TheoryMedical Coding CPC
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Medical Coding CPC exam — full Q&A walkthrough
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30 free Medical Coding CPC questions
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Anatomy & Terminology
A cut that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections is called the:
Correct — C. The frontal (coronal) plane runs vertically and divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions. The sagittal plane divides right from left; the transverse plane divides superior from inferior. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Which directional term describes a structure closer to the point of attachment to the trunk?
Correct — D. Proximal means nearer to the point of attachment to the trunk. Distal is its opposite, meaning farther away. These terms are most commonly used for the limbs. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The thoracic cavity contains which of the following organs?
Correct — C. The thoracic cavity is enclosed by the rib cage and diaphragm and contains the heart (in the mediastinum) and the lungs. The abdominopelvic cavity contains the stomach, liver, kidneys, bladder, and uterus. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The suffix '-ectomy' means:
Correct — D. -Ectomy means surgical excision or removal (e.g., appendectomy). -Plasty means surgical repair, -ostomy means creation of an opening, and -itis means inflammation. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The combining form 'hepat/o' refers to the:
Correct — C. Hepat/o refers to the liver (e.g., hepatitis = inflammation of the liver). Nephr/o refers to the kidney, splen/o to the spleen, and cholecyst/o to the gallbladder. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The suffix '-plasty' means:
Correct — A. -Plasty refers to surgical repair or reconstruction (e.g., rhinoplasty = nose reshaping). -Ectomy is removal, -scopy is visual examination, and -tomy is incision. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The combining form 'cardi/o' refers to the:
Correct — D. Cardi/o is the combining form for the heart. Angi/o or vas/o refers to blood vessels, pneum/o or pulmon/o refers to the lungs, and encephal/o refers to the brain. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The term 'polyarthritis' is correctly broken down as:
Correct — B. Poly- means many, arthr/o is the combining form for joint, and -itis means inflammation. Therefore polyarthritis means inflammation of many joints simultaneously. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The olecranon is the bony prominence of which bone?
Correct — D. The olecranon is the proximal projection of the ulna that forms the point of the elbow. It articulates with the olecranon fossa of the humerus when the elbow is extended. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Which term describes a band of fibrous tissue connecting bone to bone?
Correct — B. A ligament connects bone to bone and provides joint stability. A tendon connects muscle to bone. Fascia is connective tissue surrounding muscles, and cartilage is a firm but flexible connective tissue. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The patella is classified as which type of bone?
Correct — A. The patella (kneecap) is a sesamoid bone — a bone embedded within a tendon (the quadriceps/patellar tendon). It increases the mechanical advantage of the quadriceps muscles. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Melanocytes are found primarily in which skin layer and produce which substance?
Correct — C. Melanocytes reside in the basal layer of the epidermis and produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color, and protection against UV radiation. -
Anatomy & Terminology
A full-thickness burn that destroys the epidermis, dermis, and extends into subcutaneous tissue is classified as:
Correct — A. Third-degree (full-thickness) burns destroy both the epidermis and dermis and extend into subcutaneous tissue. They appear white, leathery, or charred and are insensate because nerve endings are destroyed. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The lower chambers of the heart are called the:
Correct — D. The heart has two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). The ventricles pump blood out of the heart — the right ventricle to the lungs and the left ventricle to the body. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The mitral (bicuspid) valve is located between which two chambers?
Correct — B. The mitral (bicuspid) valve lies between the left atrium and the left ventricle, preventing backflow during ventricular systole. The tricuspid valve is on the right side. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Arteries differ from veins primarily in that arteries:
Correct — A. Arteries carry blood away from the heart (both oxygenated and deoxygenated — e.g., pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood). Veins carry blood toward the heart and have valves to prevent backflow. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The sinoatrial (SA) node, which initiates the heartbeat, is located in the:
Correct — C. The SA node (natural pacemaker) is located in the wall of the right atrium near the opening of the superior vena cava. It fires at 60–100 impulses per minute and initiates each cardiac cycle. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The epiglottis prevents aspiration during swallowing by covering the:
Correct — D. The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped cartilage that folds over the glottis (vocal cords and opening to the trachea) during swallowing, directing food and liquid into the esophagus rather than the airway. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The right lung has how many lobes?
Correct — A. The right lung has three lobes — upper, middle, and lower — separated by the horizontal and oblique fissures. The left lung has two lobes (upper and lower) to accommodate the cardiac notch. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Bile is produced by the liver but stored in the:
Correct — C. Bile is synthesized by hepatocytes in the liver, stored and concentrated in the gallbladder, and released into the duodenum via the common bile duct to emulsify dietary fats. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Nutrient absorption primarily takes place in the:
Correct — B. The small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) is the primary site of nutrient absorption thanks to its villi and microvilli, which vastly increase surface area. The large intestine mainly absorbs water and electrolytes. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Urine passes from the kidneys to the urinary bladder via the:
Correct — C. The ureters are muscular tubes that carry urine from the renal pelvis of each kidney to the urinary bladder. The urethra transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell production, is primarily produced by the:
Correct — B. EPO is produced mainly by peritubular interstitial cells in the renal cortex in response to hypoxia. It acts on the bone marrow to stimulate erythropoiesis. The liver produces a small amount. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The brain and spinal cord together constitute the:
Correct — D. The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of all nerves outside the CNS, including cranial and spinal nerves. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The myelin sheath around nerve axons is produced by which cells in the peripheral nervous system?
