ABSA SURGICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION (SA-C) EXAM
NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |
ALREADY GRADED A+
EXAM CONTENT DOMAINS
Domain 01: Perioperative Care 50% (Q 1–200)
- Preoperative (4%)
- Operative (43%)
- Postoperative (3%)
Domain 02: General Surgical & Medical Knowledge 39% (Q 201–356)
- Asepsis (3%)
- Surgical Anatomy (13%)
- Terminology (6%)
- Instrumentation & Equipment (4%)
- General Medical Knowledge (10%)
- Patient Safety/Risk Management/Emergency Protocols (3%)
Domain 03: Professional Practice Knowledge 11% (Q 357–400)
- Code of Ethics/Scope of Practice (4%)
- OSHA/HIPAA (3%)
- Professional Practice (4%)
SECTION 1: SURGICAL ANATOMY (Questions 1–120)
Q1. The ligament that connects bone to bone is called:
A) Ligament
B) Tendon
C) Fascia
D) Aponeurosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Ligaments connect bone to bone. Tendons connect muscle to bone.
Fascia is connective tissue surrounding muscles. Aponeuroses are flattened
tendons.
Q2. A patient with a fractured neck of the femur is at greatest risk for
damage to which artery?
A) Femoral artery
B) Obturator artery
1
,C) Medial circumflex femoral artery
D) Lateral circumflex femoral artery
Answer: C
Rationale: The medial circumflex femoral artery provides the primary blood
supply to the femoral head. Fracture of the femoral neck can disrupt this
artery, leading to avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
Q3. The structure that connects the cricoid cartilage to the thyroid
cartilage is the:
A) Hyoid bone
B) Cricothyroid membrane
C) Thyrohyoid membrane
D) Vocal ligament
Answer: B
Rationale: The cricothyroid membrane connects the cricoid and thyroid
cartilages. It is the site for emergency cricothyroidotomy.
Q4. The ligament of Treitz suspends which structure?
A) Liver
B) Spleen
C) Duodenum (duodenojejunal flexure)
D) Stomach
Answer: C
Rationale: The ligament of Treitz (suspensory muscle of the duodenum) anchors
the duodenojejunal flexure to the diaphragm. It is a key surgical landmark
for the small intestine.
Q5. The major blood supply to the thyroid gland is provided by which arteries?
A) Superior and inferior thyroid arteries
B) Thyrocervical trunk only
C) Internal carotid branches
D) Subclavian artery only
Answer: A
Rationale: The superior thyroid artery (from external carotid) and inferior
thyroid artery (from thyrocervical trunk) provide the primary blood supply
to the thyroid gland. The thyroid ima artery is a rare variant.
Q6. Which structure lies anterior to the trachea in the midline of the neck?
2
,A) Esophagus
B) Thyroid isthmus
C) Recurrent laryngeal nerve
D) Carotid artery
Answer: B
Rationale: The thyroid isthmus lies anterior to the trachea (at the level of
the 2nd–4th tracheal rings) in the midline. The esophagus is posterior.
Recurrent laryngeal nerves run in the tracheoesophageal groove.
Q7. The recurrent laryngeal nerve is most commonly injured during:
A) Thyroidectomy
B) Appendectomy
C) Cholecystectomy
D) Laparotomy
Answer: A
Rationale: The recurrent laryngeal nerves run in the tracheoesophageal groove
and are at risk during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Injury causes
hoarseness or vocal cord paralysis.
Q8. The common bile duct is formed by the union of the:
A) Cystic duct and hepatic duct
B) Hepatic duct and pancreatic duct
C) Cystic duct and pancreatic duct
D) Left and right hepatic ducts
Answer: A
Rationale: The common hepatic duct (from the liver) unites with the cystic
duct (from the gallbladder) to form the common bile duct (CBD). The CBD
joins the pancreatic duct to form the ampulla of Vater.
Q9. The portal vein is formed by the confluence of which veins?
A) Splenic and superior mesenteric veins
B) Splenic and inferior mesenteric veins
C) Superior and inferior mesenteric veins
D) Gastric and splenic veins
Answer: A
Rationale: The portal vein is formed by the union of the splenic vein and
the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) posterior to the neck of the pancreas.
The inferior mesenteric vein typically drains into the splenic vein.
3
, Q10. The anatomical landmark for the appendix (McBurney's point) is located:
A) Midway between the umbilicus and the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)
B) One-third of the distance from ASIS to umbilicus
C) At the umbilicus
D) At the iliac crest
Answer: A (or B depending on exact definition). McBurney's point is classically
defined as the junction of the lateral one-third and medial two-thirds of the
line from the umbilicus to the ASIS. Most commonly described as 2/3 from
umbilicus to ASIS (i.e., one-third from ASIS). The standard answer is:
"The junction of the lateral one-third and medial two-thirds of the line
from the umbilicus to the right anterior superior iliac spine." So the
closest is A or B. I will clarify. Typically it is 2/3 from umbilicus to
ASIS. So answer B (one-third from ASIS).
Answer: B
Q11. The kidney is located at which vertebral level?
A) T11–L2
B) T12–L3
C) L1–L3
D) T10–T12
Answer: B
Rationale: The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs located approximately at
the T12–L3 vertebral levels. The right kidney is slightly lower due to the
liver. The renal hilum is at L1–L2.
Q12. The ureters enter the bladder at the:
A) Trigone (ureteral orifices)
B) Urethral orifice
C) Bladder dome
D) Urachus
Answer: A
Rationale: The ureters enter the bladder at the trigone, at the ureteral
orifices. The trigone is a triangular area at the base of the bladder.
