American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the American Academy of Professional Coders exam with our comprehensive quiz, featuring multiple-choice questions designed to enhance your coding skills and knowledge. Ideal for aspiring medical coders looking to succeed in the certification process.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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Which structures are included in the appendicular skeleton?

Start with the vertebrae
Include the skull and hyoid
Shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle, and extremities
Only the ribs and sternum

The correct answer is: Shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle, and extremities

The appendicular skeleton comprises the bones that facilitate movement and interaction with the environment. Specifically, this includes the shoulder girdle (which consists of the clavicles and scapulae), the pelvic girdle (which is formed by the hip bones), and the bones of the upper and lower extremities, including the arms and legs. These structures are vital for mobility and offering a framework for attaching limbs to the central skeleton. The other options refer to structures that are part of different skeletal categories. The vertebrae belong to the axial skeleton, which supports the head and body while encasing the spinal cord. The skull and hyoid are also part of the axial skeleton, providing protection for the brain and facilitating functions such as breathing and swallowing. Lastly, the ribs and sternum, which are components of the thoracic cage, also fall under the axial skeleton and are involved in protecting thoracic organs and aiding respiration. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why the shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle, and extremities are correctly categorized within the appendicular skeleton.