Certified Surgical Technologist Anatomy and Physiology Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which cranial nerve is solely responsible for the sense of smell and is designated as CN I?

Accepted Answer

Olfactory Nerve (CN I)

Answer

The Olfactory Nerve, or Cranial Nerve I (CN I), is a sensory nerve that transmits information relating to the sense of smell from the nasal cavity to the brain.

Question 2

During a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon's primary goal is to safely dissect the triangle of Calot. Which two structures must be identified, ligated, and divided to remove the gallbladder?

Accepted Answer

Cystic duct and cystic artery

Answer

In a cholecystectomy, the two structures that are carefully identified within the triangle of Calot before being ligated (clipped) and divided are the cystic duct, which drains bile from the gallbladder, and the cystic artery, which supplies blood to the gallbladder.

Question 3

A patient is undergoing a repair of the rotator cuff. Which of the following muscles is NOT part of this functional group?

Accepted Answer

Teres major

Answer

The rotator cuff is composed of four muscles: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis (often remembered by the acronym SITS). The teres major is located near the rotator cuff muscles but is not part of the functional group; it works to adduct and medially rotate the humerus.

Question 4

Deoxygenated blood returning from the systemic circuit first enters which chamber of the heart?

Accepted Answer

Right atrium

Answer

Deoxygenated blood from the body returns to the heart via the superior and inferior vena cava, which empty directly into the right atrium. From the right atrium, it passes to the right ventricle and then to the lungs for oxygenation.

Question 5

During a total thyroidectomy, the surgeon must carefully dissect the superior pole of the thyroid to ligate the superior thyroid artery. This maneuver places which of the following nerves at the highest risk of injury?

Accepted Answer

External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve

Answer

The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) is in close proximity to the superior thyroid artery and vein. During dissection and ligation of these vessels at the superior pole of the thyroid, the EBSLN is at significant risk for injury, which can affect the patient's ability to produce high-pitched sounds.

Certified Surgical Technologist Practice Test

Certified Surgical Technologist Practice Test

Certified Surgical Technologist Anatomy and Physiology Questions and Answers