AST Surgical Technologist CST Practice Exam
Questions and Answers 2025
1. Which of the following clips is used for scalp hemostasis in cranial procedures?
A. Raney
b.Filshie
c. Hemoclip
d. Backhaus - A. Raney
The local freezing of diseased tissue to facilitate removal without bleeding is:
a. Cryosurgery
b. Electrocautery
c. Diathermy
d. harmonic scalpel - A. Cryosurgery
In severe aortic stenosis, all of the following are indications of valve replacement
except?
a. Myocardial ischemia
b. Left ventricle hypertrophy
c. Palpitations
d. Angina - C. Palpitations
In the event a child requires emergency surgery, but the parents cannot be located to
sign the surgical consent:
a. Consent is signed by a court of law
b. Consent is signed by two consulting physicians
c. No consent is required
d. Consent is signed by the surgeon - b. Consent is signed by two consulting physicians
Ethylene Oxide (ETO) sterilization destroys microbes by the process of:
a. alkylation
b. Osmosis
c. Oxidation
d. Cavitation - a. Alkylation
What is the most common cause of aortic aneurysm?
a. Thrombus
b. Embolus
c. Atherosclerosis
d. Hypotension - C. Atherosclerosis
What is used to determine the position of cannulated screws during repair of a femoral
neck fracture?
a. Broach
b. Guide pins
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,c. Canal reamer
d. ruler - B. Guide pins
The instruments show below are used to dilate the:
a. urethra
b. cervix
c. Coronary artery
d. Intranasal antrostomy - B. cervix
Prior to being placed in the Eto sterilizer, items must:
a. Not be heat sensitive
b. Be lubricated with oil
c. Have residual water on their surface
d. Be completely dry - D. Be completely dry
During general anesthesia induction, which sense is the last to be experienced by the
patient?
a. Touch
b. Taste
c. Hearing
d. Smell - C. Hearing
The purpose of creating an arteriovenous fistula is for:
a. Lavage
b. Chemotherapy
c. Hemodialysis
d. Hemostasis - C. Hemodialysis
What nerve is at greater risk during a thyriodectomy?
a. Cervical sympathetic chain
b. Inferior laryngeal
c. Vagus
d. Recurrent laryngeal - D. Recurrent laryngeal
Which nerve could be compressed against the humerus in the prone position?
a. Peroneal
b. Tibial
c. Brachial
d. Radial - D. Radial
What is the surgical procedure for reducing testosterone in prostate cancer?
a. Vasectomy
b. Varicocelectomy
c. Hydrocelectomy
d. Orchiectomy - d. Orchiectomy
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,What is the name of the retractor shown below?
a. Deaver
b. Harrington
c. Kelly
d. Richardson
see page 163 for photo - B. Harrington
If the broth in the steam sterilization biological indicator is yellow after incubation, what
action to be taken?
a. Indicates autoclave chamber needs cleaning
b. Items must be immediately recalled
c. No action necessary
d. Sterile items should be immediately used - b. Items must be immediately recalled
A specimen that is 5 centimeters is equal to:
a. 4 inches
b. 2 inches
c. 3 inches
d. 5 inches - B. 2 inches
2.54 centimeters is equal to 1 inch; therefore 5 centimeters is about 2 inches.
Which of the following vessels arises from the right ventricle of the heart?
a. Descending aorta
b. Ascending aorta
c. Pulmonary vein
d. Pulmonary artery - d. Pulmonary artery
The instrument below is used to:
a. Split muscle
b. Resect tendon
c. Extend incision
d. Cut bone - D. Cut bone
The Lambotte osteotome is available in varying widths and lengths and has a sharp end
making it ideal for cutting bone.
Which area is prepped first when performing the skin prep for a skin grafting procedure?
a. Donor site
b. Only recipient site
c. Both sites together
d. Recipient site - A. Donor site
Which of the following has legal significance in the mishandling of a bullet?
a. Damage to tissue while removing specimen
b. Contaminating the specimen
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, c. Damaging ballistic markings
d. Tearing surgical gloves - C. Damaging ballistic markings
Which of the following procedures requires preoperative high-level disinfection of the
endoscope?
a. Bronchoscopy
b. Laparoscopy
c. Mediastinoscopy
d. Thoracoscopy - A. Bronchoscopy
Which of the following maintains the position of the uterus?
a. Broad ligament
b. Suspensory ligament
c. Levator muscle
d. Pubic symphysis - A. Broad ligament
What device would the surgeon use to preserve facial motor and sensory functions
during a parotidectomy?
A. Ultrasound transducer
b. Mass spectrometer
c. Dopper probe
d. Nerve stimulator - D. Nerve stimulator
if the surgeon uses a knife blade to incise the oral mucosa, the preferred blade is:
a. 20
B. 10
c. 11
d. 12 - d. 12
One option for the cold dissection of the tonsils is the use of the #12 knife blade
The gravity steam sterilization process can be rendered ineffective if the:
a. Air is removed
b. Steam quality is 97%
c. Temperature is below 250deg
d. Packs are loosely arranged on cart - c. Temperature is below 250deg
A suture used to retract a structure to the side of the operative field is a/an:
a. Retention suture
b. Traction suture
c. Bolster suture
d. Primary suture - b. Traction suture
What must the circulating surgical technologist to when placing the patient in the supine
position?