Correct — A. In the PNS, Schwann cells produce the myelin sheath. In the CNS, oligodendrocytes perform this function. Astrocytes support CNS neurons; microglia are immune cells of the CNS. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The autonomic nervous system is divided into two main branches:
Correct — B. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates involuntary functions via its sympathetic ('fight-or-flight') and parasympathetic ('rest-and-digest') divisions. These two divisions often have opposing effects. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The cauda equina is a bundle of nerve roots located below:
Correct — C. The spinal cord ends at approximately L1–L2 as the conus medullaris. Below this, lumbar and sacral nerve roots form the cauda equina ('horse's tail'), which travel to their respective exit foramina. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Insulin and glucagon are produced by which organ?
Correct — D. Insulin (from beta cells) and glucagon (from alpha cells) are produced in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. They regulate blood glucose levels with opposing actions. -
Anatomy & Terminology
Aldosterone, which regulates sodium reabsorption and blood pressure, is secreted by the:
Correct — A. Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid secreted by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex. It increases sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the renal tubules, raising blood volume and pressure. -
Anatomy & Terminology
The fallopian tubes connect the:
Correct — C. The fallopian tubes (uterine tubes) transport ova from the ovaries to the uterus. Fertilization typically occurs in the ampulla of the fallopian tube.
Medical Coding CPC sample questions
Tap any question below to reveal the answer and a plain-English explanation.
Anatomy & Terminology The epididymis in the male reproductive system primarily functions to:
A. Produce testosterone
B. Store and mature spermatozoa ✓
C. Secrete seminal fluid
D. Transport sperm to the urethra
Correct — B. The epididymis is a coiled tube on the posterior surface of each testis where sperm mature and are stored until ejaculation. The vas deferens transports sperm; the seminal vesicles contribute seminal fluid.
Anesthesia & Radiology What does the anesthesia base unit value represent?
A. A fixed number of units assigned to a procedure based on complexity and risk ✓
B. The total time units for the anesthesia service
C. The number of qualifying circumstances added to the procedure
D. The anesthesiologist's fee schedule amount
Correct — A. The base unit value is a fixed number assigned to each anesthesia procedure code that reflects the relative complexity, skill, and risk involved. Time units and qualifying circumstances are added separately to calculate total units.
Evaluation & Management What are the two key components that determine the level of E/M service for established office patients under the 2021 AMA guidelines?
A. Medical decision making (MDM) or total time ✓
B. History and physical examination
C. Number of diagnoses and amount of data reviewed
D. Chief complaint and review of systems
Correct — A. Under the 2021 AMA E/M guidelines, established office/outpatient visits are determined by either MDM complexity or total time on the date of encounter — history and exam are no longer key components.
Guidelines & Compliance Which federal law establishes national standards to protect individuals' medical records and personal health information?
A. HIPAA Privacy Rule ✓
B. False Claims Act
C. Stark Law
D. Anti-Kickback Statute
Correct — A. The HIPAA Privacy Rule (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) sets national standards for protecting individually identifiable health information. The other options address fraud and abuse, not privacy specifically.
HCPCS & Modifiers HCPCS Level II codes are maintained by which organization?
A. American Medical Association (AMA)
B. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ✓
C. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
D. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
Correct — B. HCPCS Level II codes are maintained by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). The AMA maintains CPT (Level I) codes, while NCHS maintains ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes.
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis ICD-10-CM codes can contain a maximum of how many characters?
A. 7 ✓
B. 5
C. 6
D. 8
Correct — A. ICD-10-CM codes are alphanumeric and may be 3 to 7 characters in length. The first three characters form the category, and characters 4–7 provide greater specificity.
Pathology, Lab & Medicine A urinalysis report shows glucose in the urine. Which CPT code range covers urinalysis procedures?
A. 81000–81099 ✓
B. 80047–80076
C. 82000–82999
D. 85002–85999
Correct — A. CPT codes 81000–81099 are designated for urinalysis. Glucose in urine is reported within this section using the appropriate qualitative or quantitative code.
Anatomy & Terminology The myometrium refers to which layer of the uterus?
A. Inner mucosal lining shed during menstruation
B. Outer peritoneal covering
C. Cervical mucosa
D. Middle muscular layer ✓
Correct — D. The uterus has three layers: the endometrium (inner mucosal lining), the myometrium (thick middle layer of smooth muscle that contracts during labor), and the perimetrium (outer peritoneal layer).
About the Medical Coding CPC test
Medical Coding CPC candidates are tested on Nursing/Medical and Anatomy Terminology, in the same format the real exam uses. Every question here comes with a plain-language explanation, so you learn why an answer is right instead of memorising it — with 658 questions to start on.
You will be tested on
- Safe and effective care environment
- Health promotion and maintenance
- Psychosocial and physiological integrity
- Pharmacology, infection control and patient safety
How TheoryPractice helps you pass
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Topics in this question bank
Safe and effective care environment
Health promotion and maintenance
Psychosocial and physiological integrity
Pharmacology, infection control and patient safety
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