Free Certified Surgical Technologist Random Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is the medical term for the situation where a bowel loop herniates into Douglas's cul-de-sac?

epistaxis
enterocele (Correct answer)
insulin
meningioma

Correct answer: enterocele

An enterocele is a medical term derived from 'entero-' meaning intestine, and '-cele' meaning hernia or protrusion. Therefore, it specifically describes a condition where a loop of bowel (intestine) herniates or protrudes into a cavity, such as Douglas's cul-de-sac, which is a common site for such herniation in females.

Question 2: What effects do antagonistic medications have?

counteract the action of another drug (Correct answer)
repositioning penetrating towel clip
acromioclavicular joint to iliac crest
upper arms, neckline and axillary region

Correct answer: counteract the action of another drug

Antagonistic medications are drugs that bind to a receptor but do not activate it. Instead, they block or reduce the effect of another drug or a natural substance that would normally activate that receptor. This action effectively counteracts or opposes the physiological or pharmacological effects of other agents.

Question 3: What type of surgery is used to treat a condition where the urethral meatus is located on the upper surface of the penis?

spinal stenosis
incident report
reverse trendelenburg
epispadias repair (Correct answer)

Correct answer: epispadias repair

Epispadias is a congenital birth defect where the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, does not fully form into a tube and its opening (meatus) is located on the upper (dorsal) surface of the penis. An epispadias repair is the specific surgical procedure designed to correct this anatomical abnormality, reconstructing the urethra and repositioning the meatus to its correct location.

Question 4: What is the name for the bacterial motion-producing threadlike appendages?

insulin
flagella (Correct answer)
mitochondria
fistula

Correct answer: flagella

Flagella are whip-like, threadlike appendages found on the surface of certain bacterial cells. These structures are primarily responsible for bacterial motility, enabling them to move through liquid environments. Their rotation or wave-like motion propels the bacterium, allowing it to navigate and respond to stimuli.

Question 5: What is the Kraske position's other name?

sprilli
jackknife (Correct answer)
trauma
choroid

Correct answer: jackknife

The Kraske position is a surgical patient position primarily used for procedures involving the rectum or sacral area. In this position, the patient lies prone with the hips flexed and the head and feet lowered, resembling a folded jackknife. Due to this characteristic posture, it is commonly referred to as the jackknife position.

Question 6: Where are Baker's cysts found?

10 minutes
webbed fingers
popliteal fossa (Correct answer)
surgically clean

Correct answer: popliteal fossa

A Baker's cyst, also medically known as a popliteal cyst, is a fluid-filled sac that causes a bulge and a feeling of tightness behind the knee. It is named after the popliteal fossa, which is the anatomical space located at the back of the knee joint where these cysts typically form. The cyst is usually a result of fluid accumulation from the knee joint.

Question 7: When giving towels to a surgeon to square off an incision site, where should the first scrub surgical technologist stand?

distilled water in lumen
same side as surgeon (Correct answer)
bone to bone fixation
bony overgrowth of stapes

Correct answer: same side as surgeon

When assisting a surgeon by squaring off an incision site with towels, the first scrub surgical technologist should stand on the same side as the surgeon. This positioning ensures optimal visibility of the surgical field for both the surgeon and the technologist. It also facilitates efficient and ergonomic passing of instruments and materials directly to the surgeon, minimizing unnecessary movements and maintaining sterility.

Question 8: What surgical posture allows for the best pelvis or lower abdomen visibility?

subdural
alpha-chymotrypsin
trendelenburg (Correct answer)
skeletal

Correct answer: trendelenburg

The Trendelenburg position involves placing the patient on their back with the head lower than the feet. This tilt causes the abdominal organs to shift superiorly (towards the head) due to gravity. This displacement significantly improves exposure and visibility of the pelvic and lower abdominal structures, making it ideal for gynecological, urological, and lower abdominal surgical procedures.

Question 9: Which of the following is utilized by the surgeon during a TURP to periodically remove prostatic tissue fragments?

anesthesia provider
ellik evacuator (Correct answer)
full thickness
gram stain

Correct answer: ellik evacuator

During a Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), prostatic tissue is resected and fragments are created. The Ellik evacuator is a specialized instrument used to irrigate the bladder and suction out these resected prostatic tissue fragments and blood clots. Its design allows for efficient removal of debris, maintaining a clear surgical field and preventing obstruction.

Question 10: The tympanic membrane is sometimes known as the?

eardrum (Correct answer)
parasitism
lateral
trephine

Correct answer: eardrum

The tympanic membrane is a thin, cone-shaped membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. It vibrates in response to sound waves, converting them into mechanical energy that is then transmitted to the ossicles in the middle ear. It is universally known by its common name, the eardrum.

Question 11: What is the name of the urinary catheter used on urethral stricture patients that has a narrow, curved, tapered tip?

acute
laser
coude (Correct answer)
55-60

Correct answer: coude

A Coude catheter is a type of urinary catheter characterized by its curved, tapered tip. This specific design makes it easier to navigate past obstructions in the urethra, such as an enlarged prostate or urethral strictures. It is particularly useful for patients who might experience difficulty with the insertion of a standard straight catheter.

Question 12: What microbes can survive without oxygen?

third
anaerobes (Correct answer)
subluxation
compound

Correct answer: anaerobes

Anaerobes are microorganisms that do not require oxygen for growth and can even be harmed by its presence. They obtain energy through anaerobic respiration or fermentation, processes that do not utilize oxygen. In contrast, aerobes require oxygen, and facultative anaerobes can grow with or without it.

Question 13: What pathology in neurosurgery would a myelogram identify?

cottingham punch
cancer procedures.
spinal stenosis (Correct answer)
10 minutes

Correct answer: spinal stenosis

A myelogram is a diagnostic imaging procedure that involves injecting a contrast dye into the spinal canal to visualize the spinal cord, nerve roots, and surrounding structures. This technique is highly effective in identifying conditions that compress the spinal cord or nerve roots, such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, or tumors, by highlighting abnormalities in the spinal canal.

Question 14: What is the name of the waxy secretion found in the external ear canal?

cerumen (Correct answer)
circulator
trephine
cerebellum

Correct answer: cerumen

Cerumen is the medical term for earwax, a yellowish, waxy substance naturally secreted in the external ear canal. It plays a crucial role in the ear's self-cleaning mechanism, lubrication, and protection. Cerumen helps trap dust, foreign particles, and microorganisms, preventing them from reaching deeper into the ear.

Question 15: Which dilator from the list below is used in the common duct?

55-60
argon
bakes (Correct answer)
teeth

Correct answer: bakes

Bakes dilators are a specific type of surgical instrument used to gently dilate or widen the common bile duct. They come in various sizes and are designed to help ensure the patency (openness) of the duct, often during procedures involving gallstones or strictures, to facilitate bile flow.

Question 16: What situations would make a cell saver transfusion inappropriate?

separation anxiety
cancer procedures (Correct answer)
ultrasonic washer
cottingham punch

Correct answer: cancer procedures

Cell saver transfusions involve collecting, processing, and reinfusing a patient's own blood lost during surgery. However, this technique is generally contraindicated in cancer procedures. The primary concern is the risk that malignant cells from the surgical site could be collected and reinfused into the patient, potentially leading to the spread of cancer (metastasis).

Free Certified Surgical Technologist Random Questions and Answers

What is the medical term for the situation where a bowel loop herniates into Douglas's cul-de-sac?