CMI Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CMI facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which drawing technique simulates 3D volume? → Shading
2. Which type of synovial joint allows rotation around a single axis, as in the atlas-axis articulation? → Pivot joint
3. What minimum resolution (PPI) is typically required for medical illustrations submitted for offset printing in a journal or textbook? → 300 PPI
4. Which cranial nerve innervates the muscles of facial expression? → Facial nerve (CN VII)
5. In Adobe Illustrator, which feature is most useful for creating anatomically accurate, scalable vessel diagrams? → Bezier pen tool with stroke width profiles
6. Which suture pattern illustration would be most appropriate for depicting an interrupted closure of the skin? → Individual U-shaped loops placed at equal intervals across the wound
7. What organ is responsible for filtering blood in the human body? → Kidneys
8. What is the primary function of the circulatory system? → Circulation of blood
9. Which color mode must medical illustrations be converted to before submitting to a publisher for CMYK offset printing? → CMYK
10. What is the term for the basic unit of life? → Cell
11. Which rendering pass in a 3D medical animation pipeline captures shadows separately for compositing flexibility? → Shadow pass (shadow catcher)
12. Which cell type forms the granuloma core in chronic granulomatous inflammation? → Epithelioid macrophages
13. Which hormone is released by the posterior pituitary in response to increased blood osmolarity? → Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
14. When estimating fees for a complex 3D medical animation, which factor most significantly affects pricing beyond hourly rate? → Usage scope (broadcast, educational, promotional) and exclusivity
15. In a multi-panel figure, panels are conventionally labeled using which convention in biomedical publications? → Uppercase Roman letters (A, B, C)
16. Which software is most commonly used in medical illustration? → Adobe Illustrator
17. What is the primary purpose of using icons rather than detailed anatomical illustrations in a patient-facing discharge instruction sheet? → Icons communicate key actions or concepts rapidly without requiring reading literacy
18. Why should illustrators avoid exaggeration? → To maintain accuracy
19. Which approach is used in CT/MRI volume rendering to produce semi-transparent 3D medical images? → Transfer functions mapping voxel intensity to color and opacity
20. A medical illustrator is asked to supply 'line art' for a chapter. What characterizes a true line art figure in publishing terms? → A black-and-white image with no continuous tone values, only solid lines and fills
21. What tool would you use to measure anatomical accuracy? → Calipers
22. In illustrating atherosclerosis, which layer of the arterial wall does the fatty streak primarily involve? → Tunica intima
23. In illustrating cirrhosis, which fibrous change replaces normal hepatic architecture? → Bridging fibrosis forming regenerative nodules
24. Why should diversity be represented in illustrations? → To promote inclusivity
25. A medical illustrator is asked to create an exploded-view diagram of a joint prosthesis. The primary purpose of the exploded view is to: → Reveal the spatial relationship and assembly order of individual components
26. In medical illustration, 'exploded view' is a technique used primarily for what publication purpose? → Separating components to display internal assembly or spatial relationships
27. A cardiovascular surgeon needs an illustration of a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Which vessel's anatomy must be most precisely rendered? → Anastomosis site at the target coronary artery
28. Which aspect of typography is most important when selecting a typeface for anatomical labels that will be printed at 6-point size? → High x-height and open apertures for legibility at small sizes
29. What minimum image resolution is generally required for high-quality print reproduction in medical journals? → 300 dpi
30. The term 'negative space' in medical illustration refers to: → The background or unoccupied area that defines and supports the subject