Medical Assistant Certification Exam Questions and Answers 2026/2027 | A+
Grade Comprehensive Study Guide for Certification Preparation
What are the 4 parts to a patient's medical history? - (answer)chief complaint (CC), history of present
illness (HPI), Past, Family and Social History (PFSH), and review of systems (ROS)
Vital signs reflect the functions of what three body processes necessary for life? - (answer)body
temperature, respiration and heart function
what are the 4 vital signs of body function? - (answer)temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure
Give the normal temp ranges for the following sites: rectal, oral, axillary and tympanic membrane? -
(answer)rectal 98.6-100
oral 97.6-99.6
axillary 96.6-98.6
tympanic 9.8.6
febrile v afebrile - (answer)febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is absence of fever
3 types of fever? - (answer)intermittent, remittent and continuous
oral temperature is not taken from which patients? - (answer)infants and children less than 6 yo, patients
who had face, neck nose or mouth surgery, those receiving oxygen, patients w altered mental status and
others
how long should you wait for patients who just finished eating drinking or smoking to take temp? -
(answer)30 minutes
What method of taking temp is the least accurate? - (answer)axillary (underarm)
normal adult pulse range - (answer)60-100 BPM
,Medical Assistant Certification Exam Questions and Answers 2026/2027 | A+
Grade Comprehensive Study Guide for Certification Preparation
what is the site most commonly used for taking pulse? - (answer)radial artery in wrist
normal range for adults respiration? - (answer)12-20 per minute
what are 3 respiration rate abnormalities? - (answer)apnea- temporary complete absence of breathing
tachypnea- rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
What are to abnormalities in respiratory rhythm? - (answer)Cheyne-Stokes- regular pattern of irregular
breathing rate
Orthopnea- difficult to breathe unless in upwright position
what does depth of respiration refer to? - (answer)amount of air that is inspired and expired during
respiration
what are three abnormalities in depth of respirations? - (answer)hypoventilation-reduced amt of air
enters lungs
hypernea- abnormal inc in depth and rate of breathing
hyperventilation- increased amt of air entering lungs
Define blood pressure - (answer)measurement of the amt of force exerted by the blood on the
peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in mmHg
BP consists of what 2 components? - (answer)highest (systole) and lowest (diastole) amt of pressure
exerted during cardiac cycle
Name some common errors in blood pressure measurmens - (answer)improper cuff size, arm is not at
heart level, cuff not deflated, improper cuff placement
,Medical Assistant Certification Exam Questions and Answers 2026/2027 | A+
Grade Comprehensive Study Guide for Certification Preparation
anthropometric refers to what? - (answer)comparative measurements of the bdoy
What are the 4 principles of physical examination? - (answer)inspection, palpation, percussion,
ausculatationq
to make a diagnosis the physician utilizes what 3 sources? - (answer)patient's health history, physical
exam, and lab tests
horizontal recumbent position - (answer)used for most physical exams
dorsal recumbent position - (answer)
fowler's position - (answer)used to promote drainage or ease breathing
dorsal lithotomy position - (answer)used for exam of pelvic orgns
prone position - (answer)used to examine spine and back
Sim's position - (answer)used for rectal examination
knee-chest position - (answer)used for rectal and vaginal exams
trendelenburg position - (answer)used for surgical procedures of pelvis and abdomen
Which organization is responsible for the identification of the various hazards present in the workplace
and for the creation of rules and regulation to minimize exposure to hazards? - (answer)Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
, Medical Assistant Certification Exam Questions and Answers 2026/2027 | A+
Grade Comprehensive Study Guide for Certification Preparation
What are the 3 categories for safety hazards? - (answer)physical hazards, chemical hazards, biological
hazards
for an external hemorrhage how is bleeding controlled? - (answer)elevating the affected part above
heart level and applying direct pressure to the wound
when does shock occur? - (answer)when there is insuffcient return of blood flow to the heart, resulting
in inadequate supply of oxygen
what are the common symptoms of shock? - (answer)pale, cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse,
increased shallow breathing rate, expressionless face
first aid for shcok - (answer)maintain an open airway, call for assistance, keep victim lying dow, attempt
to control cause of shock
what are agents? - (answer)infectious microorganisms that can be classified into groups
portal of exit and portal of entry - (answer)portal of exit is the method by which infectious agent leaves
its resevoir; portal of entry allows infectious agent access to suceptible host
mode of transmition - (answer)specific ways in which microorganisms travel from resevoir to susceptible
host. 5 main types: contact, droplet, airborne, common vehicle and vectorborne
define medical asepsis - (answer)the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms after they leave the body
what procedure is used in medical aspesis using various chemicals that can destroy pathogenic
microorganisms? - (answer)disinfection
what is the least expensive and most readily available disenfection? - (answer)a 1:10 solution of
