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CCMA · 10% of the exam

Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science practice questions

10 free Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science questions for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question CCMA quiz

What this domain covers

The basic science and healthcare foundations a medical assistant builds on: terminology, healthcare systems and core concepts.

Exam weight
10%
On a real exam
≈ 18 questions
In our bank
61 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Medical terminology: roots, prefixes and suffixes
  • Healthcare delivery models and settings
  • Basic pharmacology concepts
  • Nutrition basics
  • Psychology of patient care

How to study it

Master terminology first; it unlocks questions in every other domain.

Sample Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    The prefix 'intra-', as in 'intramuscular,' means:

    • AAcross
    • BBetween
    • CBelow
    • DWithin
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Within

    • AIncorrect. That's trans-.
    • BIncorrect. That's inter-.
    • CIncorrect. That's sub- or infra-.
    • DCorrect. An intramuscular injection goes into a muscle.

  2. Question 2

    What does an analgesic do?

    • APrevents clots
    • BKills fungus
    • CRelieves pain
    • DLowers fever only
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Relieves pain

    • AIncorrect. Clots are prevented by anticoagulants or antiplatelets.
    • BIncorrect. That describes an antifungal.
    • CCorrect. Analgesics such as acetaminophen relieve pain.
    • DIncorrect. That describes an antipyretic.

  3. Question 3

    An antipyretic medication is used to:

    • APrevent blood clots
    • BKill bacteria
    • CReduce fever
    • DRelieve itching
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Reduce fever

    • AIncorrect. That's an anticoagulant.
    • BIncorrect. That's an antibiotic.
    • CCorrect. Acetaminophen is a common antipyretic.
    • DIncorrect. That's an antipruritic.

  4. Question 4

    The word root 'derm/o' refers to which body part?

    • AMuscle
    • BBone
    • CBlood
    • DSkin
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Skin

    • AIncorrect. That's my/o.
    • BIncorrect. That's oste/o.
    • CIncorrect. That's hem/o.
    • DCorrect. Dermatology is the study of the skin.

  5. Question 5

    A patient with a common cold asks why the provider didn't prescribe an antibiotic. Which explanation is accurate?

    • AColds are usually caused by fungi, which need antifungal drugs instead
    • BColds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics act only against bacteria
    • CAntibiotics are needed only once mucus turns thick and yellow or green
    • DAntibiotics are started only after a cold has lasted longer than one week
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics act only against bacteria

    Colds are viral, and antibiotics don't work against viruses, even when mucus is colored. Unneeded antibiotics add the risk of side effects and resistance without any benefit.

    • AIncorrect. Common colds are caused by viruses, not fungi.
    • BCorrect. CDC states that antibiotics don't treat viral infections such as colds. Taking them when they aren't needed doesn't help and can cause side effects and antimicrobial resistance.
    • CIncorrect. CDC specifically says antibiotics don't treat colds and runny noses, even when the mucus is thick, yellow or green.
    • DIncorrect. How long a cold lasts doesn't make antibiotics work against the virus. They're used only if a bacterial infection is diagnosed.

  6. Question 6

    The directional term 'distal' means:

    • AFarther from the point of attachment
    • BCloser to the point of attachment or origin
    • CToward the back
    • DToward the midline
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Farther from the point of attachment

    • ACorrect. The hand is distal to the elbow.
    • BIncorrect. That's proximal.
    • CIncorrect. That's posterior.
    • DIncorrect. That's medial.

  7. Question 7

    On a medication order, 'tid' means:

    • AEvery three hours
    • BTwice a day
    • CEvery day at bedtime
    • DThree times a day
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Three times a day

    • AIncorrect. That's q3h.
    • BIncorrect. That's bid.
    • CIncorrect. That's written as 'at bedtime'.
    • DCorrect. 'qid' means four times a day.

  8. Question 8

    What does the suffix '-ostomy' mean, as in 'colostomy'?

    • ASurgical removal of all or part of an organ
    • BSurgical creation of an opening
    • CInflammation
    • DVisual examination
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Surgical creation of an opening

    • AIncorrect. That's -ectomy.
    • BCorrect. A colostomy creates an opening from the colon.
    • CIncorrect. That's -itis.
    • DIncorrect. That's -scopy.

  9. Question 9

    In the term "bradycardia," what does the prefix "brady-" mean?

    • AFast
    • BSlow
    • CIrregular
    • DPainful
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Slow

    • AIncorrect. "Fast" is the prefix tachy-, as in tachycardia.
    • BCorrect. Brady- means slow; bradycardia is a slow heart rate.
    • CIncorrect. An irregular rhythm is called an arrhythmia or dysrhythmia.
    • DIncorrect. Pain is shown by suffixes such as -algia or -dynia.

  10. Question 10

    What does the suffix '-plasty' mean, as in 'rhinoplasty'?

    • APain
    • BSurgical removal
    • CInflammation
    • DSurgical repair or reshaping
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Surgical repair or reshaping

    • AIncorrect. That's -algia.
    • BIncorrect. That's -ectomy.
    • CIncorrect. That's -itis.
    • DCorrect. Rhinoplasty reshapes the nose.

Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science: FAQs

How much of the CCMA exam is Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science?

Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science is 10% of the CCMA exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 180-question form works out to roughly 18 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science domain cover?

The basic science and healthcare foundations a medical assistant builds on: terminology, healthcare systems and core concepts.

How should I study Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science for CCMA?

Master terminology first; it unlocks questions in every other domain.

Where can I practise more Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science questions?

This page has 10 free Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science questions with answers. The ExamWize CCMA question bank has 61 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other CCMA topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the CCMA cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science exam-ready

The full CCMA bank has 61 Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full CCMA practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with NHA; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.