living material? - ansParasite
An infection lasting a long period of time - ansA chronic infection
When disease producing organisms have gained entrance, are multiplying, and producing
symptoms of the disease - ansAn infection
Septic sore throat is caused by - ansStreptococcus pyogenes
An injection of a vaccine or a detoxified product which stimulates antibody formation. -
ansArtificially acquired active
A foreign protein that when introduced into the body, excites the body cells to produce
antibodies against it is called a/an - ansAntigen
The genus of the bacteria responsible for cholera is - ansVibrio
Which of the following bacteria grow best at a relatively high temperature? -
ansThermophilic bacteria
An inherited immunity is called - ansInnate
The best temperature to produce greatest bacterial growth - ansOptimum
Which genus of bacteria can have a 'comma' shape? - ansVibrio
Any organism that can utilize inorganic matter as food - ansAutotroph
Bacteria with a spherical shape - ansCocci
Spherical shaped bacteria forming 'grape like' clusters are called? - ansStaphylococcus
The relationship of two organisms living together to the advantage of one without injury to
the other is designated by which one of the following terms? - ansCommensalism
On the basis of food requirements, why are some bacteria termed facultative organisms? -
ansThey can act as saprophyte or parasite
Irritating gases cause which type of inflammation? - ansChemical
An abnormal channel connecting two surfaces - ansFistula
Increase in the number of erythrocytes - ansPolycythemia
The prefix for the word flesh - ans"Sarco"
The escape of blood to the outside area of the dura mater is from an extradural hemorrhage. -
ansFalse
Which of the following causes Graves disease? - ansHyperthyroidism
A condition whereby the walls of the alveoli break down and become distended -
ansEmphysema
Spread of tumors through blood or lymph - ansMetastasis
Arteriosclerosis in the extremities may cause - ansCyanosis
