NREMT Certification Exam | nremt 2026
Practice Test Bank with Multiple-Choice
Questions & Verified Answers PDF | Complete
EMT Exam Prep 2026–2027
1. The nervous system is divided into what two major
divisions?
CORRECT ANSWER: Central nervous system (CNS) and
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
RATIONALE: The nervous system has two major
anatomical divisions. The central nervous system (CNS)
consists of the brain and spinal cord and serves as the primary
processing and control center. The peripheral nervous
system (PNS) consists of neural structures outside the brain
and spinal cord and carries sensory information toward the
CNS and motor commands away from it.
,2. The central nervous system (CNS) includes what
structures?
CORRECT ANSWER: Brain and spinal cord
RATIONALE: The CNS consists of the brain and spinal
cord. The brain interprets information, controls many body
functions, and coordinates responses, while the spinal cord
provides a major pathway for communication between the
brain and the peripheral nerves and also participates in
reflexes.
3. What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
include?
CORRECT ANSWER: All nerves outside the brain and
spinal cord, including cranial and spinal nerves
RATIONALE: The PNS includes neural structures outside
the CNS. It contains cranial nerves and spinal nerves that
connect the brain and spinal cord with muscles, sensory
receptors, glands, and organs throughout the body. The PNS
allows the CNS to receive sensory information and send
motor commands.
,4. How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?
CORRECT ANSWER: 12 pairs
RATIONALE: Humans have 12 pairs of cranial nerves,
numbered I through XII. They originate primarily from the
brain and brainstem and perform sensory, motor, or mixed
functions involving structures of the head, neck, and certain
visceral organs.
5. The peripheral nervous system is further divided into
what two major divisions?
CORRECT ANSWER: Somatic and autonomic nervous
systems
RATIONALE: The PNS can be functionally divided into the
somatic nervous system, which is primarily involved in
conscious sensation and voluntary skeletal-muscle control,
and the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates
involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, glandular
activity, and smooth-muscle activity.
, 6. What does the somatic nervous system control?
CORRECT ANSWER: Sensory and motor functions
RATIONALE: The somatic nervous system carries sensory
information from the skin, muscles, joints, and other sensory
receptors toward the CNS and carries motor commands from
the CNS to skeletal muscles. This system is therefore
associated with conscious sensation and voluntary movement,
although some somatic motor activity also participates in
reflexes.
7. What does the autonomic nervous system control?
CORRECT ANSWER: Automatic and involuntary functions
RATIONALE: The autonomic nervous system regulates
functions that generally occur without conscious control,
including heart rate, blood pressure, pupil size, digestion,
glandular secretion, and airway smooth-muscle tone. It helps
maintain internal physiologic balance, or homeostasis.
Practice Test Bank with Multiple-Choice
Questions & Verified Answers PDF | Complete
EMT Exam Prep 2026–2027
1. The nervous system is divided into what two major
divisions?
CORRECT ANSWER: Central nervous system (CNS) and
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
RATIONALE: The nervous system has two major
anatomical divisions. The central nervous system (CNS)
consists of the brain and spinal cord and serves as the primary
processing and control center. The peripheral nervous
system (PNS) consists of neural structures outside the brain
and spinal cord and carries sensory information toward the
CNS and motor commands away from it.
,2. The central nervous system (CNS) includes what
structures?
CORRECT ANSWER: Brain and spinal cord
RATIONALE: The CNS consists of the brain and spinal
cord. The brain interprets information, controls many body
functions, and coordinates responses, while the spinal cord
provides a major pathway for communication between the
brain and the peripheral nerves and also participates in
reflexes.
3. What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
include?
CORRECT ANSWER: All nerves outside the brain and
spinal cord, including cranial and spinal nerves
RATIONALE: The PNS includes neural structures outside
the CNS. It contains cranial nerves and spinal nerves that
connect the brain and spinal cord with muscles, sensory
receptors, glands, and organs throughout the body. The PNS
allows the CNS to receive sensory information and send
motor commands.
,4. How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?
CORRECT ANSWER: 12 pairs
RATIONALE: Humans have 12 pairs of cranial nerves,
numbered I through XII. They originate primarily from the
brain and brainstem and perform sensory, motor, or mixed
functions involving structures of the head, neck, and certain
visceral organs.
5. The peripheral nervous system is further divided into
what two major divisions?
CORRECT ANSWER: Somatic and autonomic nervous
systems
RATIONALE: The PNS can be functionally divided into the
somatic nervous system, which is primarily involved in
conscious sensation and voluntary skeletal-muscle control,
and the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates
involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, glandular
activity, and smooth-muscle activity.
, 6. What does the somatic nervous system control?
CORRECT ANSWER: Sensory and motor functions
RATIONALE: The somatic nervous system carries sensory
information from the skin, muscles, joints, and other sensory
receptors toward the CNS and carries motor commands from
the CNS to skeletal muscles. This system is therefore
associated with conscious sensation and voluntary movement,
although some somatic motor activity also participates in
reflexes.
7. What does the autonomic nervous system control?
CORRECT ANSWER: Automatic and involuntary functions
RATIONALE: The autonomic nervous system regulates
functions that generally occur without conscious control,
including heart rate, blood pressure, pupil size, digestion,
glandular secretion, and airway smooth-muscle tone. It helps
maintain internal physiologic balance, or homeostasis.
