Anatomy of the heart Flashcards
In pulmonary circulation, what is exchanged through diffusion in the lungs?
Answer Choices:
A) Oxygen and nutrients
B) Oxygen and carbon dioxide
C) Carbon dioxide and waste products
D) Oxygen and glucose
B) Oxygen and carbon dioxide
Rationale: Pulmonary circulation’s primary function is to facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs through diffusion. Deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation is oxygenated in the lungs, which is then carried back to the heart.
Which structure in the heart separates the right atrium from the right ventricle?
Question: Which heart valve allows blood to flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle?
Answer Choices:
A) Tricuspid valve
B) Pulmonic valve
C) Aortic valve
D) Mitral valve
A) Tricuspid valve
Rationale: The tricuspid valve is the valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle. It ensures that blood flows properly from the atrium to the ventricle without backflow into the atrium.
Which of the following is a common consequence of decreased cardiac output?
Question: A patient with decreased cardiac output may experience which of the following clinical manifestations?
Answer Choices:
A) Increased blood pressure and tachycardia
B) Shortness of breath and fatigue
C) Hypertension and hyperthermia
D) Decreased heart rate and cyanosis
B) Shortness of breath and fatigue
Rationale: Decreased cardiac output results in inadequate blood flow to tissues, which often manifests as shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and hypotension. This can impair oxygen delivery to vital organs.
Which of the following conditions is associated with ineffective tissue perfusion due to poor blood flow to the tissues?
Answer Choices:
A) Myocardial infarction
B) Coronary artery disease
C) Congestive heart failure
D) Hypertension
C) Congestive heart failure
Rationale: In congestive heart failure, the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently is impaired, leading to inadequate perfusion of tissues. This results in symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, and peripheral edema.
A patient with both decreased cardiac output and ineffective tissue perfusion is most likely to experience which of the following signs and symptoms?
Answer Choices:
A) Elevated blood pressure, bradycardia, and peripheral edema
B) Cyanosis, decreased urine output, and confusion
C) Tachycardia, hypertension, and restlessness
D) Cold extremities, hypertension, and fever
B) Cyanosis, decreased urine output, and confusion
Rationale: Both decreased cardiac output and ineffective tissue perfusion can cause systemic hypoxia and organ dysfunction. Symptoms include cyanosis, decreased urine output due to kidney hypoperfusion, and confusion due to insufficient blood flow to the brain.
How does the lymphatic system support cardiovascular function?
Answer Choices:
A) Transports oxygenated blood to the tissues
B) Returns excess fluid from tissues back to the circulatory system
C) Delivers nutrients to tissues via capillaries
D) Assists in gas exchange in the lungs
B) Returns excess fluid from tissues back to the circulatory system
Rationale: The lymphatic system plays a critical role in maintaining fluid balance by returning excess interstitial fluid back to the circulatory system. It also supports immunity by transporting white blood cells.
What part of the heart has the thickest muscle wall?
Question: Which part of the heart has the thickest muscle wall to pump blood throughout the body?
Answer Choices:
A) Right atrium
B) Right ventricle
C) Left atrium
D) Left ventricle
D) Left ventricle
Rationale: The left ventricle has the thickest wall of all heart chambers because it pumps oxygenated blood through the systemic circulation, requiring greater force to overcome systemic vascular resistance.
Which of the following alterations in cardiac output can result from a problem with the aortic valve?
Question: Which of the following alterations in cardiac output can occur if the aortic valve is not functioning properly?
Answer Choices:
A) Decreased blood flow to the right atrium
B) Inefficient left ventricle pumping
C) Poor oxygenation of blood in the lungs
D) Increased venous return to the heart
B) Inefficient left ventricle pumping
Rationale: If the aortic valve does not close properly (as in aortic regurgitation), blood may flow backward into the left ventricle, reducing the efficiency of the heart’s pumping action, which ultimately results in decreased cardiac output.
If the tricuspid valve fails to close properly, what is the most likely effect on blood flow?
Answer Choices:
A) Blood will flow back into the right atrium from the right ventricle
B) Blood will flow backward into the left atrium from the left ventricle
C) Blood will be pumped out into the pulmonary arteries without issue
D) Blood will flow into the aorta instead of the left ventricle
A) Blood will flow back into the right atrium from the right ventricle
Rationale: The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium and the right ventricle. If it doesn’t close properly (as in tricuspid regurgitation), blood can flow back into the right atrium when the right ventricle contracts, reducing the efficiency of circulation and potentially leading to right-sided heart failure.
Which of the following best describes the primary function of pulmonary circulation?
A) Oxygenated blood is delivered to the tissues.
B) Carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen in the lungs through diffusion.
C) Blood is filtered through the kidneys before being returned to the heart.
D) Lymphatic fluid is drained into the systemic circulation.
Carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen in the lungs through diffusion.
Rationale:
Pulmonary circulation involves the movement of deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs, where carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen through diffusion in the alveoli. The oxygenated blood then returns to the left side of the heart for systemic circulation.
A patient with right-sided heart failure has significant peripheral edema. Which circulatory system is most directly responsible for removing excess fluid from tissues?
A) Pulmonary circulation
B) Systemic circulation
C) Lymphatic system
D) Coronary circulation
Lymphatic system
Rationale:
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in returning excess interstitial fluid to the circulatory system and maintaining fluid balance. When right-sided heart failure occurs, blood backs up in systemic circulation, leading to increased capillary pressure and fluid leakage into tissues. The lymphatic system helps reabsorb and return this fluid to circulation.
The right atrium pumps blood into the right ventricle through which valve?
A) Mitral valve
B) Aortic valve
C) Tricuspid valve
D) Pulmonic valve
C) Tricuspid valve
Rationale:
The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle and prevents backflow of blood when the right ventricle contracts. Blood flows through this valve before being pumped into the pulmonary circulation for oxygenation.
Which chamber of the heart has the thickest walls and why?
A) Right atrium, because it receives deoxygenated blood from the body.
B) Right ventricle, because it pumps blood to the lungs.
C) Left atrium, because it receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
D) Left ventricle, because it pumps blood into systemic circulation.
Answer:
D) Left ventricle, because it pumps blood into systemic circulation.
Rationale:
The left ventricle has the thickest walls because it must generate enough pressure to pump oxygenated blood through the aorta and into systemic circulation, supplying the entire body. This requires significantly more force than the right ventricle, which only pumps blood to the lungs.
A nurse is explaining the pathway of blood circulation to a student. Which sequence correctly describes the flow of blood through the heart?
A) Right atrium → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Left ventricle
B) Superior vena cava → Right atrium → Tricuspid valve → Right ventricle → Pulmonic valve → Pulmonary arteries → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Left atrium → Mitral valve → Left ventricle → Aortic valve → Aorta
C) Left atrium → Right atrium → Tricuspid valve → Right ventricle → Pulmonary arteries
D) Aorta → Right ventricle → Lungs → Left atrium
Answer:
B
Rationale:
Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium via the superior and inferior vena cava, moves through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, then is pumped through the pulmonic valve to the lungs. Oxygenated blood returns via pulmonary veins to the left atrium, passes through the mitral valve into the left ventricle, and is pumped through the aortic valve into systemic circulation.
Which of the following best describes the function of the pericardium?
A) It contracts to pump blood through the heart.
B) It lines the inner chambers and valves of the heart.
C) It surrounds the heart to provide protection and support.
D) It carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
t surrounds the heart to provide protection and support.
Rationale:
The pericardium is a fibrous sac that encloses the heart, providing protection and preventing excessive movement within the chest cavity. It also contains pericardial fluid, which reduces friction as the heart beats.
A 65-year-old patient presents with shortness of breath, fatigue, and peripheral edema. The nurse suspects right-sided heart failure. Which finding would best support this diagnosis?
A) Frothy pink-tinged sputum
B) Jugular vein distention and hepatomegaly
C) Crackles in the lungs and orthopnea
D) Decreased urine output and bounding peripheral pulses
B) Jugular vein distention and hepatomegaly
Rationale:
Right-sided heart failure results in systemic congestion because the right ventricle cannot pump blood effectively into pulmonary circulation. This leads to jugular vein distention, hepatomegaly (liver enlargement), peripheral edema, and ascites.
