Sarah's AST exam study guide(tests 1, 2, 3, 4,
5...bonus 1 & 2) UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Which of the following structures is located in the alveolar processes?
A. Teeth
B. Villi
C. Sinuses
D. Tonsils - CORRECT ANSWER - A. The teeth are located in the sockets of the alveolar
processes of the mandible and maxillae.
Which of the following is the wound classification for a bronchoscopy?
A. Clean
B. Contaminated
C. Dirty and infected
D. Clean-contaminated - CORRECT ANSWER - D. Clean contaminated procedures
include those when the aero digestive tract is entered. The bronchoscope is inserted through the
mouth and into the brachial tubes. The procedure is considered clean, not sterile.
The enzyme used to soften the zones of the lens before cataract surgery is:
A. Atropine Sulfate
B. Alpha-chymotrypsin
C. Acetylcholine chloride
D. Pilocarpine hydrochloride - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Alpha-chymotrypsin is a
solution used to soften the zones holding the lens before cataract surgery to ease extraction of the
lens.
How should the stretcher be oriented when necessary to use an elevator to transport a patient to
the OR?
A. Place stretcher sideways in elevator
,B. Enter head first, exit feet first
C. Position in elevator is irrelevant
D. Enter feet first, exit head first - CORRECT ANSWER - B. The patient should be placed
in the elevator entering head first and exit feet first when being transported to the OR on the
stretcher.
Which of the following is a curved, transverse incision across the lower abdomen frequently
used in gynecological surgery?
A. Midline
B. Paramedian
C. McBurney's
D. Pfannenstiel - CORRECT ANSWER - D. 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:
A. Flat
B. Upside down
C. Vertical
D. Angled - CORRECT ANSWER - A. Metal trays that are perforated or have a mesh
bottom should be placed on the sterilizing cart flat
Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of:
A. Calcium
B. Nitrogen
C. Potassium
D. Albumin - CORRECT ANSWER - C. 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.
,Which of the following tissues are cut using curved Mayo scissors?
A. Fascia
B. Periosteum
C. Dura mater
D. arterial wall - CORRECT ANSWER - A. Curved Mayo scissors are large scissors, with
thick blades used to cut tough tissue, such as fascia, tendons and muscle
Which laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating them?
A. Argon
B. excimer
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Neodymium: YAG - CORRECT ANSWER - A. The argon laser beam can travel
through clear fluids and tissues
Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is a/an:
A. Tort
B. Malpractice
C. Personal liability
D. Informed consent - CORRECT ANSWER - D. 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?
A. Cardia
B. Fundus
C. Pylorus
D. Antrum - CORRECT ANSWER - A. 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:
A. Viruses
B. Bacteria
C. Fungi
D. Spores - CORRECT ANSWER - D. Low-level disinfectants kill most types of bacteria
and some fungi and viruses, but do not kill spores and M. tuberculosis
Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed fingers
C. Fused tarsals
D. Torn ligaments - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Webbing of the digits is syndactyly
The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened on the:
A. Stretcher
B. OR table
C. Backtable.
D. Mayo stand - CORRECT ANSWER - C. Surgical packs should be opened on the
backtable
The islets of Langerhans secrete:
A. Bile
B. Insulin
C. Intrinsic factor
D. Inhibiting hormones - CORRECT ANSWER - B. The islets of Langerhans secrete
glucagon, insulin, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide
What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth?
A. Cleft palate repair
5...bonus 1 & 2) UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Which of the following structures is located in the alveolar processes?
A. Teeth
B. Villi
C. Sinuses
D. Tonsils - CORRECT ANSWER - A. The teeth are located in the sockets of the alveolar
processes of the mandible and maxillae.
Which of the following is the wound classification for a bronchoscopy?
A. Clean
B. Contaminated
C. Dirty and infected
D. Clean-contaminated - CORRECT ANSWER - D. Clean contaminated procedures
include those when the aero digestive tract is entered. The bronchoscope is inserted through the
mouth and into the brachial tubes. The procedure is considered clean, not sterile.
The enzyme used to soften the zones of the lens before cataract surgery is:
A. Atropine Sulfate
B. Alpha-chymotrypsin
C. Acetylcholine chloride
D. Pilocarpine hydrochloride - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Alpha-chymotrypsin is a
solution used to soften the zones holding the lens before cataract surgery to ease extraction of the
lens.
How should the stretcher be oriented when necessary to use an elevator to transport a patient to
the OR?
A. Place stretcher sideways in elevator
,B. Enter head first, exit feet first
C. Position in elevator is irrelevant
D. Enter feet first, exit head first - CORRECT ANSWER - B. The patient should be placed
in the elevator entering head first and exit feet first when being transported to the OR on the
stretcher.
Which of the following is a curved, transverse incision across the lower abdomen frequently
used in gynecological surgery?
A. Midline
B. Paramedian
C. McBurney's
D. Pfannenstiel - CORRECT ANSWER - D. 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:
A. Flat
B. Upside down
C. Vertical
D. Angled - CORRECT ANSWER - A. Metal trays that are perforated or have a mesh
bottom should be placed on the sterilizing cart flat
Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of:
A. Calcium
B. Nitrogen
C. Potassium
D. Albumin - CORRECT ANSWER - C. 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.
,Which of the following tissues are cut using curved Mayo scissors?
A. Fascia
B. Periosteum
C. Dura mater
D. arterial wall - CORRECT ANSWER - A. Curved Mayo scissors are large scissors, with
thick blades used to cut tough tissue, such as fascia, tendons and muscle
Which laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating them?
A. Argon
B. excimer
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Neodymium: YAG - CORRECT ANSWER - A. The argon laser beam can travel
through clear fluids and tissues
Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is a/an:
A. Tort
B. Malpractice
C. Personal liability
D. Informed consent - CORRECT ANSWER - D. 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?
A. Cardia
B. Fundus
C. Pylorus
D. Antrum - CORRECT ANSWER - A. 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:
A. Viruses
B. Bacteria
C. Fungi
D. Spores - CORRECT ANSWER - D. Low-level disinfectants kill most types of bacteria
and some fungi and viruses, but do not kill spores and M. tuberculosis
Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed fingers
C. Fused tarsals
D. Torn ligaments - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Webbing of the digits is syndactyly
The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened on the:
A. Stretcher
B. OR table
C. Backtable.
D. Mayo stand - CORRECT ANSWER - C. Surgical packs should be opened on the
backtable
The islets of Langerhans secrete:
A. Bile
B. Insulin
C. Intrinsic factor
D. Inhibiting hormones - CORRECT ANSWER - B. The islets of Langerhans secrete
glucagon, insulin, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide
What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth?
A. Cleft palate repair
