Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Practice
Examination
1. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
Correct Answer: D. Left ventricle
Rationale:
D. Left ventricle is correct because it pumps oxygen-rich blood through the aorta to the rest of
the body under high pressure.
• A. Right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body.
• B. Right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
• C. Left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs but does not pump it into
systemic circulation.
2. A medical assistant should perform hand hygiene:
A. Only before patient contact
B. Only after removing gloves
C. Before and after every patient interaction
D. Only when hands appear dirty
Correct Answer: C. Before and after every patient interaction
Rationale:
C. Before and after every patient interaction is correct because proper hand hygiene is the
most effective way to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
• A is incomplete because hand hygiene is also required after patient contact.
• B is incorrect because gloves do not replace hand hygiene.
, • D is incorrect because alcohol-based hand rubs should be used even when hands are not
visibly dirty.
3. Normal adult body temperature measured orally is approximately:
A. 95.0°F (35.0°C)
B. 98.6°F (37.0°C)
C. 100.8°F (38.2°C)
D. 102.5°F (39.2°C)
Correct Answer: B. 98.6°F (37.0°C)
Rationale:
B. 98.6°F (37.0°C) is considered the average normal oral body temperature.
• A indicates hypothermia.
• C indicates a mild fever.
• D indicates a high fever.
4. The abbreviation "BP" in a patient's medical record stands for:
A. Blood pressure
B. Body pulse
C. Blood perfusion
D. Breathing pattern
Correct Answer: A. Blood pressure
Rationale:
A. Blood pressure is correct because BP is the standard medical abbreviation for the force
exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the arteries.
• B. Body pulse is not a recognized medical abbreviation.
• C. Blood perfusion refers to blood flow through tissues but is not abbreviated as BP.
• D. Breathing pattern is assessed during respiratory examinations but is not represented
by BP.
Examination
1. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
Correct Answer: D. Left ventricle
Rationale:
D. Left ventricle is correct because it pumps oxygen-rich blood through the aorta to the rest of
the body under high pressure.
• A. Right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body.
• B. Right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
• C. Left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs but does not pump it into
systemic circulation.
2. A medical assistant should perform hand hygiene:
A. Only before patient contact
B. Only after removing gloves
C. Before and after every patient interaction
D. Only when hands appear dirty
Correct Answer: C. Before and after every patient interaction
Rationale:
C. Before and after every patient interaction is correct because proper hand hygiene is the
most effective way to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
• A is incomplete because hand hygiene is also required after patient contact.
• B is incorrect because gloves do not replace hand hygiene.
, • D is incorrect because alcohol-based hand rubs should be used even when hands are not
visibly dirty.
3. Normal adult body temperature measured orally is approximately:
A. 95.0°F (35.0°C)
B. 98.6°F (37.0°C)
C. 100.8°F (38.2°C)
D. 102.5°F (39.2°C)
Correct Answer: B. 98.6°F (37.0°C)
Rationale:
B. 98.6°F (37.0°C) is considered the average normal oral body temperature.
• A indicates hypothermia.
• C indicates a mild fever.
• D indicates a high fever.
4. The abbreviation "BP" in a patient's medical record stands for:
A. Blood pressure
B. Body pulse
C. Blood perfusion
D. Breathing pattern
Correct Answer: A. Blood pressure
Rationale:
A. Blood pressure is correct because BP is the standard medical abbreviation for the force
exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the arteries.
• B. Body pulse is not a recognized medical abbreviation.
• C. Blood perfusion refers to blood flow through tissues but is not abbreviated as BP.
• D. Breathing pattern is assessed during respiratory examinations but is not represented
by BP.
