AST Practice Test UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. Which of the following structures is located in the alveolar processes?
A. Teeth
B. Villi
C. Sinuses
D. Tonsils - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Teeth The teeth are located in the sockets of the
alveolar processes of the mandible and maxillae.
2. What is the wound classification for a bronchoscopy?
A. Clean
B. Contaminated
C. Dirty and infected
D. Clean-contaminated - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Clean-contaminated
3. The enzyme used to soften the zonules of the lens before cataract surgery is:
A. Atropine sulfate
B. Alpha-chymotrypsin
C. Acetylcholine chloride
D. Pilocarpine hydrochloride - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Alpha-chymotrypsin
4. How should the stretcher be oriented when necessary to use an elevator to transport a
patient to the OR?
A. Place stretcher sideways in elevator
B. Enter head first, exit feet first
C. Position in elevant is irrelevant
D. Enter feet first, exit head first - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Enter head first, exit feet first
5. Which of the following is a curved, transverse incision across the lower abdomen
frequently used in gynecological surgery?
,A. Midline
B. Paramedian
C. McBurney's
D. Pfannenstiel - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Pfannenstiel
6. When perforated metal trays are placed on the shelves of the steam sterilizing cart, they
should be positioned how?
A. Flat
B. Upside down
C. Vertical
D. Angled - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Flat
7. Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of:
A. Calcium
B. Nitrogen
C. Potassium
D. Albumin - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Potassium
8. Which of the following tissues are cut using curved Mayo scissors?
A. Fascia
B. Periosteum
C. Dura mater
D. Arterial wall - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Fascia
9. What laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating them?
A. Argon
B. Excimer
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Neodymium: YAG - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Argon
,10. Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is a/an:
A. Tort
B. Malpractice
C. Personal liability
D. Informed Consent - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Informed Consent
11. Which portion of the stomach surrounds the lower esophageal sphincter?
A. Cardia
B. Fundus
C. Pylorus
D. Antrum - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Cardia
12. Low level disinfectants kill most microbes, but do not destroy:
A. Viruses
B. Bacteria
C. Fungi
D. Spores - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Spores
13. Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed finger
C. Fused tarsale
D. Torn ligaments - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Webbed fingers
14. The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened on the:
A. Stretcher
B. OR table
C. Backtable
D. Mayo stand - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Backtable
, 15. The islets of Langerhans secrete:
A. Bile
B. Insulin
C. Intrinsic factor
D. Inhibiting hormones - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Insulin
16. What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth?
A. Cleft palate repair
B. Arch bar application
C. Extractions
D. Implants - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Extractions
17. Which organism is a normal resident flora of the intestinal tract?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Stephylococcus aureus
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Clostridium tetani - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Escherichia coli
18. Where should the first scrub surgical technologist stand when handing towels to the
surgeon to square off an incision site?
A. Opposite side from surgeon
B. Same side as surgeon
C. Foot of OR table
D. Head of OR table - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Same side as surgeon
19. A properly performed surgical scrub renders the skin:
A. Sterile
B. Disinfected
C. Surgically clean
D. Moistened and dehydrated - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Surgically clean
Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. Which of the following structures is located in the alveolar processes?
A. Teeth
B. Villi
C. Sinuses
D. Tonsils - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Teeth The teeth are located in the sockets of the
alveolar processes of the mandible and maxillae.
2. What is the wound classification for a bronchoscopy?
A. Clean
B. Contaminated
C. Dirty and infected
D. Clean-contaminated - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Clean-contaminated
3. The enzyme used to soften the zonules of the lens before cataract surgery is:
A. Atropine sulfate
B. Alpha-chymotrypsin
C. Acetylcholine chloride
D. Pilocarpine hydrochloride - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Alpha-chymotrypsin
4. How should the stretcher be oriented when necessary to use an elevator to transport a
patient to the OR?
A. Place stretcher sideways in elevator
B. Enter head first, exit feet first
C. Position in elevant is irrelevant
D. Enter feet first, exit head first - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Enter head first, exit feet first
5. Which of the following is a curved, transverse incision across the lower abdomen
frequently used in gynecological surgery?
,A. Midline
B. Paramedian
C. McBurney's
D. Pfannenstiel - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Pfannenstiel
6. When perforated metal trays are placed on the shelves of the steam sterilizing cart, they
should be positioned how?
A. Flat
B. Upside down
C. Vertical
D. Angled - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Flat
7. Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of:
A. Calcium
B. Nitrogen
C. Potassium
D. Albumin - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Potassium
8. Which of the following tissues are cut using curved Mayo scissors?
A. Fascia
B. Periosteum
C. Dura mater
D. Arterial wall - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Fascia
9. What laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating them?
A. Argon
B. Excimer
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Neodymium: YAG - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Argon
,10. Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is a/an:
A. Tort
B. Malpractice
C. Personal liability
D. Informed Consent - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Informed Consent
11. Which portion of the stomach surrounds the lower esophageal sphincter?
A. Cardia
B. Fundus
C. Pylorus
D. Antrum - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Cardia
12. Low level disinfectants kill most microbes, but do not destroy:
A. Viruses
B. Bacteria
C. Fungi
D. Spores - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Spores
13. Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed finger
C. Fused tarsale
D. Torn ligaments - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Webbed fingers
14. The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened on the:
A. Stretcher
B. OR table
C. Backtable
D. Mayo stand - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Backtable
, 15. The islets of Langerhans secrete:
A. Bile
B. Insulin
C. Intrinsic factor
D. Inhibiting hormones - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Insulin
16. What type of procedure would involve the removal of teeth?
A. Cleft palate repair
B. Arch bar application
C. Extractions
D. Implants - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Extractions
17. Which organism is a normal resident flora of the intestinal tract?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Stephylococcus aureus
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Clostridium tetani - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Escherichia coli
18. Where should the first scrub surgical technologist stand when handing towels to the
surgeon to square off an incision site?
A. Opposite side from surgeon
B. Same side as surgeon
C. Foot of OR table
D. Head of OR table - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Same side as surgeon
19. A properly performed surgical scrub renders the skin:
A. Sterile
B. Disinfected
C. Surgically clean
D. Moistened and dehydrated - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Surgically clean
