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AAPC CPCFree Certified Professional Coder practice test
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10 real AAPC CPC practice questions with instant answers and explanations — no account, no credit card, no email. Score yourself, then unlock the full bank of 382 questions whenever you’re ready. The AAPC CPC passing score is 70%.
A patient's operative report describes a procedure performed on the structure responsible for producing bile and located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Which organ is being referenced?
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All 10 AAPC CPC questions & answers
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Q1. A patient's operative report describes a procedure performed on the structure responsible for producing bile and located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Which organ is being referenced?
Correct answer: C. Liver
The liver is the organ responsible for producing bile and is located in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) of the abdomen. The gallbladder stores bile but does not produce it. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and insulin. The spleen is involved in immune function and blood filtration.
Q2. The prefix 'brady-' in a cardiology diagnosis most accurately means:
Correct answer: B. Slow
'Brady-' is a Greek prefix meaning slow. Bradycardia, for example, refers to a heart rate that is slower than normal (typically fewer than 60 beats per minute). 'Tachy-' means fast, 'a-' or 'an-' means absent, and there is no single standard prefix meaning irregular.
Q3. A physician documents that a lesion is located on the 'dorsal' surface of the patient's hand. For coding purposes, this means the lesion is on the:
Correct answer: B. Back of the hand
Dorsal refers to the back or posterior surface. On the hand specifically, 'dorsal' refers to the back of the hand (knuckle side), while 'palmar' or 'volar' refers to the palm side. This directional distinction is important when selecting laterality and anatomical site codes.
Q4. Which suffix correctly means 'surgical removal' or 'excision of'?
Correct answer: B. -ectomy
'-ectomy' means surgical removal or excision (e.g., appendectomy = removal of the appendix). '-itis' means inflammation. '-ostomy' means creation of a permanent opening. '-otomy' means a surgical incision into a structure without complete removal.
Q5. A coder encounters the term 'nephro-' in a diagnosis. This combining form refers to the:
Correct answer: C. Kidney
'Nephro-' is the combining form derived from Greek 'nephros' meaning kidney. 'Hepato-' relates to the liver, 'cysto-' to the bladder, and 'uretero-' to the ureter. Correct recognition of this root is essential when locating diagnoses in the ICD-10-CM index.
Q6. Anatomical position is the standard reference used in medical documentation. In this position, the palms of the hands are facing:
Correct answer: C. Anteriorly (forward)
In anatomical position, the person stands erect, eyes forward, feet together, and arms at the sides with palms facing anteriorly (forward). This standardized reference position ensures consistent use of directional terms across all medical documentation and coding.
Q7. The term 'hypogastric' refers to the abdominal region that is:
Correct answer: B. Below the stomach, in the lower midline
The hypogastric (or pubic) region is the lower-middle section of the abdomen, below the umbilical region and above the pubic symphysis. 'Hypo-' means below or under. This region contains the urinary bladder and portions of the reproductive organs.
Q8. A patient is diagnosed with 'osteoarthritis.' Breaking down this term: 'osteo-' means bone, 'arthr-' means joint, and '-itis' means:
Correct answer: B. Inflammation
'-itis' is a suffix meaning inflammation. Therefore, osteoarthritis literally breaks down as inflammation of the bone-joint. While the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis is degenerative rather than purely inflammatory, the term's etymology denotes inflammation. This root is foundational for recognizing inflammatory diagnoses in ICD-10-CM.
Q9. Which of the following structures is part of the upper respiratory tract?
Correct answer: C. Larynx
The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx. The lower respiratory tract begins at the trachea and includes the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. This anatomical distinction guides code selection in ICD-10-CM Chapter 10 (Diseases of the Respiratory System).
Q10. The suffix '-plasty' in a surgical term indicates:
Correct answer: C. Surgical repair or reconstruction
'-plasty' means surgical repair or reconstruction of a body part (e.g., rhinoplasty = surgical repair of the nose). '-ectomy' = removal, '-ostomy' = new opening, '-scopy' = visual examination. These distinctions are critical for accurate CPT procedure code selection.
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