ABSA EXAM / AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGICAL
ASSISTANT (ABSA) ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 PREP
QUESTIONS | COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM APPROVED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS) | LATEST UPDATED VERSION 2026
EDITION
Section 1: Surgical Anatomy and Terminology (Questions 1–
35)
1. The anatomic region bordered by the cystic duct, the common
hepatic duct, and the cystic artery is referred to as:
A. Tetralogy of Fallot
B. Calot's triangle
C. Circle of Willis
D. Anatomical snuffbox
Answer: B
Rationale: Calot's triangle is an anatomical space bordered by the cystic duct, common
hepatic duct, and cystic artery. It is an important landmark during cholecystectomy to
identify and ligate the cystic duct and artery, avoiding injury to the common bile duct.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect, the Circle of Willis is a cerebral arterial
,circle, and the anatomical snuffbox is a triangular depression on the dorsum of the
hand .
2. The inferior mesenteric artery serves as principal blood supply
to which of the following structures?
A. The Ileocecal Valve
B. The Caecum
C. The Hepatic Flexure of the colon
D. The Splenic Flexure of the colon
Answer: D
Rationale: The inferior mesenteric artery provides blood supply to the distal third of the
transverse colon (splenic flexure), descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum. The
ileocecal valve, caecum, and hepatic flexure are supplied by the superior mesenteric
artery .
3. The short gastric arteries are direct branches of which of the
following?
A. Splenic Artery
B. Left Gastric Artery
C. Right Gastric Artery
D. Right Gastroepiploic Artery
Answer: A
,Rationale: The short gastric arteries are branches of the splenic artery that supply the
fundus of the stomach. They travel through the gastrosplenic ligament to reach the
stomach. The left gastric artery arises from the celiac trunk, the right gastric artery from
the hepatic artery, and the right gastroepiploic artery from the gastroduodenal artery .
4. The connective tissue between the patella and the tibial
tuberosity in the knee that facilitates quadriceps muscle
contraction across the knee joint is called the:
A. Patellar Ligament
B. Quadriceps Tendon
C. Vastus Lateralis
D. Vastus Medialis
Answer: A
Rationale: The patellar ligament connects the patella to the tibial tuberosity and is the
distal continuation of the quadriceps tendon. It facilitates extension of the knee joint.
The quadriceps tendon connects the quadriceps muscles to the patella. Vastus lateralis
and medialis are muscles that form part of the quadriceps group .
5. The acetabulum, or hip socket, is comprised of the fusion of
which three bones?
A. Ilium, sacrum, and pubis
B. Pubis, sacrum, and ischium
, C. Pubis, ischium, and ilium
D. Sacrum, ischium, and ilium
Answer: C
Rationale: The acetabulum is formed by the fusion of three bones: the pubis, ischium,
and ilium. These three bones meet in the acetabulum to form the hip socket that
articulates with the head of the femur. The sacrum is a separate bone located posteriorly
in the pelvis .
6. The fold of peritoneum that connects the sides of the uterus to
the walls and floor of the pelvis is known as the:
A. Pelvic ligament
B. Round ligament
C. Broad ligament
D. Poupart's ligament
Answer: C
Rationale: The broad ligament is a fold of peritoneum that extends from the sides of
the uterus to the lateral walls and floor of the pelvis. It provides support to the uterus
and contains the fallopian tubes, round ligaments, and ovarian vessels. The round
ligament is a cord within the broad ligament. Poupart's ligament is the inguinal
ligament .
7. Innervation to the external genitalia is supplied by the:
ASSISTANT (ABSA) ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 PREP
QUESTIONS | COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM APPROVED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS) | LATEST UPDATED VERSION 2026
EDITION
Section 1: Surgical Anatomy and Terminology (Questions 1–
35)
1. The anatomic region bordered by the cystic duct, the common
hepatic duct, and the cystic artery is referred to as:
A. Tetralogy of Fallot
B. Calot's triangle
C. Circle of Willis
D. Anatomical snuffbox
Answer: B
Rationale: Calot's triangle is an anatomical space bordered by the cystic duct, common
hepatic duct, and cystic artery. It is an important landmark during cholecystectomy to
identify and ligate the cystic duct and artery, avoiding injury to the common bile duct.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect, the Circle of Willis is a cerebral arterial
,circle, and the anatomical snuffbox is a triangular depression on the dorsum of the
hand .
2. The inferior mesenteric artery serves as principal blood supply
to which of the following structures?
A. The Ileocecal Valve
B. The Caecum
C. The Hepatic Flexure of the colon
D. The Splenic Flexure of the colon
Answer: D
Rationale: The inferior mesenteric artery provides blood supply to the distal third of the
transverse colon (splenic flexure), descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum. The
ileocecal valve, caecum, and hepatic flexure are supplied by the superior mesenteric
artery .
3. The short gastric arteries are direct branches of which of the
following?
A. Splenic Artery
B. Left Gastric Artery
C. Right Gastric Artery
D. Right Gastroepiploic Artery
Answer: A
,Rationale: The short gastric arteries are branches of the splenic artery that supply the
fundus of the stomach. They travel through the gastrosplenic ligament to reach the
stomach. The left gastric artery arises from the celiac trunk, the right gastric artery from
the hepatic artery, and the right gastroepiploic artery from the gastroduodenal artery .
4. The connective tissue between the patella and the tibial
tuberosity in the knee that facilitates quadriceps muscle
contraction across the knee joint is called the:
A. Patellar Ligament
B. Quadriceps Tendon
C. Vastus Lateralis
D. Vastus Medialis
Answer: A
Rationale: The patellar ligament connects the patella to the tibial tuberosity and is the
distal continuation of the quadriceps tendon. It facilitates extension of the knee joint.
The quadriceps tendon connects the quadriceps muscles to the patella. Vastus lateralis
and medialis are muscles that form part of the quadriceps group .
5. The acetabulum, or hip socket, is comprised of the fusion of
which three bones?
A. Ilium, sacrum, and pubis
B. Pubis, sacrum, and ischium
, C. Pubis, ischium, and ilium
D. Sacrum, ischium, and ilium
Answer: C
Rationale: The acetabulum is formed by the fusion of three bones: the pubis, ischium,
and ilium. These three bones meet in the acetabulum to form the hip socket that
articulates with the head of the femur. The sacrum is a separate bone located posteriorly
in the pelvis .
6. The fold of peritoneum that connects the sides of the uterus to
the walls and floor of the pelvis is known as the:
A. Pelvic ligament
B. Round ligament
C. Broad ligament
D. Poupart's ligament
Answer: C
Rationale: The broad ligament is a fold of peritoneum that extends from the sides of
the uterus to the lateral walls and floor of the pelvis. It provides support to the uterus
and contains the fallopian tubes, round ligaments, and ovarian vessels. The round
ligament is a cord within the broad ligament. Poupart's ligament is the inguinal
ligament .
7. Innervation to the external genitalia is supplied by the:
