CST REVIEW: AST Practice Exam 1
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
What structure is located in the alveolar processes? - ✔✔teeth
Which of the following is the wound classification for a bronchoscopy?
A) clean
B) contaminated
C) dirty and infected
D) clean contaminated - ✔✔Clean-contaminated procedures include those when the
aerodigestive tract is entered. The bronchoscope is inserted through the mouth and into
the bronchial tubes. The procedure is considered clean, not sterile.
The enzyme used to soften the zonules of the lens before cataract surgery is? - ✔✔alpha-
chymotrypsin
Alpha-chymotrypsin is a solution used to soften the zonules holding the lens before
cataract surgery to ease extraction of the lens.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,How should the stretcher be oriented when necessary to use an elevator to transport a
patient to the OR? - ✔✔enter head first, exit feet first
The patient should be placed in the elevator entering head first and exit feet first when
being transported to the OR on the stretcher.
What is the curved, transverse incision across the lower abdomen frequently used in
gynecological surgery? - ✔✔Pfannenstiel
Pfannenstiel's incision is a curved transverse incision across the lower abdomen and
used frequently in gynecologic surgery.
When perforated metal trays are placed on the shelves of the steam sterilizing cart, they
should be positioned? - ✔✔flat
Metal trays that are perforated or have a mesh bottom should be placed on the
sterilizing cart flat.
Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of? - ✔✔Potassium
Potassium plays four important roles: influences the electrical excitability of cells; the
amount of potassium in cells affects cell volume; potassium balance is important in
maintaining the acid-base balance; the amount of potassium in cells affects cell
metabolism. Hyperkalemia, an abnormal level of potassium, can be life threatening,
causing cardiac irregularities.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,Which tissue is cut using curved Mayo scissors? - ✔✔fascia
Curved Mayo scissors are large scissors, with thick blades used to cut tough tissue, such
as fascia, tendons, and muscle.
What laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating them? - ✔✔Argon
The argon laser beam can travel through clear fluids and tissues.
Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is a/an? - ✔✔informed
consent
Informed consent must be obtained from the patient before any invasive procedure can
be performed. it protects the patient because it verifies that he/she understands the
condition to be treated and the intervention to be performed.
Which portion of the stomach surrounds the lower esophageal sphincter? - ✔✔cardia
The cardia is the portion of the stomach that surrounds the superior opening of the
stomach.
Low level disinfectants kill most microbes, but do not destroy what? - ✔✔spores
Low level disinfectants kill most types of bacteria and some fungi and viruses, but do
not kill spores and M.tuberculosis
Syndactyly refers to? - ✔✔webbed fingers
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened on the? -
✔✔backtable
The islets of Langerhans secrete? - ✔✔insulin
The islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, and pancreatic
polypeptide.
What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth? - ✔✔Extractions
The removal of a tooth or teeth is an extraction procedure. The resection of the soft
tissue and excision of the bone surrounding the tooth prior to the removal is called
odontectomy.
Which organism is a normal resident flora of the intestinal tract? - ✔✔Escherichia Coli
Escherichia coli is a gram negative rod that is part of the normal flora of the intestinal
tract of humans and is also an opportunistic bacteria.
Where should the first scrub surgical technologist stand when handing towels to the
surgeon to square off an incision site? - ✔✔same side as surgeon
When using four towels for squaring off the incision site, the first towel will be passed
when standing on the same side as the surgeon.
A properly performed surgical scrub renders the skin? - ✔✔surgically clean
Where do the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct empty? - ✔✔Ampulla of Vater
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
What structure is located in the alveolar processes? - ✔✔teeth
Which of the following is the wound classification for a bronchoscopy?
A) clean
B) contaminated
C) dirty and infected
D) clean contaminated - ✔✔Clean-contaminated procedures include those when the
aerodigestive tract is entered. The bronchoscope is inserted through the mouth and into
the bronchial tubes. The procedure is considered clean, not sterile.
The enzyme used to soften the zonules of the lens before cataract surgery is? - ✔✔alpha-
chymotrypsin
Alpha-chymotrypsin is a solution used to soften the zonules holding the lens before
cataract surgery to ease extraction of the lens.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,How should the stretcher be oriented when necessary to use an elevator to transport a
patient to the OR? - ✔✔enter head first, exit feet first
The patient should be placed in the elevator entering head first and exit feet first when
being transported to the OR on the stretcher.
What is the curved, transverse incision across the lower abdomen frequently used in
gynecological surgery? - ✔✔Pfannenstiel
Pfannenstiel's incision is a curved transverse incision across the lower abdomen and
used frequently in gynecologic surgery.
When perforated metal trays are placed on the shelves of the steam sterilizing cart, they
should be positioned? - ✔✔flat
Metal trays that are perforated or have a mesh bottom should be placed on the
sterilizing cart flat.
Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of? - ✔✔Potassium
Potassium plays four important roles: influences the electrical excitability of cells; the
amount of potassium in cells affects cell volume; potassium balance is important in
maintaining the acid-base balance; the amount of potassium in cells affects cell
metabolism. Hyperkalemia, an abnormal level of potassium, can be life threatening,
causing cardiac irregularities.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,Which tissue is cut using curved Mayo scissors? - ✔✔fascia
Curved Mayo scissors are large scissors, with thick blades used to cut tough tissue, such
as fascia, tendons, and muscle.
What laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating them? - ✔✔Argon
The argon laser beam can travel through clear fluids and tissues.
Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is a/an? - ✔✔informed
consent
Informed consent must be obtained from the patient before any invasive procedure can
be performed. it protects the patient because it verifies that he/she understands the
condition to be treated and the intervention to be performed.
Which portion of the stomach surrounds the lower esophageal sphincter? - ✔✔cardia
The cardia is the portion of the stomach that surrounds the superior opening of the
stomach.
Low level disinfectants kill most microbes, but do not destroy what? - ✔✔spores
Low level disinfectants kill most types of bacteria and some fungi and viruses, but do
not kill spores and M.tuberculosis
Syndactyly refers to? - ✔✔webbed fingers
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened on the? -
✔✔backtable
The islets of Langerhans secrete? - ✔✔insulin
The islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, and pancreatic
polypeptide.
What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth? - ✔✔Extractions
The removal of a tooth or teeth is an extraction procedure. The resection of the soft
tissue and excision of the bone surrounding the tooth prior to the removal is called
odontectomy.
Which organism is a normal resident flora of the intestinal tract? - ✔✔Escherichia Coli
Escherichia coli is a gram negative rod that is part of the normal flora of the intestinal
tract of humans and is also an opportunistic bacteria.
Where should the first scrub surgical technologist stand when handing towels to the
surgeon to square off an incision site? - ✔✔same side as surgeon
When using four towels for squaring off the incision site, the first towel will be passed
when standing on the same side as the surgeon.
A properly performed surgical scrub renders the skin? - ✔✔surgically clean
Where do the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct empty? - ✔✔Ampulla of Vater
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
