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AMCA CMAC Practice Exam Questions
and Answers Graded A+
The opening inside the skull that holds the brain is the:
a. Cranial cavity
b. Orbital cavity
c. Nasal cavity
d. Thoracic cavity ✔✔*The dorsal cavity is divided into the cranial cavity (which houses the brain)
The answer is: Cranial cavity
A crime punishable by a fine or imprisonment for less than one year is known as a:
a. Misdemeanor
b. Arbitration
c. Felony
d. Mitigation ✔✔*Misdemeanors are less serious crimes than felonies and re punishable by fines or imprisonment up to a year or less.
The correct answer is: Misdemeanor
Professional negligence is also called:
a. Malfunction
b. Arbitration
c. Malice
d. Malpractice ✔✔Medical negligence is commonly known as malpractice
The correct answer is: Malpractice
Which of the following items is the most important for assistive personnel to keep in mind during their daily routine in medical settings?
a. Burglary
b. Confidentiality
c. Privilege granted to a physician
d. Consent ✔✔*In the Standard of Care the first item the medical assistant should uphold is maintaining confidentiality
The correct answer is: Confidentiality
The correct answer is: When the patient signs a release
This cavity contains the heart and lungs, among other organs.
a. Thoracic
b. Cranial
c. Orbital
d. Nasal ✔✔*The thoracic cavity contains the lungs, heart, esophagus and trachea
The correct answer is: Thoracic
Located near the back of the body, this body cavity is a continuous internal opening that includes the cranial and spinal cavities.
a. Posterior (dorsal) cavity
b. Transverse plane
c. Pelvic cavity
d. Abdominal cavity ✔✔*The dorsal cavity is divided into the cranial cavity and the spinal cavity
The correct answer is: Posterior (dorsal) cavity
This is the scrubbing of instruments with special brushes and detergents to remove blood, mucous, etc.
a. Sterilization
b. Sanitization
c. Distillation
d. Disinfection ✔✔*Sanitization is the scrubbing of instruments and equipment with special brushes and detergents to remove blood, mucous and other contaminants
The correct answer is: Sanitization
This is the process that involves a soaking or wiping process and inhibits the activity of disease- causing organisms.
a. Sterilization
b. Sanitizing
c. Disinfection
d. Treated with antiseptics ✔✔*Disinfection is the process that destroys most micro organisms; however it cannot kill all
The correct answer is: Subjective
You are taking vitals on a patient and they complain their right eye is throbbing. Their right eye is swollen and bruised. What type of symptom is this?
a. Familial
b. Subjective
c. Social
d. Objective ✔✔*Objective data is readily apparent and measurable
The correct answer is: Objective
If you are recording a patient's height and are using centimeters, what is the conversion formula to go from centimeters to inches?
a. Mulitply by 2.
b. Subtract 2.5 from the number
c. Divide by 2.
d. Add 2.5 to the number ✔✔*To go from CM to inches, the formula would be ____ CM ÷2. = Inches
The correct answer is: Divide by 2.
You are taking the vitals of a patient with pneumonia. The patient coughs near your face. What could you have done to minimize the risk of contracting the disease?
a. Put on goggles before entering the room
b. Sterilize the examination room
c. Wash your face as soon as the incident occurs.
d. Ask the patient to look the other way while coughing ✔✔*According to Standard Precautions, the use of PPE in addition to cough etiquette includes covering mouth and providing at least 3 feet of space between persons
The correct answer is: Ask the patient to look the other way while coughing
Which of the following liquids is used in an autoclave to sterilize instruments and supplies?
a. Alcohol
b. Sterile water
c. Tap water
d. Distilled water ✔✔When filling an autoclave, distilled water is best
The patient has a history of cardiovascular disease. Which of the following tests would not be used as a screening procedure?
a. Chest x-ray
b. Colonoscopy
c. Blood work
d. ECG ✔✔*A colonoscopy is done to visualize the large intestine and also to screen for colon cancer
The correct answer is: Colonoscopy
Which plane divides the body into right and left portions?
