OEC Practice Exam Questions with Correct Answers

OEC Practice Exam Questions with Correct Answers abandonment - Answer-to withdraw one's support or help from, especially in spite of duty, allegiance, or responsibility abdominal - Answer-pertaining to the abdomen abduction - Answer-to move away from the midline of the body abrasion - Answer-a rubbed or scraped area of skin abruptio placentae - Answer-premature separation of a normally situated but improperly implanted placenta; it usually occurs late in pregnancy but may occur during labor absence seizure - Answer-a sudden, temporary loss of mental awareness and physical activity lasting a few seconds to several minutes; also known as a petit mal seizure accessory muscles of respiration - Answer-various muscles of the neck, chest and abdomen that may become active when depth of respiration must be significantly increased acclimatization - Answer-the body's physiologic process of gradual adjustment to changes in such factors as light, temperature, or altitude acromioclavicular (A/C) joint - Answer-joint of the shoulder in which the acromion (top of the scapula) and the clavicle articulate acute mountain sickness (AMS) - Answer-a usually mild medical condition that is caused by exposure to high altitude acute myocardial infarction (AMI) - Answer-the interruption of blood supply to part of the heart, causing death of heart muscle. Also known as a heart attack acute stress response (acute stress reaction) - Answer-a state of hyper-arousal arising in response to a threat or a terrifying event adaptive athlete - Answer-a person with a physical or intellectual disability who participates in a sport adaptive equipment - Answer-modified sport gear that helps its user overcome a functional impairment addendum (plural-addenda) - Answer-something added; an addition adduction - Answer-to move toward the midline of the body adjunct - Answer-a medical device that is used to assist the OEC Technician in providing patient care adolescent - Answer-an individual ages 13-18 years; focus shifts from parents to peers; decision making, abstract thinking, and complex memorization skills develop adrenaline (epinephrine) - Answer-a hormone produced by the body; when administered as a medication, it increases heart rate, contracts blood vessels, dilates air passages, and participates in the fight-or-flight response Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) - Answer-an intermediate-level technician who has successfully completed an NHTSA-approved Advanced EMT course or its equivalent and is authorized to provide both basic and intermediate life support advanced life support (ALS) - Answer-a level of EMS care for which providers are trained and authorized to insert advanced airway devices, initiate intravenous lines, and give medications afterdrop - Answer-a continued drop in core temperature after removal from cold exposure airway - Answer-a natural passageway that allows air to enter and exit the lungs airway patency - Answer-a condition in which an airway is open and unobstructed alkaline chemical (base or a base chemical) - Answer-a substance capable of neutralizing an acid; has the properties of or contains an alkali; Alkaline chemicals can be very damaging: some (lye) can be harmful allergen - Answer-a foreign substance (antigen) whose presence in the body stimulates an allergic reaction allergic reaction - Answer-a series of signs and symptoms that occur in response to exposure to an allergen allergy - Answer-an exaggerated immune response to a substance that does not normally cause a reaction alpha radiation - Answer-a very heavy, slow-moving, poorly penetrating particle that is stopped by clothing or the outer layer of the skin. This type of radiation particle is a very serious contaminant when ingested or inhaled altered mental status - Answer-a condition in which a person's level of awareness or responsiveness has changed alternating current (AC) - Answer-electrical current that periodically flows in opposite directions altitude - Answer-vertical height above seal level; elevation altitude illness - Answer-encompasses all types of illnesses due to altitude (AMS, HAPE, and HACE) alveoli - Answer-tiny air sacs within the lungs; the sites at which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between inhaled air and the bloodstream ambient temperature - Answer-the temperature in the immediate environment Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - Answer-legislation passed in 1990 designed to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities