Page 1 of 47
DRE FINAL EXAM PREP 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Section 1: Foundational Physiology & Vital Signs
1. The unit of measure utilized to determine blood pressure is which of the
following?
A) mm FE
B) PSI
C) mm Hg
D) ml HG
Rationale: Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg),
referring to the height of a mercury column in a sphygmomanometer.
2. Efferent nerves are also known as which of the following types of nerves?
A) Sensory
B) Sympathetic
C) Parasympathetic
D) Motor
Rationale: Efferent nerves carry signals away from the central nervous system to
effectors such as muscles and glands and are commonly referred to as "motor"
nerves.
3. In a blood pressure measurement, the higher number is which type of
pressure?
A) Subordinate
B) Diatomic
C) Isobaric
D) Systolic
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,Page 2 of 47
Rationale: Systolic pressure represents the pressure in the arteries when the
heart contracts (beats).
4. The lower number in a blood pressure measurement is called the ______
pressure.
A) Isobaric
B) Brachial
C) Diastolic
D) Systolic
Rationale: The lower number is diastolic pressure, representing the pressure in
the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
5. Where does a DRE ALWAYS check the pulse rate?
A) Right radial
B) Left radial
C) Carotid
D) Brachial
Rationale: Unless physically impossible, a DRE will always use the left radial pulse
point to measure a subject's pulse rate.
6. Which artery is used in the measurement of blood pressure?
A) Radial artery
B) Carotid artery
C) Brachial artery
D) Femoral artery
Rationale: The brachial artery, located in the upper arm, is the standard artery
used for blood pressure measurement.
7. The technical term for the dynamic balance involving levels of salt, water,
sugars, and other materials in body fluids is which of the following?
A) Metabolism
B) Homeostasis
C) Osmosis
D) Diffusion
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Rationale: Homeostasis refers to the body's attempt to maintain a stable internal
environment, including the balance of water, salts, and other substances.
8. The part of the nerve cell that sends the neurotransmitter is which of the
following?
A) Neuron
B) Axon
C) Dendrite
D) Synapse
Rationale: The axon is the long projection of a neuron that conducts electrical
impulses and releases neurotransmitters at its terminal.
9. The gap between two nerve cells is called the which of the following?
A) Axon
B) Dendrite
C) Synapse
D) Receptor
Rationale: The synapse is the junction between two neurons where
neurotransmitters are released to carry messages across the gap.
10. The nerve cell that receives neurotransmitters is called the which of the
following?
A) Axon
B) Dendrite
C) Synapse
D) Soma
Rationale: Dendrites are the branched projections of a neuron that receive signals
from other neurons.
11. Sympathomimetic and parasympathomimetic nerve fibers are sub-systems of
which nervous system?
A) Somatic nervous system
B) Central nervous system
C) Autonomic nervous system
D) Peripheral nervous system
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Rationale: The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic
(sympathomimetic) and parasympathetic (parasympathomimetic) divisions.
12. Which of the following is the only artery in the human body that carries blood
depleted of oxygen?
A) Aorta
B) Pulmonary artery
C) Carotid artery
D) Renal artery
Rationale: The pulmonary artery is unique in that it carries deoxygenated blood
from the heart to the lungs.
13. The instrument used to measure blood pressure is correctly spelled as which
of the following?
A) Sphygmomanometor
B) Sphygmomanometer
C) Sphygomanometer
D) Sphygmomanometre
Rationale: The correct spelling is sphygmomanometer, the device used to
measure blood pressure.
14. Is the diaphragm a component (part) of the sphygmomanometer?
A) Yes
B) No
Rationale: The diaphragm is the part of the stethoscope used to hear blood flow
sounds, not a component of the sphygmomanometer itself.
15. What is the average blood pressure range for the purposes of the DRE drug
influence evaluation?
A) 100-120/60-80
B) 120-140/70-90
C) 140-160/90-100
D) 90-110/50-70
Rationale: The DRE average range for blood pressure is approximately 120-140
systolic over 70-90 diastolic.
