Medical Assistant Certification (NAHP) Exam
Questions and Answers| Updated| Pass Guaranteed
1. What do the prefixes hyper- and hypo- mean?
Answer: Hyper- means above, excessive, or increased; hypo- means
below, deficient, or decreased.
Rationale: Example: hypertension is high blood pressure; hypotension is
low blood pressure. Confusing these prefixes is a common error in
documentation.
2. What does the suffix -itis mean? Give an example.
Answer: Inflammation. Example: appendicitis (inflammation of the
appendix).
Rationale: Suffixes are the word endings that tell you the condition or
procedure involved.
3. What does the suffix -ectomy mean? Give an example.
Answer: Surgical removal. Example: appendectomy (removal of the
appendix).
Rationale: Distinguish from -otomy (cutting into) and -ostomy (creating an
opening).
4. Which anatomical plane divides the body into right and left portions,
and which divides it into anterior and posterior portions?
Answer: The sagittal (midsagittal if equal halves) plane divides right and
left; the frontal (coronal) plane divides anterior (front) and posterior (back).
Rationale: The transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into superior
(upper) and inferior (lower) portions.
5. Differentiate proximal and distal.
Answer: Proximal means closer to the point of attachment or trunk; distal
means farther from the point of attachment.
Rationale: Example: the elbow is proximal to the wrist, and the wrist is
distal to the elbow.
Page 1
,6. Name the body system made up of the heart, blood vessels, and
blood, and state its main function.
Answer: The cardiovascular (circulatory) system; it transports oxygen,
nutrients, hormones, and wastes throughout the body.
Rationale: Knowing system functions helps MAs understand why tests and
procedures are ordered.
7. Trace the path of blood through the heart.
Answer: Right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, pulmonary valve,
pulmonary artery, lungs, pulmonary veins, left atrium, mitral (bicuspid)
valve, left ventricle, aortic valve, aorta, body.
Rationale: The right side pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs; the left
side pumps oxygenated blood to the body.
8. What is homeostasis?
Answer: The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment
(temperature, pH, fluid balance, blood sugar).
Rationale: Many vital signs and lab tests measure whether the body is
maintaining homeostasis.
9. What does the term dyspnea mean?
Answer: Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath).
Rationale: Dyspnea should be documented with its onset, severity, and
any associated symptoms and reported to the provider.
10. What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?
Answer: A sign is objective and observable or measurable by others (fever,
rash); a symptom is subjective and reported by the patient (pain, nausea).
Rationale: Documentation of the chief complaint includes the patient's
symptoms in their own words, while signs are documented from
observation and measurement.
Page 2
, Section 2: Infection Control & Safety
11. List the six links in the chain of infection.
Answer: Infectious agent (pathogen), reservoir, portal of exit, mode of
transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
Rationale: Breaking any link stops the spread of infection. Hand hygiene
breaks the transmission link.
12. What is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of
infection?
Answer: Hand hygiene.
Rationale: Hands are the most common route of transmission in
healthcare settings.
13. When should soap and water be used instead of an alcohol-based
hand rub?
Answer: When hands are visibly soiled or contaminated with blood or body
fluids, and after contact with patients with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff).
Wash for at least 20 seconds.
Rationale: Alcohol-based rubs (at least 60% alcohol) are acceptable for
routine hand hygiene when hands are not visibly soiled, but they do not
remove dirt and are not effective against C. diff spores.
14. What are Standard Precautions?
Answer: Infection control practices applied to all patients regardless of
diagnosis: hand hygiene, PPE as needed, respiratory hygiene, safe
injection practices, safe handling of sharps and contaminated equipment,
and environmental cleaning.
Rationale: Any blood, body fluid (except sweat), non-intact skin, or mucous
membrane is treated as potentially infectious.
15. In what order is PPE put on and removed?
Answer: Putting on: gown, mask or respirator, goggles or face shield,
gloves. Removing: gloves, goggles or face shield, gown, mask (followed by
hand hygiene).
Rationale: The most contaminated items (gloves) are removed first to
avoid self-contamination.