Q13. The prostate gland is located:
A) Superior to the bladder
B) Inferior to the bladder (surrounding the urethra)
4
NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |
ALREADY GRADED A+
EXAM CONTENT DOMAINS
Domain 01: Perioperative Care 50% (Q 1–200)
- Preoperative (4%)
- Operative (43%)
- Postoperative (3%)
Domain 02: General Surgical & Medical Knowledge 39% (Q 201–356)
- Asepsis (3%)
- Surgical Anatomy (13%)
- Terminology (6%)
- Instrumentation & Equipment (4%)
- General Medical Knowledge (10%)
- Patient Safety/Risk Management/Emergency Protocols (3%)
Domain 03: Professional Practice Knowledge 11% (Q 357–400)
- Code of Ethics/Scope of Practice (4%)
- OSHA/HIPAA (3%)
- Professional Practice (4%)
SECTION 1: SURGICAL ANATOMY (Questions 1–120)
Q1. The ligament that connects bone to bone is called:
A) Ligament
B) Tendon
C) Fascia
D) Aponeurosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Ligaments connect bone to bone. Tendons connect muscle to bone.
Fascia is connective tissue surrounding muscles. Aponeuroses are flattened
tendons.
Q2. A patient with a fractured neck of the femur is at greatest risk for
damage to which artery?
A) Femoral artery
B) Obturator artery
1
,C) Medial circumflex femoral artery
D) Lateral circumflex femoral artery
Answer: C
Rationale: The medial circumflex femoral artery provides the primary blood
supply to the femoral head. Fracture of the femoral neck can disrupt this
artery, leading to avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
Q3. The structure that connects the cricoid cartilage to the thyroid
cartilage is the:
A) Hyoid bone
B) Cricothyroid membrane
C) Thyrohyoid membrane
D) Vocal ligament
Answer: B
Rationale: The cricothyroid membrane connects the cricoid and thyroid
cartilages. It is the site for emergency cricothyroidotomy.
Q4. The ligament of Treitz suspends which structure?
A) Liver
B) Spleen
C) Duodenum (duodenojejunal flexure)
D) Stomach
Answer: C
Rationale: The ligament of Treitz (suspensory muscle of the duodenum) anchors
the duodenojejunal flexure to the diaphragm. It is a key surgical landmark
for the small intestine.
Q5. The major blood supply to the thyroid gland is provided by which arteries?
A) Superior and inferior thyroid arteries
B) Thyrocervical trunk only
C) Internal carotid branches
D) Subclavian artery only
Answer: A
Rationale: The superior thyroid artery (from external carotid) and inferior
thyroid artery (from thyrocervical trunk) provide the primary blood supply
to the thyroid gland. The thyroid ima artery is a rare variant.
Q6. Which structure lies anterior to the trachea in the midline of the neck?
2
,A) Esophagus
B) Thyroid isthmus
C) Recurrent laryngeal nerve
D) Carotid artery
Answer: B
Rationale: The thyroid isthmus lies anterior to the trachea (at the level of
the 2nd–4th tracheal rings) in the midline. The esophagus is posterior.
Recurrent laryngeal nerves run in the tracheoesophageal groove.
Q7. The recurrent laryngeal nerve is most commonly injured during:
A) Thyroidectomy
B) Appendectomy
C) Cholecystectomy
D) Laparotomy
Answer: A
Rationale: The recurrent laryngeal nerves run in the tracheoesophageal groove
and are at risk during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Injury causes
hoarseness or vocal cord paralysis.
Q8. The common bile duct is formed by the union of the:
A) Cystic duct and hepatic duct
B) Hepatic duct and pancreatic duct
C) Cystic duct and pancreatic duct
D) Left and right hepatic ducts
Answer: A
Rationale: The common hepatic duct (from the liver) unites with the cystic
duct (from the gallbladder) to form the common bile duct (CBD). The CBD
joins the pancreatic duct to form the ampulla of Vater.
Q9. The portal vein is formed by the confluence of which veins?
A) Splenic and superior mesenteric veins
B) Splenic and inferior mesenteric veins
C) Superior and inferior mesenteric veins
D) Gastric and splenic veins
Answer: A
Rationale: The portal vein is formed by the union of the splenic vein and
the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) posterior to the neck of the pancreas.
The inferior mesenteric vein typically drains into the splenic vein.
3
, Q10. The anatomical landmark for the appendix (McBurney's point) is located:
A) Midway between the umbilicus and the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)
B) One-third of the distance from ASIS to umbilicus
C) At the umbilicus
D) At the iliac crest
Answer: A (or B depending on exact definition). McBurney's point is classically
defined as the junction of the lateral one-third and medial two-thirds of the
line from the umbilicus to the ASIS. Most commonly described as 2/3 from
umbilicus to ASIS (i.e., one-third from ASIS). The standard answer is:
"The junction of the lateral one-third and medial two-thirds of the line
from the umbilicus to the right anterior superior iliac spine." So the
closest is A or B. I will clarify. Typically it is 2/3 from umbilicus to
ASIS. So answer B (one-third from ASIS).
Answer: B
Q11. The kidney is located at which vertebral level?
A) T11–L2
B) T12–L3
C) L1–L3
D) T10–T12
Answer: B
Rationale: The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs located approximately at
the T12–L3 vertebral levels. The right kidney is slightly lower due to the
liver. The renal hilum is at L1–L2.
Q12. The ureters enter the bladder at the:
A) Trigone (ureteral orifices)
B) Urethral orifice
C) Bladder dome
D) Urachus
Answer: A
Rationale: The ureters enter the bladder at the trigone, at the ureteral
orifices. The trigone is a triangular area at the base of the bladder.
Q13. The prostate gland is located:
A) Superior to the bladder
B) Inferior to the bladder (surrounding the urethra)
4
