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ABSA (American Board of Surgical Assistant) Exam
LATEST ALL 300 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
SOLUTIONS AND RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
Q1. A surgeon requests retraction of the gallbladder fundus superiorly. Which anatomical
structure is being retracted?
A) Neck of the gallbladder
B) Body of the gallbladder
C) Fundus of the gallbladder
D) Cystic duct
Answer: C) The fundus is the rounded distal portion of the gallbladder, located inferiorly.
Superior retraction exposes the cystic duct and artery in the hepatocystic triangle.
Q2. During a thyroidectomy, the surgeon identifies and preserves the recurrent laryngeal
nerve. What is the primary function of this nerve?
A) Sensation to the skin of the neck
B) Motor function to the larynx (vocal cord movement)
C) Sympathetic innervation to the thyroid
D) Parasympathetic innervation to the pharynx
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Answer: B) The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates the intrinsic muscles of the larynx,
controlling vocal cord movement. Injury causes hoarseness or airway compromise.
Q3. The superior thyroid artery is a branch of which major artery?
A) Common carotid
B) External carotid
C) Internal carotid
D) Subclavian
Answer: B) The superior thyroid artery branches from the external carotid artery. It supplies the
superior pole of the thyroid gland.
Q4. The ligament of Treitz suspends which structure?
A) Liver
B) Duodenum
C) Stomach
D) Transverse colon
Answer: B) The ligament of Treitz suspends the duodenojejunal flexure, marking the transition
from the duodenum to the jejunum.
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Q5. What is the anatomical landmark for the bifurcation of the common carotid artery?
A) Cricoid cartilage
B) Thyroid cartilage
C) Hyoid bone
D) Sternal notch
Answer: B) The common carotid artery bifurcates at the level of the thyroid cartilage (C4
vertebral level).
Q6. The saphenous vein is commonly harvested for which surgical procedure?
A) Carotid endarterectomy
B) Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
C) Appendectomy
D) Cholecystectomy
Answer: B) The saphenous vein is the most common conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting
(CABG).
Q7. Which structure is at risk during dissection of the femoral triangle?
A) Sciatic nerve
B) Femoral nerve
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C) Common peroneal nerve
D) Tibial nerve
Answer: B) The femoral nerve is located lateral to the femoral artery in the femoral triangle and
is at risk during dissection.
Q8. The parietal peritoneum is innervated by which type of nerve fibers?
A) Visceral afferents
B) Somatic afferents
C) Sympathetic fibers
D) Parasympathetic fibers
Answer: B) The parietal peritoneum is innervated by somatic afferent nerves, making it sensitive
to pain, pressure, and temperature. Visceral peritoneum has visceral afferents.
Q9. What is the primary blood supply to the gallbladder?
A) Cystic artery
B) Right hepatic artery
C) Gastroduodenal artery
D) Superior mesenteric artery
ABSA (American Board of Surgical Assistant) Exam
LATEST ALL 300 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
SOLUTIONS AND RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
Q1. A surgeon requests retraction of the gallbladder fundus superiorly. Which anatomical
structure is being retracted?
A) Neck of the gallbladder
B) Body of the gallbladder
C) Fundus of the gallbladder
D) Cystic duct
Answer: C) The fundus is the rounded distal portion of the gallbladder, located inferiorly.
Superior retraction exposes the cystic duct and artery in the hepatocystic triangle.
Q2. During a thyroidectomy, the surgeon identifies and preserves the recurrent laryngeal
nerve. What is the primary function of this nerve?
A) Sensation to the skin of the neck
B) Motor function to the larynx (vocal cord movement)
C) Sympathetic innervation to the thyroid
D) Parasympathetic innervation to the pharynx
, Page 2 of 119
Answer: B) The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates the intrinsic muscles of the larynx,
controlling vocal cord movement. Injury causes hoarseness or airway compromise.
Q3. The superior thyroid artery is a branch of which major artery?
A) Common carotid
B) External carotid
C) Internal carotid
D) Subclavian
Answer: B) The superior thyroid artery branches from the external carotid artery. It supplies the
superior pole of the thyroid gland.
Q4. The ligament of Treitz suspends which structure?
A) Liver
B) Duodenum
C) Stomach
D) Transverse colon
Answer: B) The ligament of Treitz suspends the duodenojejunal flexure, marking the transition
from the duodenum to the jejunum.
, Page 3 of 119
Q5. What is the anatomical landmark for the bifurcation of the common carotid artery?
A) Cricoid cartilage
B) Thyroid cartilage
C) Hyoid bone
D) Sternal notch
Answer: B) The common carotid artery bifurcates at the level of the thyroid cartilage (C4
vertebral level).
Q6. The saphenous vein is commonly harvested for which surgical procedure?
A) Carotid endarterectomy
B) Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
C) Appendectomy
D) Cholecystectomy
Answer: B) The saphenous vein is the most common conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting
(CABG).
Q7. Which structure is at risk during dissection of the femoral triangle?
A) Sciatic nerve
B) Femoral nerve
, Page 4 of 119
C) Common peroneal nerve
D) Tibial nerve
Answer: B) The femoral nerve is located lateral to the femoral artery in the femoral triangle and
is at risk during dissection.
Q8. The parietal peritoneum is innervated by which type of nerve fibers?
A) Visceral afferents
B) Somatic afferents
C) Sympathetic fibers
D) Parasympathetic fibers
Answer: B) The parietal peritoneum is innervated by somatic afferent nerves, making it sensitive
to pain, pressure, and temperature. Visceral peritoneum has visceral afferents.
Q9. What is the primary blood supply to the gallbladder?
A) Cystic artery
B) Right hepatic artery
C) Gastroduodenal artery
D) Superior mesenteric artery
