- Functional filtering unit of the kidney?
- The nephron — filtration begins in the glomerulus.
- Where does gas exchange occur in the lungs?
- The alveoli — tiny air sacs where O₂ and CO₂ are exchanged.
- Which gland is the 'master gland'?
- The pituitary gland — it controls other endocrine glands.
- Hormone that regulates blood calcium?
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH) from the parathyroid glands.
- Universal red-cell donor blood type?
- O-negative (O−).
- Universal plasma donor blood type?
- AB-positive.
- Where does the Krebs cycle occur?
- In the mitochondrion of the cell.
- Structure that equalizes middle-ear pressure?
- The Eustachian (auditory) tube.
- Joint type in the shoulder and hip?
- Ball-and-socket joint — widest range of motion.
- Part of the neuron that receives signals?
- The dendrites.
- Largest organ of the body?
- The skin (integumentary system).
- Functional unit of the nervous system?
- The neuron.
- What does systole mean?
- The contraction phase of the cardiac cycle; the top blood-pressure number.
- What does diastole mean?
- The relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle; the bottom blood-pressure number.
- Heart layer responsible for pumping?
- The myocardium (cardiac muscle layer).
- Primary function of the lymphatic system?
- Returns leaked fluid to the bloodstream and supports immunity.
- What is osteoporosis?
- A condition of decreased bone density that makes bones porous and fragile.
- Smallest blood vessels (gas/nutrient exchange)?
- The capillaries.
- What is homeostasis?
- The body's maintenance of a stable internal environment.
- Three main body planes?
- Sagittal, frontal (coronal), and transverse.
- Anatomical term for 'toward the front'?
- Anterior (ventral).
- Anatomical term for 'toward the back'?
- Posterior (dorsal).
- Largest part of the brain?
- The cerebrum — controls higher functions.
- Brain part that coordinates voluntary movement/balance?
- The cerebellum.
- Primary function of red blood cells?
- Carry oxygen via hemoglobin.
- Suffix -itis means?
- Inflammation (e.g. dermatitis).
- Suffix -ectomy means?
- Surgical removal (e.g. appendectomy).
- Suffix -ostomy means?
- Creating a new opening (e.g. colostomy).
- Suffix -otomy means?
- A cutting/incision (e.g. tracheotomy).
- Suffix -emia means?
- Blood condition (e.g. anemia).
- Suffix -megaly means?
- Enlargement (e.g. cardiomegaly).
- Suffix -ology means?
- The study of (e.g. cardiology).
- Suffix -pathy means?
- Disease (e.g. neuropathy).
- Prefix tachy- means?
- Fast (tachycardia = fast heart rate).
- Prefix brady- means?
- Slow (bradycardia = slow heart rate).
- Prefix hyper- means?
- Excessive / above normal.
- Prefix hypo- means?
- Deficient / below normal.
- Prefix dys- means?
- Difficult or painful (e.g. dyspnea).
- Root 'cardi/o' means?
- Heart.
- Root 'hepat/o' means?
- Liver.
- Root 'nephr/o' / 'ren/o' mean?
- Kidney.
- Root 'derm/o', 'dermat/o' mean?
- Skin.
- What is a combining vowel?
- A vowel (usually 'o') linking a root to another word part (cardi-o-logy).
- Three parts of a medical term?
- Prefix (front), root (core meaning), and suffix (end).
- Abbreviation 'STAT' means?
- Immediately.
- Abbreviation 'NPO' means?
- Nothing by mouth (nil per os).
- What is HIPAA?
- The federal law protecting patients' protected health information (PHI).
- What is PHI?
- Protected health information — any individually identifiable health data.
- HIPAA document given to patients?
- The Notice of Privacy Practices.
- Releasing records to a non-authorized party requires?
- The patient's written authorization first.
- Action when served a subpoena for records?
- Verify with the provider or legal counsel before releasing anything.
- Informed consent means?
- The patient understands the procedure, its purpose, and its risks.
- Implied consent means?
- Consent inferred from behavior (extending an arm) or an emergency.
- Expressed consent means?
- Explicit verbal or written agreement.
- What is an advance directive?
- A legal document stating a patient's healthcare wishes in advance.
- What is a living will?
- An advance directive specifying which treatments a patient wants or refuses.
- Durable power of attorney for healthcare?
- Names a person to make medical decisions if the patient cannot.