a. Frontal
b. Transverse
c. Sagittal
d. Lateral ✔✔**A sagittal plane divides the body into left and right portions
The correct answer is: Sagittal
The term meaning close to the point of attachment is:
a. Proximal
b. Distal
c. Superior
d. Medial ✔✔*Proximal means close to the point of attachment or to the trunk of the body
The correct answer is: Proximal
Which most accurately states the purpose of coding?
a. Coding identifies patients in a database
b. Coding is used to track a physician's payments
c. Coding helps physicians with the diagnosis
d. Coding determines the reimbursement of medical fees ✔✔*The combination of diagnostic codes and procedure codes provides the basis for healthcare reimbursement
The correct answer is: Coding determines the reimbursement of medical fees
As you are taking vitals of an elderly patient, he begins to question you about his medication and possible side effects. What is the best action to take?
a. Making sure your vaccinations are up-to-date
b. Allowing the exam room to air out after each patient
c. Washing your hands before and after each patient contact
d. Wearing gloves and goggles during all examinations ✔✔*Hand sanitizing is one of the best means of reducing the spread of microorganisms in a health care facility
The correct answer is: Washing your hands before and after each patient contact
Using a stethoscope, the artery most commonly used for taking a patient's pulse is:
a. Apical
b. Temporal
c. Carotid
d. Radial ✔✔**The apical pulse (the heartbeat at the apex of the heart) can be heard with a stethoscope
The correct answer is: Apical
You've taken a patient's temperature and recorded it as 96.9°F. Later, the physician asks you to convert this measurement to Celsius. What is the patient temperature in Celsius?
a. 21.
b. 36.
c. 116.
d. 37.9 ✔✔**The formula for Fahrenheit to Celsius is 96.9 (F-32) x 5/9 =? 96.9 - 32 x 5/9 =?
The correct answer is: 36.
Which of the following is not considered a vital sign?
a. Weight
b. Respiration
c. Pulse Rate
d. Blood pressure ✔✔**Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure and pain
The correct answer is: Weight
Which muscle acts to abduct and extend the arm at the shoulder?
a. Deltoid
d. Bicuspid ✔✔**The bicuspid valve has two cusps and is located between the left atrium and left ventricle
The correct answer is: Bicuspid
Which of the following areas of the body is the site at which to detect the popliteal pulse?
a. Forearm
b. Foot
c. Knee
d. Ankle ✔✔*The popliteal pulse is found behind the knee
The correct answer is: Knee
Which of the following job responsibilities has the highest risk exposure?
a. Assisting in suture removal
b. Taking a patient's vitals
c. Drawing blood for a lab analysis
d. Collecting a urine specimen ✔✔*According to OSHA, bodily fluids include blood, semen and amniotic fluid. The employee must have access to the exposure control plan
The correct answer is: Drawing blood for a lab analysis
The total amount of blood pumped out of the heart in one minute is known as the:
a. Diastolic pressure
b. Cardiac output
c. Systemic circulation
d. Systolic pressure ✔✔*Cardiac output is the total amount of blood pumped out of the heart in one minute
The correct answer is: Cardiac output
Which route is involved in administering a drug by placing it under the patient's tongue and leaving it there until it is dissolved?
a. Buccal route
b. Subcutaneous route
c. Transdermal route
d. Phenothiazine ✔✔*Barbituates /sedatives are commonly used together
The correct answer is: Barbituate
Codeine is an example of what kind of drug?
a. Sedative
b. Narcotic analgesic
c. Antiepileptic drug
d. Antidepressant ✔✔*Government agencies use the popular term narcotics for opioids like codeine
The correct answer is: Narcotic analgesic
Which of the following is a common route for the administration of parenteral medications?
a. Transdermal
b. Injection
c. Topical
d. Rectal ✔✔*Medication given by injection is called parenteral medication
The correct answer is: Injection
A prefilled syringe is also known as a (n):
a. Insulin syringe
b. Tuberculin syringe
c. Hypodermic syringe
d. Cartridge ✔✔*A cartridge is a small barrel pre-filled with a sterile drug
The correct answer is: Cartridge
Which of the following muscles is commonly used for intramuscular injections in the infant?
a. External oblique
b. Deltoid
c. Internal oblique
d. Vastus lateralis ✔✔*The vastus lateralis site is good because it is large and a thick muscle that is developed before the child begins to walk
The correct answer is: Vastus lateralis
