AMCA CMA FINAL EXAM 2026/2027 – COMPLETE
PRACTICE EXAM
Certified Medical Assistant – American Medical
Certification Association
180 Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | A+ Graded
SECTION I: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY & ANATOMY
1. The underlined part of the word "salpingopathy" represents which of the
following word parts?
A) Prefix
B) Suffix
C) Combining form
D) Root word
Answer: C) Combining form
Rationale: In "salpingopathy," "salping/o" is the combining form meaning
fallopian tube, with the combining vowel "o" connecting to the suffix "-pathy"
(disease). The combining form includes the root plus the combining vowel .
2. The smallest structural unit of the nervous system is the:
A) Spinal cord
B) Brain
, C) Neurofibrils
D) Neuron
Answer: D) Neuron
Rationale: The neuron is the fundamental structural and functional unit of the
nervous system. It is specialized to receive, process, and transmit nerve impulses.
The brain and spinal cord are organs composed of many neurons, not the smallest
unit .
3. A structure that is composed of two or more tissue types is called a/an:
A) Organ
B) System
C) Organism
D) Cell
Answer: A) Organ
Rationale: An organ is defined as a structure composed of two or more tissue
types that work together to perform specific functions. For example, the heart
contains epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues. Cells are the smallest
unit, tissues are groups of similar cells, and organ systems are groups of organs .
4. Which of the following is a proper plural?
A) Irides
B) Iri
C) Iridices
D) Iridis
Answer: A) Irides
,Rationale: "Iris" (the colored part of the eye) has the proper plural form "irides."
This follows the Latin pattern for nouns ending in -is becoming -es. Other
examples include "diagnosis" → "diagnoses" and "crisis" → "crises" .
5. Which of the following lists all three of the major types of blood vessels?
A) Arteries, veins, arterioles
B) Arteries, veins, capillaries
C) Arterioles, venules, capillaries
D) Aorta, vena cava, capillaries
Answer: B) Arteries, veins, capillaries
Rationale: The three major types of blood vessels are arteries (carry blood away
from the heart), veins (return blood to the heart), and capillaries (microscopic
vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs with tissues) .
6. The part of the heart that pumps oxygenated blood out of the heart to the
body is called:
A) Left ventricle
B) Left atrium
C) Right ventricle
D) Right atrium
Answer: A) Left ventricle
Rationale: The left ventricle receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium and
pumps it through the aorta to the entire body. It has the thickest muscular wall of
all heart chambers because it must generate sufficient pressure to circulate blood
systemically .
, 7. The total amount of blood pumped out of the heart in one minute is known as
the:
A) Stroke volume
B) Cardiac output
C) Cardiac reserve
D) Ejection fraction
Answer: B) Cardiac output
Rationale: Cardiac output is the volume of blood pumped by either ventricle per
minute. It is calculated as stroke volume (amount per beat) multiplied by heart
rate (beats per minute). Normal resting cardiac output is approximately 5 liters
per minute .
8. The capillaries are the blood vessels where:
A) Blood pressure is highest
B) Oxygen diffuses into the tissues
C) Blood is stored
D) White blood cells are produced
Answer: B) Oxygen diffuses into the tissues
Rationale: Capillaries are the site of exchange between blood and tissues. Oxygen
diffuses from the blood in capillaries into the tissues, while carbon dioxide and
waste products diffuse from tissues into the blood. This exchange occurs across
the thin capillary walls .
9. Which type of blood cells are responsible for gas exchange in circulating
blood?
A) White blood cells
PRACTICE EXAM
Certified Medical Assistant – American Medical
Certification Association
180 Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | A+ Graded
SECTION I: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY & ANATOMY
1. The underlined part of the word "salpingopathy" represents which of the
following word parts?
A) Prefix
B) Suffix
C) Combining form
D) Root word
Answer: C) Combining form
Rationale: In "salpingopathy," "salping/o" is the combining form meaning
fallopian tube, with the combining vowel "o" connecting to the suffix "-pathy"
(disease). The combining form includes the root plus the combining vowel .
2. The smallest structural unit of the nervous system is the:
A) Spinal cord
B) Brain
, C) Neurofibrils
D) Neuron
Answer: D) Neuron
Rationale: The neuron is the fundamental structural and functional unit of the
nervous system. It is specialized to receive, process, and transmit nerve impulses.
The brain and spinal cord are organs composed of many neurons, not the smallest
unit .
3. A structure that is composed of two or more tissue types is called a/an:
A) Organ
B) System
C) Organism
D) Cell
Answer: A) Organ
Rationale: An organ is defined as a structure composed of two or more tissue
types that work together to perform specific functions. For example, the heart
contains epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues. Cells are the smallest
unit, tissues are groups of similar cells, and organ systems are groups of organs .
4. Which of the following is a proper plural?
A) Irides
B) Iri
C) Iridices
D) Iridis
Answer: A) Irides
,Rationale: "Iris" (the colored part of the eye) has the proper plural form "irides."
This follows the Latin pattern for nouns ending in -is becoming -es. Other
examples include "diagnosis" → "diagnoses" and "crisis" → "crises" .
5. Which of the following lists all three of the major types of blood vessels?
A) Arteries, veins, arterioles
B) Arteries, veins, capillaries
C) Arterioles, venules, capillaries
D) Aorta, vena cava, capillaries
Answer: B) Arteries, veins, capillaries
Rationale: The three major types of blood vessels are arteries (carry blood away
from the heart), veins (return blood to the heart), and capillaries (microscopic
vessels where gas and nutrient exchange occurs with tissues) .
6. The part of the heart that pumps oxygenated blood out of the heart to the
body is called:
A) Left ventricle
B) Left atrium
C) Right ventricle
D) Right atrium
Answer: A) Left ventricle
Rationale: The left ventricle receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium and
pumps it through the aorta to the entire body. It has the thickest muscular wall of
all heart chambers because it must generate sufficient pressure to circulate blood
systemically .
, 7. The total amount of blood pumped out of the heart in one minute is known as
the:
A) Stroke volume
B) Cardiac output
C) Cardiac reserve
D) Ejection fraction
Answer: B) Cardiac output
Rationale: Cardiac output is the volume of blood pumped by either ventricle per
minute. It is calculated as stroke volume (amount per beat) multiplied by heart
rate (beats per minute). Normal resting cardiac output is approximately 5 liters
per minute .
8. The capillaries are the blood vessels where:
A) Blood pressure is highest
B) Oxygen diffuses into the tissues
C) Blood is stored
D) White blood cells are produced
Answer: B) Oxygen diffuses into the tissues
Rationale: Capillaries are the site of exchange between blood and tissues. Oxygen
diffuses from the blood in capillaries into the tissues, while carbon dioxide and
waste products diffuse from tissues into the blood. This exchange occurs across
the thin capillary walls .
9. Which type of blood cells are responsible for gas exchange in circulating
blood?
A) White blood cells