- Medical assistant's scope of practice?
- Delegated clinical/administrative tasks — never diagnosing, prescribing, or interpreting.
- What is negligence?
- Failure to act with the care a reasonable person would, causing harm.
- What is the standard of care?
- The level of care a reasonably prudent professional would provide.
- Battery in a medical setting means?
- Touching or treating a patient without consent.
- What is the Good Samaritan law?
- Protects those who give reasonable emergency aid in good faith.
- Beneficence (ethics) means?
- Acting in the patient's best interest.
- Patient autonomy means?
- The patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions.
- Confidentiality means?
- Keeping patient information private and need-to-know.
- Best approach with an irate patient?
- Use a calm voice, listen actively, and offer to help.
- Translator for a patient with limited English?
- A qualified medical interpreter — never a family member.
- Confirming a patient understood instructions?
- Use the teach-back method.
- Communicating with a hearing-impaired patient?
- Face them, speak clearly, and use written materials as needed.
- Therapeutic communication relies on?
- Active listening, empathy, and open-ended questions.
- Nonverbal communication includes?
- Body language, eye contact, tone, and facial expression.
- ICD-10-CM codes describe?
- The diagnosis — the patient's condition or reason for the visit.
- CPT codes describe?
- The procedure or service the provider performed.
- HCPCS Level II codes cover?
- Supplies, equipment, and services not in CPT (e.g. DME).
- Who maintains CPT codes?
- The American Medical Association (AMA).
- Form for physician professional claims?
- The CMS-1500 form.
- Form for institutional/hospital claims?
- The UB-04 (CMS-1450) form.
- What is an EOB?
- Explanation of benefits — the insurer's statement of how a claim was processed (not a bill).
- What is a copay?
- A fixed amount the patient pays for a covered service.
- What is a deductible?
- The amount a patient pays before the plan begins to share costs.
- What is coinsurance?
- The percentage of costs the patient shares after the deductible.
- What is a premium?
- The amount paid (usually monthly) to keep an insurance plan active.
- What does an HMO require?
- A primary care physician and referrals to see specialists.
- How does a PPO differ from an HMO?
- Allows out-of-network care without a referral, at higher cost.
- What is a referral?
- A PCP's authorization for a patient to see a specialist.
- What is prior authorization?
- The insurer's approval of a planned service before it is provided.
- What is medical necessity?
- Services appropriate for the diagnosis — the ICD code must support the CPT code.
- What is Medicare Part A?
- Hospital (inpatient) insurance.
- What is Medicare Part B?
- Medical (outpatient/physician) insurance.
- What is Medicaid?
- Joint federal-state coverage for low-income individuals.
- What is a fee schedule?
- The list of allowed amounts an insurer pays per service.
- What is an audit trail in an EHR?
- A record tracking who accessed or changed a document and when.
- SOAP note — S stands for?
- Subjective — what the patient reports (symptoms, history).
- SOAP note — O stands for?
- Objective — measurable data (vital signs, exam findings).
- SOAP note — A stands for?
- Assessment — the provider's diagnosis or impression.
- SOAP note — P stands for?
- Plan — next steps (treatment, tests, follow-up).
- Best practice for documenting symptoms?
- Use the patient's exact words for accuracy.
- Documenting in the EHR should be done?
- Promptly and accurately, never falsified or delayed in bulk.
- Consecutive (straight numeric) filing?
- Filing records in straight numerical order by record number.
- What is a tickler/recall system?
- A reminder system for follow-up appointments and tasks.
- Wave scheduling means?
- Several patients booked at the start of each hour, seen in order arriving.
- Double-booking scheduling means?
- Two patients scheduled for the same slot.
- Cluster (grouping) scheduling means?
- Grouping similar appointments or procedures together.
- Most important factors in transcription?
- Accuracy and confidentiality.
- Sending a fax with PHI requires?
- Confirming the recipient and using a confidentiality cover sheet.
- Inventory management of office supplies aims to?
- Maintain par levels — reorder before stock runs out.
- First step in the billing cycle?
- Patient registration / collecting demographics and insurance.
- What is the claim adjudication step?
- The insurer's review that approves, denies, or adjusts a claim.
- Aging report in billing shows?
- Outstanding balances grouped by how long they've been unpaid.
- Six links of the chain of infection?
- Agent, reservoir, portal of exit, transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.
- Most effective way to break the chain of infection?