household beach
Grade Comprehensive Study Guide for Certification Preparation
What are the 4 parts to a patient's medical history? - (answer)chief complaint (CC), history of present
illness (HPI), Past, Family and Social History (PFSH), and review of systems (ROS)
Vital signs reflect the functions of what three body processes necessary for life? - (answer)body
temperature, respiration and heart function
what are the 4 vital signs of body function? - (answer)temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure
Give the normal temp ranges for the following sites: rectal, oral, axillary and tympanic membrane? -
(answer)rectal 98.6-100
oral 97.6-99.6
axillary 96.6-98.6
tympanic 9.8.6
febrile v afebrile - (answer)febrile is the presence of fever, afebrile is absence of fever
3 types of fever? - (answer)intermittent, remittent and continuous
oral temperature is not taken from which patients? - (answer)infants and children less than 6 yo, patients
who had face, neck nose or mouth surgery, those receiving oxygen, patients w altered mental status and
others
how long should you wait for patients who just finished eating drinking or smoking to take temp? -
(answer)30 minutes
What method of taking temp is the least accurate? - (answer)axillary (underarm)
normal adult pulse range - (answer)60-100 BPM
,Medical Assistant Certification Exam Questions and Answers 2026/2027 | A+
Grade Comprehensive Study Guide for Certification Preparation
what is the site most commonly used for taking pulse? - (answer)radial artery in wrist
normal range for adults respiration? - (answer)12-20 per minute
what are 3 respiration rate abnormalities? - (answer)apnea- temporary complete absence of breathing
tachypnea- rate > 40.min
bradypnea- decease in number of respirations
What are to abnormalities in respiratory rhythm? - (answer)Cheyne-Stokes- regular pattern of irregular
breathing rate
Orthopnea- difficult to breathe unless in upwright position
what does depth of respiration refer to? - (answer)amount of air that is inspired and expired during
respiration
what are three abnormalities in depth of respirations? - (answer)hypoventilation-reduced amt of air
enters lungs
hypernea- abnormal inc in depth and rate of breathing
hyperventilation- increased amt of air entering lungs
Define blood pressure - (answer)measurement of the amt of force exerted by the blood on the
peripheral arterial walls and is expressed in mmHg
BP consists of what 2 components? - (answer)highest (systole) and lowest (diastole) amt of pressure
exerted during cardiac cycle
Name some common errors in blood pressure measurmens - (answer)improper cuff size, arm is not at
heart level, cuff not deflated, improper cuff placement
,Medical Assistant Certification Exam Questions and Answers 2026/2027 | A+
Grade Comprehensive Study Guide for Certification Preparation
anthropometric refers to what? - (answer)comparative measurements of the bdoy
What are the 4 principles of physical examination? - (answer)inspection, palpation, percussion,
ausculatationq
to make a diagnosis the physician utilizes what 3 sources? - (answer)patient's health history, physical
exam, and lab tests
horizontal recumbent position - (answer)used for most physical exams
dorsal recumbent position - (answer)
fowler's position - (answer)used to promote drainage or ease breathing
dorsal lithotomy position - (answer)used for exam of pelvic orgns
prone position - (answer)used to examine spine and back
Sim's position - (answer)used for rectal examination
knee-chest position - (answer)used for rectal and vaginal exams
trendelenburg position - (answer)used for surgical procedures of pelvis and abdomen
Which organization is responsible for the identification of the various hazards present in the workplace
and for the creation of rules and regulation to minimize exposure to hazards? - (answer)Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
, Medical Assistant Certification Exam Questions and Answers 2026/2027 | A+
Grade Comprehensive Study Guide for Certification Preparation
What are the 3 categories for safety hazards? - (answer)physical hazards, chemical hazards, biological
hazards
for an external hemorrhage how is bleeding controlled? - (answer)elevating the affected part above
heart level and applying direct pressure to the wound
when does shock occur? - (answer)when there is insuffcient return of blood flow to the heart, resulting
in inadequate supply of oxygen
what are the common symptoms of shock? - (answer)pale, cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse,
increased shallow breathing rate, expressionless face
first aid for shcok - (answer)maintain an open airway, call for assistance, keep victim lying dow, attempt
to control cause of shock
what are agents? - (answer)infectious microorganisms that can be classified into groups
portal of exit and portal of entry - (answer)portal of exit is the method by which infectious agent leaves
its resevoir; portal of entry allows infectious agent access to suceptible host
mode of transmition - (answer)specific ways in which microorganisms travel from resevoir to susceptible
host. 5 main types: contact, droplet, airborne, common vehicle and vectorborne
define medical asepsis - (answer)the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms after they leave the body
what procedure is used in medical aspesis using various chemicals that can destroy pathogenic
microorganisms? - (answer)disinfection
what is the least expensive and most readily available disenfection? - (answer)a 1:10 solution of
household beach
