American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) (SA-C)
Certification Exam Comprehensive Surgical Assistants
Certification Exam Review Guide NEWEST 2026-
2027 ACTUAL EXAM WITH COMPLETE 350
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (100% VERIFIED ANSWERS)
ALREADY GRADED A+ PROFESSOR VERIFIED
According to the National Classification, what does a stage 3 cancer of the cervix involve? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Involving the lower third of vagina and pelvic walls.
Esophageal varices occur due to obstruction of which vein? - CORRECT ANSWER: Portal vein.
How can radial nerve damage be identified in a midshaft humeral fracture? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Inability to extend fingers, radiating pain to elbow, absence of sensation to pinprick
over dorsum of forearm, ability to flex forearm
How can tissue trauma be minimized during suturing? - CORRECT ANSWER: By using sutured
swaged to a needle.
How do bones grow in diameter? - CORRECT ANSWER: By the combined action of osteoblasts
and osteoclasts
How is bleeding from a tonsillar bed controlled? - CORRECT ANSWER: With suture ligature
rather than pressure.
How is oxygen carried in the blood? - CORRECT ANSWER: In combination with the
hemoglobin of the red blood cells and as physically dissolved oxygen in plasma
,How many air exchanges per hour are recommended for infection control in the OR? -
CORRECT ANSWER: 15 air exchanges.
How many questions are on the ABSA Certification Examination? - CORRECT ANSWER: 150
multiple choice and true/false questions.
How should a prep site with a colostomy be scrubbed? - CORRECT ANSWER: Last with
sponges used once and discarded.
In a longitudinal fracture, how does the break run compared to a comminuted fracture? -
CORRECT ANSWER: The break runs parallel with the bone; a comminuted fracture is
splintered into fragments.
In a two-bottle water seal suction setup, what does the first bottle provide? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Suction control
In two-layer bowel anastomosis, what type of sutures are used for the inner mucosal layer? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Absorbable sutures
In which condition is a loop colostomy done? - CORRECT ANSWER: Abdominoperineal
resection.
In which condition is a vaginal hysterectomy contraindicated? - CORRECT ANSWER: All of
the above (Endometriosis, Pelvic inflammatory disease, Large uterine myoma).
In which demographic does endometriosis mainly occur? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Postmenopausal females.
In which diagnosis would amputation not be necessary? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Osteochondroma
,In which locations can an ectopic pregnancy occur? - CORRECT ANSWER: The cervix, a
uterine ligament, and the abdominal cavity.
In which patients with uterine myomas is a myomectomy the procedure of choice? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Nullipara patient with a fertility problem.
In which type of fractures are intramedullary rods used? - CORRECT ANSWER: Shaft fractures
of long bones
To produce inspiration, what pressure must be lower than atmospheric pressure? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Intrapleural pressure
Trace the formation and excretion of urine. - CORRECT ANSWER: Bowman's capsule,
proximal tubule, glomeruli, loop of Henle, collecting tubule, renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, urethra
What adheres to the prosthesis but not to the bone in bone cement? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Methyl methacrylate
What anastomosis is accomplished in a Whipple procedure? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Pancreatojejunostomy, Choledochojejunostomy, gastrojejunostomy
What approaches can be used for removal of the prostate gland? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Perineal, retropubic, suprapubic, transurethral
What are bumpers or guards used for on tension sutures? - CORRECT ANSWER: To equalize
tension on the wound edges.
What are cords of strong, elastic fibrous tissue that attach muscle to bones? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Tendons
, What are forms of skin traction for fracture treatment? - CORRECT ANSWER: Buck's
extension, Russell's traction, body spica
What are potential sources for surgical infection? - CORRECT ANSWER: Circulating air,
patient's bronchial tree, scrub team's hair, patient's circulating blood, instruments, patient's and
scrub team's skin.
What are predisposing factors that increase the risk of infection? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Duration of operation, invasive monitoring techniques, gastrointestinal surgery, prosthetic
devices.
What are serious postoperative problems following parathyroidectomy? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Tetany.
What are skeletal muscles classified as? - CORRECT ANSWER: Striated voluntary
What are solutions whose volumes and pressures remain the same if separated by a membrane? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Isotonic solutions
What are some examples of antibiotics listed in pharmacology? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Bacitracin, Ancef (cefazolin).
What are some examples of surgical & procedural terminology? - CORRECT ANSWER: Terms
used to describe surgical procedures and instruments.
What are some surgical procedures in cardio-thoracic surgery? - CORRECT ANSWER: Mitral &
Aortic Valve Replacement, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft.
What are some surgical procedures in urological surgery? - CORRECT ANSWER: Bladder
Catheterization, Bladder Suspensions, Nephrectomy, Renal Transplantation.