- Hand hygiene.
- What are standard precautions?
- Treating all patients' blood/body fluids as potentially infectious.
- What does sterilization destroy?
- ALL microorganisms, including bacterial spores.
- What does disinfection destroy?
- Most pathogens on inanimate objects (not all spores).
- What is sanitization?
- Reducing microbes to a safe level — the cleaning step done first.
- How does an autoclave sterilize?
- Steam under pressure (~121°C, 15 psi, 15–20 minutes).
- Medical asepsis vs surgical asepsis?
- Medical = clean technique (reduce microbes); surgical = sterile technique (eliminate all).
- Items that penetrate tissue must be?
- Sterilized (critical items).
- OSHA standard for bloodborne pathogens?
- 29 CFR 1910.1030 — PPE, safety sharps, no recapping, free HBV vaccine.
- Example of an OSHA engineering control?
- A self-sheathing safety needle and puncture-resistant sharps container.
- Vaccine OSHA requires employers to offer free?
- The hepatitis B vaccine.
- How are used needles handled?
- Dropped point-first into the sharps container — never recapped by hand.
- TB requires which transmission precautions?
- Airborne precautions (N95 respirator, negative-pressure room).
- Order of donning PPE?
- Gown, mask/respirator, eye protection, gloves.
- Order of doffing PPE?
- Gloves, eye protection, gown, mask — then hand hygiene.
- Order of draw (venipuncture)?
- Culture → light blue → red/gold (SST) → green → lavender → gray.
- Light blue tube tests?
- Coagulation (PT/INR, aPTT). Additive: sodium citrate.
- Lavender tube tests?
- CBC and HbA1c. Additive: EDTA.
- Gray tube tests?
- Glucose and lactate. Additive: sodium fluoride + oxalate.
- Green tube tests?
- Plasma chemistry and stat electrolytes. Additive: heparin.
- Red/gold (SST) tube tests?
- Serum chemistry and serology. Additive: clot activator (± gel).
- Why is EDTA drawn near the end?
- EDTA carryover falsely raises potassium and lowers calcium.
- Routine adult venipuncture needle gauge?
- 21 gauge.
- Maximum tourniquet time?
- No more than 1 minute (longer causes hemoconcentration).
- Preferred venipuncture vein?
- The median cubital vein in the antecubital fossa.
- What is a CLIA-waived test?
- A simple, low-risk test an office may run under a Certificate of Waiver.
- Examples of CLIA-waived tests?
- Urine dipstick, fingerstick glucose, rapid strep, urine pregnancy, FOBT.
- What does CLIA stand for?
- Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988.
- Run before patient testing on an instrument?
- Quality control (QC).
- Normal pH of fresh urine?
- About 4.6 to 8.0 (slightly acidic, ~6).
- Clean-catch midstream urine purpose?
- Reduce contamination from skin/genital flora.
- What does hematocrit measure?
- The percentage of whole blood volume made of red blood cells.
- Capillary fingerstick site?
- The side of the fingertip pad of the middle or ring finger.
- Infant heel-stick site?
- The medial or lateral plantar surface of the heel (avoid the bone).
- Normal adult temperature?
- About 98.6°F (37°C).
- Normal adult pulse?
- 60–100 beats per minute.
- Normal adult respirations?
- 12–20 breaths per minute.
- Normal adult blood pressure?
- Less than 120/80 mm Hg.
- Hypertension threshold (ACC/AHA)?
- 130/80 mm Hg or higher.
- Normal oxygen saturation (SpO₂)?
- 95–100% on room air.
- Tachycardia means?
- A resting pulse over 100 bpm.
- Bradycardia means?
- A resting pulse under 60 bpm.
- First Korotkoff sound on a manual BP is?
- The systolic pressure.
- Wrong cuff size effect on BP?
- A cuff too small falsely raises the reading.
- How to calculate BMI?
- Weight in kilograms ÷ height in meters squared.
- Normal adult BMI range?
- 18.5 to 24.9.
- Most common adult pulse site?
- The radial pulse (wrist).
- Where is the apical pulse heard?
- 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line.
- Pounds-to-kilograms conversion?
- Divide pounds by 2.2 (1 kg = 2.2 lb).
- Supine position?
- Flat on the back, face up — for front-of-body exams.
- Fowler's position?
- Sitting up (head raised 45–90°) — for breathing difficulty.