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Questions and Answers 2025
1. Which of the following clips is used for scalp hemostasis in cranial procedures?
A. Raney
b.Filshie
c. Hemoclip
d. Backhaus - A. Raney
The local freezing of diseased tissue to facilitate removal without bleeding is:
a. Cryosurgery
b. Electrocautery
c. Diathermy
d. harmonic scalpel - A. Cryosurgery
In severe aortic stenosis, all of the following are indications of valve replacement
except?
a. Myocardial ischemia
b. Left ventricle hypertrophy
c. Palpitations
d. Angina - C. Palpitations
In the event a child requires emergency surgery, but the parents cannot be located to
sign the surgical consent:
a. Consent is signed by a court of law
b. Consent is signed by two consulting physicians
c. No consent is required
d. Consent is signed by the surgeon - b. Consent is signed by two consulting physicians
Ethylene Oxide (ETO) sterilization destroys microbes by the process of:
a. alkylation
b. Osmosis
c. Oxidation
d. Cavitation - a. Alkylation
What is the most common cause of aortic aneurysm?
a. Thrombus
b. Embolus
c. Atherosclerosis
d. Hypotension - C. Atherosclerosis
What is used to determine the position of cannulated screws during repair of a femoral
neck fracture?
a. Broach
b. Guide pins
P a g e 1 | 61
,c. Canal reamer
d. ruler - B. Guide pins
The instruments show below are used to dilate the:
a. urethra
b. cervix
c. Coronary artery
d. Intranasal antrostomy - B. cervix
Prior to being placed in the Eto sterilizer, items must:
a. Not be heat sensitive
b. Be lubricated with oil
c. Have residual water on their surface
d. Be completely dry - D. Be completely dry
During general anesthesia induction, which sense is the last to be experienced by the
patient?
a. Touch
b. Taste
c. Hearing
d. Smell - C. Hearing
The purpose of creating an arteriovenous fistula is for:
a. Lavage
b. Chemotherapy
c. Hemodialysis
d. Hemostasis - C. Hemodialysis
What nerve is at greater risk during a thyriodectomy?
a. Cervical sympathetic chain
b. Inferior laryngeal
c. Vagus
d. Recurrent laryngeal - D. Recurrent laryngeal
Which nerve could be compressed against the humerus in the prone position?
a. Peroneal
b. Tibial
c. Brachial
d. Radial - D. Radial
What is the surgical procedure for reducing testosterone in prostate cancer?
a. Vasectomy
b. Varicocelectomy
c. Hydrocelectomy
d. Orchiectomy - d. Orchiectomy
P a g e 2 | 61
,What is the name of the retractor shown below?
a. Deaver
b. Harrington
c. Kelly
d. Richardson
see page 163 for photo - B. Harrington
If the broth in the steam sterilization biological indicator is yellow after incubation, what
action to be taken?
a. Indicates autoclave chamber needs cleaning
b. Items must be immediately recalled
c. No action necessary
d. Sterile items should be immediately used - b. Items must be immediately recalled
A specimen that is 5 centimeters is equal to:
a. 4 inches
b. 2 inches
c. 3 inches
d. 5 inches - B. 2 inches
2.54 centimeters is equal to 1 inch; therefore 5 centimeters is about 2 inches.
Which of the following vessels arises from the right ventricle of the heart?
a. Descending aorta
b. Ascending aorta
c. Pulmonary vein
d. Pulmonary artery - d. Pulmonary artery
The instrument below is used to:
a. Split muscle
b. Resect tendon
c. Extend incision
d. Cut bone - D. Cut bone
The Lambotte osteotome is available in varying widths and lengths and has a sharp end
making it ideal for cutting bone.
Which area is prepped first when performing the skin prep for a skin grafting procedure?
a. Donor site
b. Only recipient site
c. Both sites together
d. Recipient site - A. Donor site
Which of the following has legal significance in the mishandling of a bullet?
a. Damage to tissue while removing specimen
b. Contaminating the specimen
P a g e 3 | 61
, c. Damaging ballistic markings
d. Tearing surgical gloves - C. Damaging ballistic markings
Which of the following procedures requires preoperative high-level disinfection of the
endoscope?
a. Bronchoscopy
b. Laparoscopy
c. Mediastinoscopy
d. Thoracoscopy - A. Bronchoscopy
Which of the following maintains the position of the uterus?
a. Broad ligament
b. Suspensory ligament
c. Levator muscle
d. Pubic symphysis - A. Broad ligament
What device would the surgeon use to preserve facial motor and sensory functions
during a parotidectomy?
A. Ultrasound transducer
b. Mass spectrometer
c. Dopper probe
d. Nerve stimulator - D. Nerve stimulator
if the surgeon uses a knife blade to incise the oral mucosa, the preferred blade is:
a. 20
B. 10
c. 11
d. 12 - d. 12
One option for the cold dissection of the tonsils is the use of the #12 knife blade
The gravity steam sterilization process can be rendered ineffective if the:
a. Air is removed
b. Steam quality is 97%
c. Temperature is below 250deg
d. Packs are loosely arranged on cart - c. Temperature is below 250deg
A suture used to retract a structure to the side of the operative field is a/an:
a. Retention suture
b. Traction suture
c. Bolster suture
d. Primary suture - b. Traction suture
What must the circulating surgical technologist to when placing the patient in the supine
position?
P a g e 4 | 61