Certification Exam Comprehensive Surgical Assistants
Certification Exam Review Guide NEWEST 2026-
2027 ACTUAL EXAM WITH COMPLETE 350
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (100% VERIFIED ANSWERS)
ALREADY GRADED A+ PROFESSOR VERIFIED
According to the National Classification, what does a stage 3 cancer of the cervix involve? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Involving the lower third of vagina and pelvic walls.
Esophageal varices occur due to obstruction of which vein? - CORRECT ANSWER: Portal vein.
How can radial nerve damage be identified in a midshaft humeral fracture? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Inability to extend fingers, radiating pain to elbow, absence of sensation to pinprick
over dorsum of forearm, ability to flex forearm
How can tissue trauma be minimized during suturing? - CORRECT ANSWER: By using sutured
swaged to a needle.
How do bones grow in diameter? - CORRECT ANSWER: By the combined action of osteoblasts
and osteoclasts
How is bleeding from a tonsillar bed controlled? - CORRECT ANSWER: With suture ligature
rather than pressure.
How is oxygen carried in the blood? - CORRECT ANSWER: In combination with the
hemoglobin of the red blood cells and as physically dissolved oxygen in plasma
,How many air exchanges per hour are recommended for infection control in the OR? -
CORRECT ANSWER: 15 air exchanges.
How many questions are on the ABSA Certification Examination? - CORRECT ANSWER: 150
multiple choice and true/false questions.
How should a prep site with a colostomy be scrubbed? - CORRECT ANSWER: Last with
sponges used once and discarded.
In a longitudinal fracture, how does the break run compared to a comminuted fracture? -
CORRECT ANSWER: The break runs parallel with the bone; a comminuted fracture is
splintered into fragments.
In a two-bottle water seal suction setup, what does the first bottle provide? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Suction control
In two-layer bowel anastomosis, what type of sutures are used for the inner mucosal layer? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Absorbable sutures
In which condition is a loop colostomy done? - CORRECT ANSWER: Abdominoperineal
resection.
In which condition is a vaginal hysterectomy contraindicated? - CORRECT ANSWER: All of
the above (Endometriosis, Pelvic inflammatory disease, Large uterine myoma).
In which demographic does endometriosis mainly occur? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Postmenopausal females.
In which diagnosis would amputation not be necessary? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Osteochondroma
,In which locations can an ectopic pregnancy occur? - CORRECT ANSWER: The cervix, a
uterine ligament, and the abdominal cavity.
In which patients with uterine myomas is a myomectomy the procedure of choice? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Nullipara patient with a fertility problem.
In which type of fractures are intramedullary rods used? - CORRECT ANSWER: Shaft fractures
of long bones
To produce inspiration, what pressure must be lower than atmospheric pressure? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Intrapleural pressure
Trace the formation and excretion of urine. - CORRECT ANSWER: Bowman's capsule,
proximal tubule, glomeruli, loop of Henle, collecting tubule, renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, urethra
What adheres to the prosthesis but not to the bone in bone cement? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Methyl methacrylate
What anastomosis is accomplished in a Whipple procedure? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Pancreatojejunostomy, Choledochojejunostomy, gastrojejunostomy
What approaches can be used for removal of the prostate gland? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Perineal, retropubic, suprapubic, transurethral
What are bumpers or guards used for on tension sutures? - CORRECT ANSWER: To equalize
tension on the wound edges.
What are cords of strong, elastic fibrous tissue that attach muscle to bones? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Tendons
, What are forms of skin traction for fracture treatment? - CORRECT ANSWER: Buck's
extension, Russell's traction, body spica
What are potential sources for surgical infection? - CORRECT ANSWER: Circulating air,
patient's bronchial tree, scrub team's hair, patient's circulating blood, instruments, patient's and
scrub team's skin.
What are predisposing factors that increase the risk of infection? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Duration of operation, invasive monitoring techniques, gastrointestinal surgery, prosthetic
devices.
What are serious postoperative problems following parathyroidectomy? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Tetany.
What are skeletal muscles classified as? - CORRECT ANSWER: Striated voluntary
What are solutions whose volumes and pressures remain the same if separated by a membrane? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Isotonic solutions
What are some examples of antibiotics listed in pharmacology? - CORRECT ANSWER:
Bacitracin, Ancef (cefazolin).
What are some examples of surgical & procedural terminology? - CORRECT ANSWER: Terms
used to describe surgical procedures and instruments.
What are some surgical procedures in cardio-thoracic surgery? - CORRECT ANSWER: Mitral &
Aortic Valve Replacement, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft.
What are some surgical procedures in urological surgery? - CORRECT ANSWER: Bladder
Catheterization, Bladder Suspensions, Nephrectomy, Renal Transplantation.