4|Page
DRE FINAL EXAM PREP 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Section 1: Foundational Physiology & Vital Signs
1. The unit of measure utilized to determine blood pressure is which of the
following?
A) mm FE
B) PSI
C) mm Hg
D) ml HG
Rationale: Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg),
referring to the height of a mercury column in a sphygmomanometer.
2. Efferent nerves are also known as which of the following types of nerves?
A) Sensory
B) Sympathetic
C) Parasympathetic
D) Motor
Rationale: Efferent nerves carry signals away from the central nervous system to
effectors such as muscles and glands and are commonly referred to as "motor"
nerves.
3. In a blood pressure measurement, the higher number is which type of
pressure?
A) Subordinate
B) Diatomic
C) Isobaric
D) Systolic
1|Page
,Page 2 of 47
Rationale: Systolic pressure represents the pressure in the arteries when the
heart contracts (beats).
4. The lower number in a blood pressure measurement is called the ______
pressure.
A) Isobaric
B) Brachial
C) Diastolic
D) Systolic
Rationale: The lower number is diastolic pressure, representing the pressure in
the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
5. Where does a DRE ALWAYS check the pulse rate?
A) Right radial
B) Left radial
C) Carotid
D) Brachial
Rationale: Unless physically impossible, a DRE will always use the left radial pulse
point to measure a subject's pulse rate.
6. Which artery is used in the measurement of blood pressure?
A) Radial artery
B) Carotid artery
C) Brachial artery
D) Femoral artery
Rationale: The brachial artery, located in the upper arm, is the standard artery
used for blood pressure measurement.
7. The technical term for the dynamic balance involving levels of salt, water,
sugars, and other materials in body fluids is which of the following?
A) Metabolism
B) Homeostasis
C) Osmosis
D) Diffusion
2|Page
,Page 3 of 47
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to the body's attempt to maintain a stable internal
environment, including the balance of water, salts, and other substances.
8. The part of the nerve cell that sends the neurotransmitter is which of the
following?
A) Neuron
B) Axon
C) Dendrite
D) Synapse
Rationale: The axon is the long projection of a neuron that conducts electrical
impulses and releases neurotransmitters at its terminal.
9. The gap between two nerve cells is called the which of the following?
A) Axon
B) Dendrite
C) Synapse
D) Receptor
Rationale: The synapse is the junction between two neurons where
neurotransmitters are released to carry messages across the gap.
10. The nerve cell that receives neurotransmitters is called the which of the
following?
A) Axon
B) Dendrite
C) Synapse
D) Soma
Rationale: Dendrites are the branched projections of a neuron that receive signals
from other neurons.
11. Sympathomimetic and parasympathomimetic nerve fibers are sub-systems of
which nervous system?
A) Somatic nervous system
B) Central nervous system
C) Autonomic nervous system
D) Peripheral nervous system
3|Page
, Page 4 of 47
Rationale: The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic
(sympathomimetic) and parasympathetic (parasympathomimetic) divisions.
12. Which of the following is the only artery in the human body that carries blood
depleted of oxygen?
A) Aorta
B) Pulmonary artery
C) Carotid artery
D) Renal artery
Rationale: The pulmonary artery is unique in that it carries deoxygenated blood
from the heart to the lungs.
13. The instrument used to measure blood pressure is correctly spelled as which
of the following?
A) Sphygmomanometor
B) Sphygmomanometer
C) Sphygomanometer
D) Sphygmomanometre
Rationale: The correct spelling is sphygmomanometer, the device used to
measure blood pressure.
14. Is the diaphragm a component (part) of the sphygmomanometer?
A) Yes
B) No
Rationale: The diaphragm is the part of the stethoscope used to hear blood flow
sounds, not a component of the sphygmomanometer itself.
15. What is the average blood pressure range for the purposes of the DRE drug
influence evaluation?
A) 100-120/60-80
B) 120-140/70-90
C) 140-160/90-100
D) 90-110/50-70
Rationale: The DRE average range for blood pressure is approximately 120-140
systolic over 70-90 diastolic.
4|Page
