TPATC 2026 Practice Exam Questions
with Answers and Rationales 2026
This comprehensive practice exam is designed to help you prepare for
the Transport Professional Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC)
certification. The exam covers key topics including flight physiology,
transport environment, patient assessment, trauma management,
safety, and legal considerations.
Important Note: These questions and rationales are derived from
commonly tested concepts in transport and trauma certification
exams, based on standard curriculum materials. For the most current
and authoritative information, please consult official course materials
from ASTNA and your program instructors.
EXAM OVERVIEW
The TPATC exam covers the following content areas:
Content Area Approximate
Weight
Transport 25%
Physiology & Flight
Environment
,Safety, Risk 20%
Management &
Legal Issues
Trauma Assessment 20%
& General Principles
Critical Care & 20%
Transport Concepts
Traumatic Injuries & 15%
Special Populations
SECTION 1: TRANSPORT PHYSIOLOGY & THE
FLIGHT ENVIRONMENT (Questions 1-20)
Question 1
According to Boyle's Law, what happens to the volume of a gas
trapped in a body cavity during an ascent to a higher altitude?
A. It remains the same.
B. It decreases.
C. It expands.
D. It condenses.
Answer: C. It expands.
Rationale: Boyle's Law states that the volume of a gas is inversely
proportional to the pressure, provided the temperature remains
,constant. As altitude increases, barometric pressure decreases,
causing trapped gases to expand. This explains common flight-related
issues like ear and sinus pain.
Question 2
Which gas law explains the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide
between the alveoli and the capillaries?
A. Dalton's Law
B. Boyle's Law
C. Graham's Law
D. Henry's Law
Answer: C. Graham's Law.
Rationale: Graham's Law states that a gas will diffuse from an area of
high concentration to an area of low concentration. This principle
governs the diffusion of oxygen from the alveoli into the blood and
carbon dioxide from the blood into the alveoli.
Question 3
Which of the following statements is consistent with Dalton's Law of
Partial Pressures?
A. As altitude increases, the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere
decreases.
B. The total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of the partial
pressures of its individual gases.
, C. The volume of a gas is inversely proportional to its pressure.
D. Gases diffuse from areas of high concentration to areas of low
concentration.
Answer: B. The total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of
the partial pressures of its individual gases.
Rationale: Dalton's Law defines the relationship between total gas
pressure and the pressure contributed by each individual gas in a
mixture. While the percentage of gases like oxygen and nitrogen in the
atmosphere remains constant with altitude, their partial pressures
decrease, which is the primary cause of hypoxia.
Question 4
What is the term for the collection of symptoms from exposure to
changing air pressure, also known as an evolved gas disorder?
A. Hypoxia
B. Dysbarism
C. Decompression Sickness
D. Barotrauma
Answer: B. Dysbarism.
Rationale: Dysbarism encompasses all symptoms related to changing
air pressure. This includes both "trapped gas" issues and
decompression sickness, where nitrogen comes out of solution in
body tissues.
with Answers and Rationales 2026
This comprehensive practice exam is designed to help you prepare for
the Transport Professional Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC)
certification. The exam covers key topics including flight physiology,
transport environment, patient assessment, trauma management,
safety, and legal considerations.
Important Note: These questions and rationales are derived from
commonly tested concepts in transport and trauma certification
exams, based on standard curriculum materials. For the most current
and authoritative information, please consult official course materials
from ASTNA and your program instructors.
EXAM OVERVIEW
The TPATC exam covers the following content areas:
Content Area Approximate
Weight
Transport 25%
Physiology & Flight
Environment
,Safety, Risk 20%
Management &
Legal Issues
Trauma Assessment 20%
& General Principles
Critical Care & 20%
Transport Concepts
Traumatic Injuries & 15%
Special Populations
SECTION 1: TRANSPORT PHYSIOLOGY & THE
FLIGHT ENVIRONMENT (Questions 1-20)
Question 1
According to Boyle's Law, what happens to the volume of a gas
trapped in a body cavity during an ascent to a higher altitude?
A. It remains the same.
B. It decreases.
C. It expands.
D. It condenses.
Answer: C. It expands.
Rationale: Boyle's Law states that the volume of a gas is inversely
proportional to the pressure, provided the temperature remains
,constant. As altitude increases, barometric pressure decreases,
causing trapped gases to expand. This explains common flight-related
issues like ear and sinus pain.
Question 2
Which gas law explains the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide
between the alveoli and the capillaries?
A. Dalton's Law
B. Boyle's Law
C. Graham's Law
D. Henry's Law
Answer: C. Graham's Law.
Rationale: Graham's Law states that a gas will diffuse from an area of
high concentration to an area of low concentration. This principle
governs the diffusion of oxygen from the alveoli into the blood and
carbon dioxide from the blood into the alveoli.
Question 3
Which of the following statements is consistent with Dalton's Law of
Partial Pressures?
A. As altitude increases, the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere
decreases.
B. The total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of the partial
pressures of its individual gases.
, C. The volume of a gas is inversely proportional to its pressure.
D. Gases diffuse from areas of high concentration to areas of low
concentration.
Answer: B. The total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of
the partial pressures of its individual gases.
Rationale: Dalton's Law defines the relationship between total gas
pressure and the pressure contributed by each individual gas in a
mixture. While the percentage of gases like oxygen and nitrogen in the
atmosphere remains constant with altitude, their partial pressures
decrease, which is the primary cause of hypoxia.
Question 4
What is the term for the collection of symptoms from exposure to
changing air pressure, also known as an evolved gas disorder?
A. Hypoxia
B. Dysbarism
C. Decompression Sickness
D. Barotrauma
Answer: B. Dysbarism.
Rationale: Dysbarism encompasses all symptoms related to changing
air pressure. This includes both "trapped gas" issues and
decompression sickness, where nitrogen comes out of solution in
body tissues.
