SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT Certification Exam
1. The external carotid artery may be identified by the:: Absence of branchesin the neck,
superior to the common carotid bifurcation
2. Primary superficial sensation to the cheek and nose derives from:: Maxil-lary branch of
Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
3. Contents of the thoracic outlet, which may be affected by thoracic outlet syndrome,
include which of the following lists of structures?: Subclavian veinand artery, and brachial
plexus
4. The tricuspid valve of the heart lies between the:: The right atrium and theright ventricle
5. Internal mammary arteries are direct branches of which of the following?-
: Subclavian artery/s
6. Which incision would avoid contact with the posterior rectus sheath?: -
Pfannenstied
7. Which incision would allow a single-layer fascial closure?: Midline
8. Which incision is designed for anterior access to the spleen, and avoidsthe cutaneous
nerves and innervation to the rectus muscle?: Subcostal
9. Which of the following structures are considered entirely within the peri-toneal cavity?:
Transverse colon
10. The superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery anastomosethrough which of
the following vessels?: Marginal artery
11. The cystic artery arises from which of the following vessels?: Right hepaticartery
12. Which portion of the liver would you expect to find medial and slightlysuperior to the
gall bladder?: Quadrate Lobe
13. Damage to which of the following nerves during pelvic node dissection may lead to
problems with micturition and or bladder control in the patient:: -Pelvic, Hypogastric and
Pudendal
14. The inferior epigastric artery courses:: Medial to the internal inguinal ring
15. The pneumonic "NAVY" is used to identify neurovascular structures inthe:: Femoral
triangle
16. The lumbosacral trunk joins with the sacral plexus to form the largestnerve in the body
known as the:: Sciatic nerve
17. Thickening of the ligamentum flavum may provide the cause of which oneof the
following pathological conditions:: Central spinal stenosis
, 18. Which of the following structures is innervated by a branch/branches ofthe cervical
plexus?: Omohyoid muscle
19. Danger to which of the following nerves must be considered during carpaltunnel
decompression:: Medial nerve
20. Fasciotomy of which compartment in the forearm, will relieve compression on the median
and ulnar nerves, and the radial and arteries?: Deep and super-ficial volar
21. Which of the listed muscles originates at the supraglenoid tubercle in the shoulder?: Long
head of the biceps
22. Which of the following ligaments is used as an important landmark inshoulder
arthroscopy:: Coracoacromial ligament
23. Which of the following are branches of the sciatic nerve which ultimatelysupply
innervation to the distal lower extremity (foot) flexors?: Tibial nerve
24. Difficult access to this artery for control of blood loss make posteriorcruciate ligament
surgery potentially more perilous:: Popliteal artery
25. What is the surgical significance of the adductor hiatus in the thigh?: Itsopening marks
the location for the distal anastomosis during in femoral-popliteal bypass
26. Where would you locate the posterior tibial pulse?: Posterior to the medialmalleolus
27. Which two cranial nerves cause through the operative field, and must bepreserved?: X
and XII
28. At several points in the procedure, it is most critical to prevent emboli fromentering the::
Internal carotid artery
29. The injection of lidocaine into the common carotid body prior to perform-ing the
arrteriotomy is done to:: Prevent sinus bradycardia
30. Patient blood perfusion includes the use of cardioplegic solutions. Thepurpose of this
solution is to:: Reversibly arrest the heart beat
31. The Greater Saphenous vein may be located distally at which of the follow-ing locations?:
Anterior to the medial malleolus
32. The surgeon asks you to first gently supinate, then gently pronate the operative wrist of a
14-year old patient in supine position. The operative extremity is positioned at 80 degrees to
the torso. Which of the following mostaccurately describes the movement of the operative
thumb (which direction itpoints) as you carry out the instructions?: Thumb inferior, then back
to superior
33. With patient in the prone position, the dorsal roots of the spinal nerves areoriented::
Superficial to its corresponding ventral roots
34. A choledoco-duodenostomy refers to the surgical anastomosis of which ofthe following
two structures:: Duodenum and common bile duct
35. In knee arthroscopy, the antero-medial portal is placed:: Proximal and ante-rior to the pet