Page 3
Questions and Answers| Updated| Pass Guaranteed
1. What do the prefixes hyper- and hypo- mean?
Answer: Hyper- means above, excessive, or increased; hypo- means
below, deficient, or decreased.
Rationale: Example: hypertension is high blood pressure; hypotension is
low blood pressure. Confusing these prefixes is a common error in
documentation.
2. What does the suffix -itis mean? Give an example.
Answer: Inflammation. Example: appendicitis (inflammation of the
appendix).
Rationale: Suffixes are the word endings that tell you the condition or
procedure involved.
3. What does the suffix -ectomy mean? Give an example.
Answer: Surgical removal. Example: appendectomy (removal of the
appendix).
Rationale: Distinguish from -otomy (cutting into) and -ostomy (creating an
opening).
4. Which anatomical plane divides the body into right and left portions,
and which divides it into anterior and posterior portions?
Answer: The sagittal (midsagittal if equal halves) plane divides right and
left; the frontal (coronal) plane divides anterior (front) and posterior (back).
Rationale: The transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into superior
(upper) and inferior (lower) portions.
5. Differentiate proximal and distal.
Answer: Proximal means closer to the point of attachment or trunk; distal
means farther from the point of attachment.
Rationale: Example: the elbow is proximal to the wrist, and the wrist is
distal to the elbow.
Page 1
,6. Name the body system made up of the heart, blood vessels, and
blood, and state its main function.
Answer: The cardiovascular (circulatory) system; it transports oxygen,
nutrients, hormones, and wastes throughout the body.
Rationale: Knowing system functions helps MAs understand why tests and
procedures are ordered.
7. Trace the path of blood through the heart.
Answer: Right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, pulmonary valve,
pulmonary artery, lungs, pulmonary veins, left atrium, mitral (bicuspid)
valve, left ventricle, aortic valve, aorta, body.
Rationale: The right side pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs; the left
side pumps oxygenated blood to the body.
8. What is homeostasis?
Answer: The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment
(temperature, pH, fluid balance, blood sugar).
Rationale: Many vital signs and lab tests measure whether the body is
maintaining homeostasis.
9. What does the term dyspnea mean?
Answer: Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath).
Rationale: Dyspnea should be documented with its onset, severity, and
any associated symptoms and reported to the provider.
10. What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?
Answer: A sign is objective and observable or measurable by others (fever,
rash); a symptom is subjective and reported by the patient (pain, nausea).
Rationale: Documentation of the chief complaint includes the patient's
symptoms in their own words, while signs are documented from
observation and measurement.
Page 2
, Section 2: Infection Control & Safety
11. List the six links in the chain of infection.
Answer: Infectious agent (pathogen), reservoir, portal of exit, mode of
transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
Rationale: Breaking any link stops the spread of infection. Hand hygiene
breaks the transmission link.
12. What is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of
infection?
Answer: Hand hygiene.
Rationale: Hands are the most common route of transmission in
healthcare settings.
13. When should soap and water be used instead of an alcohol-based
hand rub?
Answer: When hands are visibly soiled or contaminated with blood or body
fluids, and after contact with patients with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff).
Wash for at least 20 seconds.
Rationale: Alcohol-based rubs (at least 60% alcohol) are acceptable for
routine hand hygiene when hands are not visibly soiled, but they do not
remove dirt and are not effective against C. diff spores.
14. What are Standard Precautions?
Answer: Infection control practices applied to all patients regardless of
diagnosis: hand hygiene, PPE as needed, respiratory hygiene, safe
injection practices, safe handling of sharps and contaminated equipment,
and environmental cleaning.
Rationale: Any blood, body fluid (except sweat), non-intact skin, or mucous
membrane is treated as potentially infectious.
15. In what order is PPE put on and removed?
Answer: Putting on: gown, mask or respirator, goggles or face shield,
gloves. Removing: gloves, goggles or face shield, gown, mask (followed by
hand hygiene).
Rationale: The most contaminated items (gloves) are removed first to
avoid self-contamination.
Page 3
