Certified Medical Assistant Practice Exam

What is the lower limit of a sterile surgical field in terms of body parts?

1. Knee

2. Shoulder

3. Waist

4. Ankle

The correct answer is: Waist

The lower limit of a sterile surgical field is defined in relation to the waist. In sterile procedures, maintaining a sterile field is essential for preventing infections. The waist is considered the landmark due to the positioning of the scrubbed-in surgical team, as it marks the boundary below which the sterile field is typically not extended. This means that any body parts below the waist may not be considered part of the sterile area, thus indicating that items or body parts in this region are potentially unsterile and can introduce pathogens into the surgical site. In sterile dressings, drapes are usually placed from above the waist to create a sterile environment for the procedure. While the shoulder and knee are important in assessing a comprehensive sterile field, they do not serve as the definitive lower threshold. The ankle is also situated below the waist, further substantiating why it is not the correct answer, as the waist serves as the primary demarcation for maintaining sterility in surgical environments.