Anatomy
The upper chambers of the heart are known as:
a) aorta
b) ventricles
c) atria
d) cava
c) atria
Which metabolic pathway generates the most ATP?
a) The ETC (electron transport chain)
b) Glycolysis
c) Kreb's Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)
d) Phosphagen System (ATP-PC)
a) The ETC (electron transport chain) - yields ~32 ATP from 1 glucose molecule (NET 28)
What school opened the first PA program in the US?
a) Emory University
b) Duke University
c) University of Alabama (Birmingham)
d) Yale University
b) Duke University - Dr. Eugene A. Stead Jr. opened the US's first PA program in 1965
Which type of PA assesses conditions regarding the body's largest organ?
a) Gastroenterology
b) Dermatology
c) Orthopedics
d) Cardiology
b) Dermatology - as odd as it sounds, the skin is the body's largest organ!
Which term refers to the upper abdomen?
a) hypogastric
b) epigastric
c) endogastric
d) perigastric
b) epigastric - epi: above gastric: stomach
In anatomical position, the more medial forearm bone is the:
a) humerus
b) radius
c) ulna
d) tibia
c) ulna
Which of the following is the negative feedback response to a decrease in core body temperature?
a) vasoconstriction
b) vasodilation
c) sweating
d) relaxed muscles
a) vasoconstriction
According to ARC-PA, how many accredited PA programs are in the US?
a) 321
b) 300
c) 316
d) 310
a) 321
A patient presents to the ER with symptoms consistent with cholecystitis. Which type of PA will assess them?
a) Cardiology
b) Orthopedics
c) Pulmonology
d) Gastroenterology
d) Gastroenterology - cholecystitis means inflammation of the gallbladder
A patient presents to the ER with hypotension. What is their most likely blood pressure reading?
a) 135/90
b) 110/70
c) 90/60
d) 180/100
c) 90/60 - any reading at or below this number is considered hypotension (low blood pressure)
The coronal plane separates the body into which sections?
a) anterior/posterior
b) left/right
c) superior/inferior
d) medial/lateral
a) anterior/posterior - another name for the coronal plane is the frontal plane
Which type of bone cell INCREASES blood calcium levels?
a) osteoblasts
b) osteocytes
c) chondroblasts
d) osteoclasts
d) osteoclasts - break down old bone tissue which releases calcium into the bloodstream
Which PA school in the US has the largest cohort?
a) Florida State University
b) University of the Pacific
c) MUSC
d) Michigan State
b) University of the Pacific - located in Stockton, CA with a yearly cohort of 90 students
A patient with nephrolithiasis will be referred to a ___ PA.
a) Pulmonology
b) Geriatrics
c) Urology
d) OB/GYN
c) Urology - treats kidney stones, aka nephrolithiasis
This term refers to the thickening and subsequent narrowing of vessel walls:
a) multiple sclerosis
b) atherosclerosis
c) arteriosclerosis
d) osteosclerosis
c) arteriosclerosis - not to be confused with atherosclerosis, which specifically refers to plaque buildup in the vessels
Which of the following correctly matches the epithelium with the location?
a) alveoli -> simple squamous
b) small intestines -> stratified columnar
c) skin -> simple cuboidal
d) mouth -> stratified cuboidal
a) alveoli -> simple squamous
Which of the following is released across the synaptic cleft to transmit nerve impulses?
a) dopamine
b) acetylcholine
c) norepinephrine
d) epinephrine
b) acetylcholine - gets transported in vesicles from the end of one neuron to the membrane of another
Which PA school has the lowest graduation rate?
a) University of Maryland
b) University of Utah
c) Lincoln Memorial University
d) Mercy University
b) University of Utah - lowest graduation rate in the US at 64%
A typical day as a radiology PA would most likely include which of the following?
a) laparoscopy
b) mohs surgery
c) angiography procedure
d) all of the above
c) angiography procedure - uses x-ray images to guide a wire through vessels, allowing the PA to see clots, bleeds, or blockages.
Which ANATOMICAL term refers to the calf?
a) sural
b) cural
c) pedal
d) tarsus
a) sural
What is the most lateral of the hamstring muscles?
a) semitentinosis
b) semimembranosis
c) biceps femoris
d) vastus lateralis
c) biceps femoris
Which hormone causes increased atrial pressure and decreases sodium reabsorption in the kidneys?
a) Parathyroid hormone
b) Atrial natriuretic peptide
c) Aldosterone
d) Vasopressin
b) Atrial natriuretic peptide
How many board-certified PAs did AAPA report at the end of 2024?
a) 191, 923
b) 187,789
c) 190,204
d) 189,907
d) 189,907
Kenneth Farrell is among the first graduating class of PAs in the US. What did he specialize in?
a) pulmonology
b) cardiology
c) primary care
d) none of the above
a) pulmonology
A patient is seen at the hospital for a knee replacement, or:
a) arthrectomy
b) arthroscopy
c) arthroplasty
d) arthrotomy
c) arthroplasty