CST Practice Exam Questions & Answers 2026/2027 | Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) Exam Prep
Padgett and Reese are types of: Dermatomes
Implants
Dermatomes
Retractors
Catheters
Which burn degree classification involves erythema First
without blisters?
Third
Fourth
First
Second
What instrument is used to remove plaque during a Freer
carotid endarterectomy?
Freer
Ferris-Smith
Potts-Smith
Allis
Which of the following neuroglia are star-shaped? Astrocytes
Dermoid
Astrocytes
Oligodendroglia
Ependyma
Which device could be used when placing a patient in Shoulder roll
the operative position for a thyroidectomy?
Shoulder roll
Bean bag
Axillary roll
Chest roll
In order to expand the abdominal cavity with CO2 Insufflator machine
prior to a laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon must
use a/an:
Insufflator machine
Infusion pump
Tissue expander
Aspiration unit
Which of these surgical instruments would be used Pillar retractor
during a tonsillectomy?
Pillar retractor
Gerald forceps
Cottle osteotome
Vienna speculum
,CST Practice Exam Questions & Answers 2026/2027 | Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) Exam Prep
Which type of cast would be appropriate for a Short arm
fractured metacarpal?
Long arm
Short arm
Spica
Cylinder
What is the medical term for accumulation of Cholesteatoma
squamous epithelium that forms a mass that is
destructive to the middle ear?
Otitis media
Chondrolipoma
Cholesteatoma
Otosclerosis
Which muscle alters the shape of the lens to Ciliary
accommodate vision?
Circular
Ciliary
Oblique
Rectus
What is the term for a nonpathogenic organism Opportunistic
that is capable of producing disease in an
immunocompromised patient?
Opportunistic
Spore-forming
Fomite
Vector
Filiforms are used to: Bypass urethral obstruction
Bypass urethral obstruction
Stent the ureter
Remove ureteral stones
Perform urethrogram
What is the name of Castroviejo
vascular needle holder?
Castroviejo
Webster
Collier
Mayo-Hegar
,CST Practice Exam Questions & Answers 2026/2027 | Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) Exam Prep
Which of the following non-invasive diagnostic Magnetic resonance imaging
techniques provides the best imaging of soft tissues?
Computed axial tomography
Magnetic resonance imaging
Isotope scanning
Doppler ultrasonography
Which of the following defines cryptorchidism? Undescended testes
Stones
Undeveloped testes
Impotence
Undescended testes
What type of procedure is performed to correct Le Fort II
panfacial fractures?
Palatoplasty
Odontectomy
Le Fort II
Dental implants
Which retractor is used to provide exposure for a Weitlaner
femoropopliteal bypass?
Meyerding
Weitlaner
Bookwalter
Alm
Which of the following is a nonadherent, Xeroform
nonpermeable, occlusive surgical dressing?
Tegaderm
Xeroform
Tegasorb
Telfa
A colposcopy may be performed for which of the Cervical carcinoma
following conditions?
Cervical carcinoma
Endometriosis
Ectopic pregnancy
Menorrhagia
The only artery in the body that carries deoxygenated Pulmonary
blood is the:
Thoracic aorta
Vena cava
Pulmonary
Coronary
, CST Practice Exam Questions & Answers 2026/2027 | Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) Exam Prep
Which intravenous drug would be used to reduce Mannitol
intracranial pressure during a craniotomy?
Papaverine
Mannitol
Sorbitol
Epinephrine
Sterile water is used for irrigation during a Hypotonic
mastectomy, because it is categorized as which of
the following?
Isometric
Isotonic
Hypertonic
Hypotonic
Which of the following types of needles would be Blunt
used for repair of the liver?
Blunt
Taper
Side cutting
Reverse cutting
What is the main element of hemoglobin? Iron
Oxygen
Carbon
Hydrogen
Iron
What should be done with a perforating towel clip Hand off the field to the circulator
that has been applied and removed from a sterile
drape?
Place on sterile backtable
Hand off the field to the circulator
Place back on drape in another area
Discard in sharps container
In which structure of a eukaryotic cell is DNA Nucleus
contained?