- Dorsal recumbent position?
- On the back, knees bent, feet flat — genital/urinary exams.
- Lithotomy position?
- On the back, feet in stirrups — pelvic/vaginal exams.
- Sims' position?
- Left side-lying, right knee drawn up — enemas/rectal procedures.
- Trendelenburg position?
- Supine with head lower than feet — for shock.
- Prone position?
- Lying face down.
- Chart for distance visual acuity?
- The Snellen chart (20/20 is normal).
- What does 20/40 vision mean?
- Sees at 20 ft what normal vision sees at 40 ft.
- Four methods of physical examination?
- Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation.
- 12-lead EKG limb electrodes?
- RA, LA, LL, and RL (right leg = ground, records nothing).
- Einthoven's triangle is formed by?
- Right arm, left arm, and left leg electrodes.
- EKG: what does the P wave represent?
- Atrial depolarization.
- EKG: what does the QRS complex represent?
- Ventricular depolarization.
- EKG: what does the T wave represent?
- Ventricular repolarization.
- V1 chest-lead placement?
- 4th intercostal space, right sternal border.
- V4 chest-lead placement?
- 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line.
- Holter monitor purpose?
- Records the heart's rhythm continuously over 24–48 hours.
- Spirometry (PFT) measures?
- Lung function — how much and how fast air is exhaled.
- Intradermal injection angle?
- 10–15° (bevel up) — e.g. TB/PPD test.
- Subcutaneous injection angle?
- 45° (or 90° with a short needle and pinched skin).
- Intramuscular injection angle?
- 90° into a large muscle.
- Common IM injection sites?
- Deltoid, vastus lateralis, ventrogluteal.
- Z-track technique used for?
- Irritating IM medications — seals the drug in the muscle.
- Abbreviation PO means?
- By mouth (orally).
- Abbreviation bid means?
- Twice a day.
- Abbreviation tid means?
- Three times a day.
- Abbreviation qid means?
- Four times a day.
- Abbreviation gtt means?
- Drops.
- Abbreviation OD / OS / OU mean?
- Right eye / left eye / both eyes.
- Abbreviation ac / pc mean?
- Before meals / after meals.
- Abbreviation prn means?
- As needed.
- Dosage formula (desired over have)?
- (Desired dose ÷ dose on hand) × quantity per unit.
- 0.5 g equals how many mg?
- 500 mg (1 g = 1,000 mg).
- Give 500 mg from 250-mg tablets — how many?
- 2 tablets.
- Schedule II controlled substances?
- High abuse potential with accepted medical use (e.g. morphine, oxycodone).
- Six rights of medication administration?
- Right patient, drug, dose, route, time, and documentation.
- Parenteral route means?
- Given by injection (not through the GI tract).
- Adult CPR compression rate?
- 100–120 compressions per minute.
- Adult CPR compression depth?
- At least 2 inches (5 cm), no more than 2.4 inches.
- Adult CPR compression-to-ventilation ratio?
- 30:2 (one or two rescuers).
- First step for a collapsed unresponsive adult?
- Check responsiveness, call for help, start CPR, apply an AED.
- What does an AED do?
- Analyzes the rhythm and delivers a shock for a shockable rhythm.
- Managing a fainting (syncope) patient?
- Stop, lay them flat, elevate the legs, monitor.
- Controlling external bleeding?
- Apply firm direct pressure with gauze.
- RICE for a sprain stands for?
- Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
- Cold pack vs hot pack for a new injury?
- Cold pack first (reduces swelling); heat later for stiffness.
- Signs of shock?
- Low blood pressure, rapid weak pulse, pale cool clammy skin.
- Universal sign of choking?
- Hands clutched to the throat.
- Choking adult intervention?
- Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver).
- Instrument to clamp a blood vessel?
- A hemostat.
- Instrument that holds the suture needle?
- A needle holder.
- Instrument used to grasp tissue?
- Forceps.
- Scissors used to remove sutures?
- Suture (stitch) removal scissors.
- Otoscope is used to examine?
- The ear canal and tympanic membrane.
- Ophthalmoscope is used to examine?
- The interior of the eye (retina).
- Sphygmomanometer measures?
- Blood pressure.
- Sterile field rule?
- Keep items above the waist and within the sterile boundary; the 1-inch edge is non-sterile.
- Durable medical equipment (DME) examples?
- Wheelchair, walker, hospital bed, crutches.