Option A (Frothy pink-tinged sputum) and Option C (Crackles, orthopnea) suggest left-sided heart failure due to pulmonary congestion.
Option D (Decreased urine output and bounding pulses) may be seen in heart failure but is not as specific to right-sided failure.
A patient is admitted for severe dehydration. The nurse understands that which cardiovascular compensatory mechanism will occur first?
A) Decreased heart rate to conserve energy
B) Vasodilation to increase perfusion
C) Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)
D) Increased capillary permeability to retain fluid
C) Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)
Rationale:
When dehydration occurs, blood volume decreases, leading to hypotension and decreased perfusion. The RAAS system is activated to increase sodium and water retention, helping to restore blood volume and maintain blood pressure.
Option A (Decreased heart rate) is incorrect; the heart rate typically increases (tachycardia) as a compensatory response to low blood volume.
Option B (Vasodilation) is incorrect; the body responds with vasoconstriction to maintain blood pressure.
Option D (Increased capillary permeability) is incorrect because permeability increases with inflammation or sepsis, not dehydration.
A patient with severe aortic stenosis is at risk for which of the following complications?
A) Pulmonary embolism
B) Left ventricular hypertrophy
C) Right ventricular hypertrophy
D) Decreased myocardial oxygen demand
B) Left ventricular hypertrophy
Rationale:
Aortic stenosis narrows the aortic valve opening, forcing the left ventricle to work harder to pump blood into systemic circulation. Over time, this leads to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) due to increased workload and muscle thickening.
Option A (Pulmonary embolism) is incorrect because aortic stenosis does not directly cause blood clots.
Option C (Right ventricular hypertrophy) occurs with conditions like pulmonary hypertension or right-sided heart failure, not aortic stenosis.
Option D (Decreased myocardial oxygen demand) is incorrect; in aortic stenosis, the heart needs more oxygen due to increased workload, increasing the risk of ischemia.
A patient with chronic hypertension is at risk for which type of heart failure, and why?
A) Right-sided heart failure, due to pulmonary congestion
B) Left-sided heart failure, due to increased afterload
C) Right-sided heart failure, due to systemic vascular resistance
D) Left-sided heart failure, due to decreased preload
B) Left-sided heart failure, due to increased afterload
Rationale:
Chronic hypertension leads to increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR), which increases afterload (the force the left ventricle must pump against). Over time, this overworks the left ventricle, causing hypertrophy and eventual failure.
Option A (Right-sided heart failure, pulmonary congestion) is incorrect; left-sided failure causes pulmonary congestion first.
Option C (Right-sided failure from SVR) is incorrect; left-sided failure occurs first, and chronic left-sided failure can eventually lead to right-sided failure.
Option D (Left-sided failure from decreased preload) is incorrect; preload is reduced in hypovolemia, not hypertension.
A nurse is caring for a patient with severe mitral valve regurgitation. What complication is most likely to occur?
A) Decreased left atrial pressure
B) Pulmonary congestion
C) Systemic hypotension
D) Increased right ventricular ejection fraction
B) Pulmonary congestion
Rationale:
Mitral regurgitation allows blood to flow backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium, increasing left atrial pressure and eventually leading to pulmonary congestion and pulmonary edema.
Option A is incorrect; left atrial pressure increases, not decreases.
Option C is incorrect; systemic hypotension is not an early finding.
Option D is incorrect; the right ventricle is not directly affected initially in mitral regurgitation.
A patient is diagnosed with a myocardial infarction (MI) affecting the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. The nurse should assess for which complication?
A) Right ventricular infarction
B) Severe bradycardia due to SA node dysfunction
C) Left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure
D) Peripheral edema and hepatomegaly
C) Left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure
Rationale:
The left anterior descending (LAD) artery supplies the left ventricle. A blockage in this artery can cause left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure, as the left ventricle is responsible for pumping blood to the body.
Option A is incorrect; the right coronary artery supplies the right ventricle.
Option B is incorrect; the SA node is primarily supplied by the right coronary artery, not the LAD.
Option D is incorrect; peripheral edema and hepatomegaly occur in right-sided heart failure, not left ventricular failure.