Golgi complex
Nucleus
Cilia
Endoplasmic reticulum
What is used to inflate the Foley catheter balloon? Sterile water
Compressed air
Antibiotic solution
Sterile water
Normal saline
Padgett and Reese are types of: Dermatomes
Implants
Dermatomes
Retractors
Catheters
Which burn degree classification involves erythema First
without blisters?
Third
Fourth
First
Second
What instrument is used to remove plaque during a Freer
carotid endarterectomy?
Freer
Ferris-Smith
Potts-Smith
Allis
Which of the following neuroglia are star-shaped? Astrocytes
Dermoid
Astrocytes
Oligodendroglia
Ependyma
Which device could be used when placing a patient in Shoulder roll
the operative position for a thyroidectomy?
Shoulder roll
Bean bag
Axillary roll
Chest roll
In order to expand the abdominal cavity with CO2 Insufflator machine
prior to a laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon must
use a/an:
Insufflator machine
Infusion pump
Tissue expander
Aspiration unit
Which of these surgical instruments would be used Pillar retractor
during a tonsillectomy?
Pillar retractor
Gerald forceps
Cottle osteotome
Vienna speculum
,CST Practice Exam Questions & Answers 2026/2027 | Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) Exam Prep
Which type of cast would be appropriate for a Short arm
fractured metacarpal?
Long arm
Short arm
Spica
Cylinder
What is the medical term for accumulation of Cholesteatoma
squamous epithelium that forms a mass that is
destructive to the middle ear?
Otitis media
Chondrolipoma
Cholesteatoma
Otosclerosis
Which muscle alters the shape of the lens to Ciliary
accommodate vision?
Circular
Ciliary
Oblique
Rectus
What is the term for a nonpathogenic organism Opportunistic
that is capable of producing disease in an
immunocompromised patient?
Opportunistic
Spore-forming
Fomite
Vector
Filiforms are used to: Bypass urethral obstruction
Bypass urethral obstruction
Stent the ureter
Remove ureteral stones
Perform urethrogram
What is the name of Castroviejo
vascular needle holder?
Castroviejo
Webster
Collier
Mayo-Hegar
,CST Practice Exam Questions & Answers 2026/2027 | Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) Exam Prep
Which of the following non-invasive diagnostic Magnetic resonance imaging
techniques provides the best imaging of soft tissues?
Computed axial tomography
Magnetic resonance imaging
Isotope scanning
Doppler ultrasonography
Which of the following defines cryptorchidism? Undescended testes
Stones
Undeveloped testes
Impotence
Undescended testes
What type of procedure is performed to correct Le Fort II
panfacial fractures?
Palatoplasty
Odontectomy
Le Fort II
Dental implants
Which retractor is used to provide exposure for a Weitlaner
femoropopliteal bypass?
Meyerding
Weitlaner
Bookwalter
Alm
Which of the following is a nonadherent, Xeroform
nonpermeable, occlusive surgical dressing?
Tegaderm
Xeroform
Tegasorb
Telfa
A colposcopy may be performed for which of the Cervical carcinoma
following conditions?
Cervical carcinoma
Endometriosis
Ectopic pregnancy
Menorrhagia
The only artery in the body that carries deoxygenated Pulmonary
blood is the:
Thoracic aorta
Vena cava
Pulmonary
Coronary
, CST Practice Exam Questions & Answers 2026/2027 | Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) Exam Prep
Which intravenous drug would be used to reduce Mannitol
intracranial pressure during a craniotomy?
Papaverine
Mannitol
Sorbitol
Epinephrine
Sterile water is used for irrigation during a Hypotonic
mastectomy, because it is categorized as which of
the following?
Isometric
Isotonic
Hypertonic
Hypotonic
Which of the following types of needles would be Blunt
used for repair of the liver?
Blunt
Taper
Side cutting
Reverse cutting
What is the main element of hemoglobin? Iron
Oxygen
Carbon
Hydrogen
Iron
What should be done with a perforating towel clip Hand off the field to the circulator
that has been applied and removed from a sterile
drape?
Place on sterile backtable
Hand off the field to the circulator
Place back on drape in another area
Discard in sharps container
In which structure of a eukaryotic cell is DNA Nucleus
contained?
Golgi complex
Nucleus
Cilia
Endoplasmic reticulum
What is used to inflate the Foley catheter balloon? Sterile water
Compressed air
Antibiotic solution
Sterile water
Normal saline