- Combining form 'gastr/o' means?
- Stomach.
- Combining form 'pneum/o', 'pulmon/o' mean?
- Lung.
- Combining form 'oste/o' means?
- Bone.
- Combining form 'my/o' means?
- Muscle.
- Prefix 'a-/an-' means?
- Without / absence of.
- Prefix 'peri-' means?
- Around (pericardium = around the heart).
- Prefix 'intra-' means?
- Within (intramuscular = within a muscle).
- Suffix '-algia' means?
- Pain (e.g. neuralgia).
- Suffix '-rrhea' means?
- Flow or discharge (e.g. diarrhea).
- Plural of 'diagnosis'?
- Diagnoses.
- Body cavity containing the heart and lungs?
- The thoracic cavity.
- Largest artery in the body?
- The aorta.
- Normal adult body temperature in Celsius?
- 37°C.
- Wellness factor: recommended daily activity?
- Regular physical activity plus a balanced, nutritious diet.
- Vitamin needed for blood clotting?
- Vitamin K.
- Mineral needed for healthy red blood cells?
- Iron.
- What is the encounter form / superbill?
- A form listing the services and codes for a patient visit.
- What is a remittance advice (RA)?
- The insurer's explanation of payment sent to the provider.
- What is accounts receivable (A/R)?
- Money owed to the practice for services rendered.
- What is a clean claim?
- A claim with no errors that can be processed without extra information.
- Open-hours (open-access) scheduling?
- Patients arrive without set appointments and are seen in order.
- Matrix in appointment scheduling?
- Blocking off times the provider is unavailable before booking patients.
- Most secure way to protect EHR access?
- Unique logins, strong passwords, and role-based access.
- What is the National Provider Identifier (NPI)?
- A unique 10-digit ID number for healthcare providers.
- Normal fasting blood glucose range?
- About 70–99 mg/dL.
- Frontal/anterior surface temperature method?
- Temporal artery (forehead) scan.
- Tympanic temperature is taken where?
- In the ear canal.
- Rectal temperature compared to oral?
- About 1°F higher than oral.
- Axillary temperature compared to oral?
- About 1°F lower than oral.
- Pulse points besides radial?
- Carotid, brachial, femoral, popliteal, apical, temporal.
- Why count respirations discreetly?
- Awareness changes the rate; count without telling the patient.
- Pulse deficit means?
- A difference between the apical and radial pulse rates.
- What is a wheal?
- A small raised area from an intradermal injection (TB/allergy test).
- Ventrogluteal site landmarks?
- The greater trochanter, anterior superior iliac spine, and iliac crest.
- Most common subcutaneous insulin site?
- The abdomen (also upper arm, thigh).
- Standard subcutaneous needle gauge?
- 25–27 gauge, short needle.
- PPD (TB) test is read when?
- 48–72 hours after placement.
- Where is a PPD measured?
- The diameter of induration (firmness), not redness.
- What is hemolysis?
- Rupture of red cells — pink serum; falsely raises potassium, LDH, AST.
- Serum vs plasma?
- Serum = liquid after clotting (no fibrinogen); plasma = anticoagulated (has fibrinogen).
- CLIA-waived rapid strep specimen?
- A throat (pharyngeal) swab.
- Normal adult hemoglobin (male)?
- About 13.5–17.5 g/dL.
- CBC measures?
- Red cells, white cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets.
- Sanitize an instrument before sterilizing because?
- Debris/bioburden shields microbes from the sterilant.
- Autoclave indicator confirms?
- That sterilization conditions (temp/pressure/time) were met.
- Critical vs semicritical vs noncritical items?
- Critical penetrate tissue (sterilize); semicritical touch mucosa (high-level disinfect); noncritical touch skin.
- First aid for a chemical splash to the eye?
- Flush the eye with water for at least 15 minutes.
- First aid for a minor burn?
- Cool with running water; do not apply ice or butter.
- Recovery position is used for?
- An unconscious patient who is breathing (prevents aspiration).
- Suture removal — where to cut?
- Close to the skin, then pull toward the wound (never across it).
- Wound healing by primary intention?
- Clean wound edges approximated (sutured) heal with minimal scarring.
- Sterile gloving compared to clean gloving?
- Sterile gloves keep the outside contamination-free for invasive procedures.
- Allen test checks?
- Adequate collateral circulation before a radial arterial puncture.