1. The external carotid artery may be identified by the:: Absence of branchesin the neck,
superior to the common carotid bifurcation
2. Primary superficial sensation to the cheek and nose derives from:: Maxil-lary branch of
Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
3. Contents of the thoracic outlet, which may be affected by thoracic outlet syndrome,
include which of the following lists of structures?: Subclavian veinand artery, and brachial
plexus
4. The tricuspid valve of the heart lies between the:: The right atrium and theright ventricle
5. Internal mammary arteries are direct branches of which of the following?-
: Subclavian artery/s
6. Which incision would avoid contact with the posterior rectus sheath?: -
Pfannenstied
7. Which incision would allow a single-layer fascial closure?: Midline
8. Which incision is designed for anterior access to the spleen, and avoidsthe cutaneous
nerves and innervation to the rectus muscle?: Subcostal
9. Which of the following structures are considered entirely within the peri-toneal cavity?:
Transverse colon
10. The superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery anastomosethrough which of
the following vessels?: Marginal artery
11. The cystic artery arises from which of the following vessels?: Right hepaticartery
12. Which portion of the liver would you expect to find medial and slightlysuperior to the
gall bladder?: Quadrate Lobe
13. Damage to which of the following nerves during pelvic node dissection may lead to
problems with micturition and or bladder control in the patient:: -Pelvic, Hypogastric and
Pudendal
14. The inferior epigastric artery courses:: Medial to the internal inguinal ring
15. The pneumonic "NAVY" is used to identify neurovascular structures inthe:: Femoral
triangle
16. The lumbosacral trunk joins with the sacral plexus to form the largestnerve in the body
known as the:: Sciatic nerve
17. Thickening of the ligamentum flavum may provide the cause of which oneof the
following pathological conditions:: Central spinal stenosis
, 18. Which of the following structures is innervated by a branch/branches ofthe cervical
plexus?: Omohyoid muscle
19. Danger to which of the following nerves must be considered during carpaltunnel
decompression:: Medial nerve
20. Fasciotomy of which compartment in the forearm, will relieve compression on the median
and ulnar nerves, and the radial and arteries?: Deep and super-ficial volar
21. Which of the listed muscles originates at the supraglenoid tubercle in the shoulder?: Long
head of the biceps
22. Which of the following ligaments is used as an important landmark inshoulder
arthroscopy:: Coracoacromial ligament
23. Which of the following are branches of the sciatic nerve which ultimatelysupply
innervation to the distal lower extremity (foot) flexors?: Tibial nerve
24. Difficult access to this artery for control of blood loss make posteriorcruciate ligament
surgery potentially more perilous:: Popliteal artery
25. What is the surgical significance of the adductor hiatus in the thigh?: Itsopening marks
the location for the distal anastomosis during in femoral-popliteal bypass
26. Where would you locate the posterior tibial pulse?: Posterior to the medialmalleolus
27. Which two cranial nerves cause through the operative field, and must bepreserved?: X
and XII
28. At several points in the procedure, it is most critical to prevent emboli fromentering the::
Internal carotid artery
29. The injection of lidocaine into the common carotid body prior to perform-ing the
arrteriotomy is done to:: Prevent sinus bradycardia
30. Patient blood perfusion includes the use of cardioplegic solutions. Thepurpose of this
solution is to:: Reversibly arrest the heart beat
31. The Greater Saphenous vein may be located distally at which of the follow-ing locations?:
Anterior to the medial malleolus
32. The surgeon asks you to first gently supinate, then gently pronate the operative wrist of a
14-year old patient in supine position. The operative extremity is positioned at 80 degrees to
the torso. Which of the following mostaccurately describes the movement of the operative
thumb (which direction itpoints) as you carry out the instructions?: Thumb inferior, then back
to superior
33. With patient in the prone position, the dorsal roots of the spinal nerves areoriented::
Superficial to its corresponding ventral roots
34. A choledoco-duodenostomy refers to the surgical anastomosis of which ofthe following
two structures:: Duodenum and common bile duct
35. In knee arthroscopy, the antero-medial portal is placed:: Proximal and ante-rior to the pet
