CST Exam Questions — Practice Q&A
CST EXAM QUESTIONS
Certified Surgical Technologist — Practice Questions, Answers & Rationale For
Guaranteed Success Get It Now Latest Updated.
How to use this guide: Each question is followed by its four answer choices,
then the correct answer, then a rationale explaining why that answer is
correct.
Page 1 of 79
, CST Exam Questions — Practice Q&A
Q1. The surgical pack utilized to created the sterile field should be opened
on the:
A. Stretcher
B. OR table
C. Backtable
D. Mayo stand
Correct Answer: C. Backtable
Rationale: The backtable holds the majority of sterile supplies and
instruments and is where the main sterile pack is typically opened to
establish the primary sterile field, separate from the Mayo stand (used for
immediately needed instruments).
Q2. The islets of Langerhans secrete:
A. Bile
B. Insulin
C. Intrinsic factor
D. Inhibiting hormones
Correct Answer: B. Insulin
Rationale: The islets of Langerhans are clusters of endocrine cells in the
pancreas; their beta cells secrete insulin (and alpha cells secrete
glucagon), regulating blood glucose.
Q3. What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth?
A. Cleft palate repair
B. Arch bar application
C. Extraction
D. Implants
Correct Answer: C. Extraction
Rationale: An extraction is the surgical removal of a tooth, distinguishing
it from cleft palate repair, arch bar application (used to immobilize jaw
fractures), or implant placement.
Page 2 of 79
, CST Exam Questions — Practice Q&A
Q4. Which organism is a normal resident flora of the intestinal tract?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Clostridium tetani
Correct Answer: A. Escherichia coli
Rationale: Escherichia coli is part of the normal resident flora of the
intestinal tract, whereas the other organisms listed are pathogens not
considered normal flora.
Q5. Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed fingers
C. Fused tarsals
D. Torn ligaments
Correct Answer: B. Webbed fingers
Rationale: Syndactyly is the congenital fusion or webbing of two or more
digits (fingers or toes), distinct from cleft palate, fused tarsals, or ligament
injuries.
Q6. Where should the first scrub surgical technologist stand when handing
towels to the surgeon to square off an incision site?
A. Opposite side from surgeon
B. Same side as surgeon
C. Foot of OR table
D. Head of OR table
Correct Answer: B. Same side as surgeon
Rationale: The first scrub stands on the same side as the surgeon when
handing towels to square off (border) the incision site, maintaining
proximity for efficient instrument and supply exchange.
Page 3 of 79
, CST Exam Questions — Practice Q&A
Q7. A properly performed surgical scrub renders the skin:
A. Sterile
B. Disinfected
C. Surgically clean
D. Moistened and dehydrated
Correct Answer: C. Surgically clean
Rationale: A surgical scrub cannot render skin sterile (skin cannot be fully
sterilized) — it renders the skin 'surgically clean,' meaning transient flora is
removed and resident flora is reduced to a minimum.
Q8. Through which of the following do the common bile duct and the
pancreatic duct empty?
A. Ampulla of Vater
B. Duct of Santorini
C. Wirsung's duct
D. Sphincter of Oddi
Correct Answer: A. Ampulla of Vater
Rationale: The common bile duct and the main pancreatic duct (duct of
Wirsung) join and empty into the duodenum through the ampulla of Vater,
which is guarded by the sphincter of Oddi.
Q9. Which of the following identifiers must be verified by the patient or
their ID bracelet prior to transporting a patient to the OR?
A. Name, social security #, Physcician
B. Name, medical record #, allergies
C. Name, date of birth, diagnosis
D. Name, date of birth, physician
Correct Answer: D. Name, date of birth, physician
Rationale: Prior to transporting a patient to the OR, the patient's name,
date of birth, and the responsible physician are verified against the ID
bracelet and chart as part of the identification/verification process.
Page 4 of 79
CST EXAM QUESTIONS
Certified Surgical Technologist — Practice Questions, Answers & Rationale For
Guaranteed Success Get It Now Latest Updated.
How to use this guide: Each question is followed by its four answer choices,
then the correct answer, then a rationale explaining why that answer is
correct.
Page 1 of 79
, CST Exam Questions — Practice Q&A
Q1. The surgical pack utilized to created the sterile field should be opened
on the:
A. Stretcher
B. OR table
C. Backtable
D. Mayo stand
Correct Answer: C. Backtable
Rationale: The backtable holds the majority of sterile supplies and
instruments and is where the main sterile pack is typically opened to
establish the primary sterile field, separate from the Mayo stand (used for
immediately needed instruments).
Q2. The islets of Langerhans secrete:
A. Bile
B. Insulin
C. Intrinsic factor
D. Inhibiting hormones
Correct Answer: B. Insulin
Rationale: The islets of Langerhans are clusters of endocrine cells in the
pancreas; their beta cells secrete insulin (and alpha cells secrete
glucagon), regulating blood glucose.
Q3. What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth?
A. Cleft palate repair
B. Arch bar application
C. Extraction
D. Implants
Correct Answer: C. Extraction
Rationale: An extraction is the surgical removal of a tooth, distinguishing
it from cleft palate repair, arch bar application (used to immobilize jaw
fractures), or implant placement.
Page 2 of 79
, CST Exam Questions — Practice Q&A
Q4. Which organism is a normal resident flora of the intestinal tract?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Clostridium tetani
Correct Answer: A. Escherichia coli
Rationale: Escherichia coli is part of the normal resident flora of the
intestinal tract, whereas the other organisms listed are pathogens not
considered normal flora.
Q5. Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed fingers
C. Fused tarsals
D. Torn ligaments
Correct Answer: B. Webbed fingers
Rationale: Syndactyly is the congenital fusion or webbing of two or more
digits (fingers or toes), distinct from cleft palate, fused tarsals, or ligament
injuries.
Q6. Where should the first scrub surgical technologist stand when handing
towels to the surgeon to square off an incision site?
A. Opposite side from surgeon
B. Same side as surgeon
C. Foot of OR table
D. Head of OR table
Correct Answer: B. Same side as surgeon
Rationale: The first scrub stands on the same side as the surgeon when
handing towels to square off (border) the incision site, maintaining
proximity for efficient instrument and supply exchange.
Page 3 of 79
, CST Exam Questions — Practice Q&A
Q7. A properly performed surgical scrub renders the skin:
A. Sterile
B. Disinfected
C. Surgically clean
D. Moistened and dehydrated
Correct Answer: C. Surgically clean
Rationale: A surgical scrub cannot render skin sterile (skin cannot be fully
sterilized) — it renders the skin 'surgically clean,' meaning transient flora is
removed and resident flora is reduced to a minimum.
Q8. Through which of the following do the common bile duct and the
pancreatic duct empty?
A. Ampulla of Vater
B. Duct of Santorini
C. Wirsung's duct
D. Sphincter of Oddi
Correct Answer: A. Ampulla of Vater
Rationale: The common bile duct and the main pancreatic duct (duct of
Wirsung) join and empty into the duodenum through the ampulla of Vater,
which is guarded by the sphincter of Oddi.
Q9. Which of the following identifiers must be verified by the patient or
their ID bracelet prior to transporting a patient to the OR?
A. Name, social security #, Physcician
B. Name, medical record #, allergies
C. Name, date of birth, diagnosis
D. Name, date of birth, physician
Correct Answer: D. Name, date of birth, physician
Rationale: Prior to transporting a patient to the OR, the patient's name,
date of birth, and the responsible physician are verified against the ID
bracelet and chart as part of the identification/verification process.
Page 4 of 79
