CARDIOVASCULAR ANATOMY

Question 1

Which one of the following is found on the right side of the heart?

a) aortic valve
b) pulmonary veins
c) sinoatrial node
d) mitral valve
e) origin of the coronary arteries

Answer 1

c) sinoatrial node

Question 2

What does the SA node do?

Answer 2

The SA node sets the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat. It’s found in the right atrium

Question 3

Which of the following occurs when the aortic and mitral valves are both closed?

a) pressure in the left ventricle is either rapidly increasing or rapidly decreasing
b) blood enters the pulmonary trunk from the right ventricle
c) the left and right atria contract
d) the heart is completely relaxed
e) the tricuspid valve is open

Answer 3

a) pressure in the left ventricle is either rapidly increasing or rapidly decreasing

Question 4

During the cardiac cycle the papillary muscles contract when:

a) the sinoatrial node generates an action potential
b) during diastole
c) the atria have just begun to contract
d) the aortic and pulmonary valves are closing
e) the mitral and tricuspid valves are closing

Answer 4

e) the mitral and tricuspid valves are closing

Question 5

Where the great arteries and veins attach at the base of the human heart:

a) the cardiac veins return de-oxygenated blood from the heart muscle to the left atrium
b) the aorta is posterior to the pulmonary trunk
c) semilunar valves prevent backflow of blood into the vena cavas
d) the pulmonary veins are thick-walled and elastic
e) the coronary arteries arise from the base of the pulmonary trunk

Answer 5

b) the aorta is posterior to the pulmonary trunk

Question 6

Coronary arteries:

a) are classified as muscular arteries
b) travel for most of their length deep within the muscle of the ventricles
c) arise as branches of the pulmonary veins because they must carry oxygenated blood to the heart muscle
d) arise from small openings within the left anterior vena cava
e) are seldom affected by atherosclerosis

Answer 6

a) are classified as muscular arteries

Question 7

The pulmonary and aortic valves of the heart lack chordae tendineae because:

a) the pulmonary and aortic valve cusps are too fragile to allow attachment of chordae tendineae
b) the ventricular outlets are of larger diameter than the inlets, so they don’t require chordae tendineae
c) when the valves close, high blood pressure in the ventricles prevents the valve cusps from collapsing
d) the pulmonary and aortic valves withstand much less pressure than the mitral and tricuspid valves
e) when the valves close the cusps remain stable because of their cup-shape

Answer 7

e) when the valves close the cusps remain stable because of their cup-shape

Question 8

All of the following statements about the fibrous skeleton of the human heart is correct, EXCEPT:

a) it acts as an electrical insulator between the atrial muscle and the ventricular muscle
b) it is penetrated by the atrioventricular bundle of the heart’s conduction system
c) it is made of a dense sheet of modified cardiac muscle fibres
d) it provides attachment for the ventricular inlet and outlet valve cusps
e) it acts to prevent distortion of the ventricular inlet and outlet valves

Answer 8

it is made of a dense sheet of modified cardiac muscle fibres. no, the fibrous skeleton is made of collagen (connective tissue)

Question 9

Blood flows from the pulmonary veins into the:

a) left atrium
b) left ventricle
c) pulmonary arteries
d) lungs
e) right atrium

Answer 9

a) left atrium

Question 10

The space between the parietal and visceral layers of the pericardium is normally filled with:

a) serum
b) air
c) blood
d) adipose tissue
e) serous fluid

Answer 10

e) serous fluid

Question 11

The bicuspid valve is located between the:

a) right and left atria
b) right and left ventricles
c) right ventricle and the aorta
d) right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk
e) left atrium and the left ventricle

Answer 11

e) left atrium and the left ventricle

Question 12

There is a semilunar valve between the:

a) right atrium and right ventricle
b) right ventricle and the aorta
c) right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk
d) left atrium and the left ventricle
e) left ventricle and the pulmonary trunk

Answer 12

c) right ventricle and the pulmonary trunk

Question 13

Blood flows from the superior vena cava into the:

a) inferior vena cava
b) aorta
c) right atrium
d) pulmonary trunk
e) left atrium

Answer 13

c) right atrium

Question 14

Which of the following lists the elements of the heart’s conduction system in the correct order?

a) SA node, AV bundle, AV node, bundle branches, conduction myofibres
b) conduction myofibres, AV bundle, bundle branches, AV node, SA node
c) SA node, AV bundle, bundle branches, AV node, conduction myofibres
d) SA node, AV node, AV bundle, bundle branches, conduction myofibres
e) AV node, SA node, AV bundle, bundle branches, conduction myofibres

Answer 14

d) SA node, AV node, AV bundle, bundle branches, conduction myofibres

Question 15

During the normal cardiac cycle, the atria contract when they are initially stimulated by the:

a) AV node
b) vagus nerve
c) baroreceptors
d) SA node
e) conduction myofibres

Answer 15

d) SA node

Question 16

The atrioventricular valves close when the:

a) ventricles relax
b) vagus nerve stimulates them
c) atria contract
d) ventricles contract
e) SA node fires

Answer 16

d) ventricles contract

Question 17

Blood flows into the coronary arteries from the:

a) ascending aorta
b) descending aorta
c) pulmonary trunk
d) superior vena cava
e) coronary sinus

Answer 17

a) ascending aorta

Question 18

All deoxygenated blood returning from the systemic circulation flows into the:

a) left atrium
b) left ventricle
c) right atrium
d) coronary sinus
e) right ventricle

Answer 18

c) right atrium

Question 19

The SA node is located:

a) near the fossa ovalis in the interatrial septum
b) in the aortic wall near the openings to the coronary arteries
c) in the right atrial wall near the opening of the superior vena cava
d) within the pectinate muscles of the right atrium
e) in the left atrial wall near the openings of the right pulmonary veins

Answer 19

c) in the right atrial wall near the opening of the superior vena cava

Question 20

Atrioventricular valves open when:

a) they are stimulated by the AV node
b) ventricular pressure falls below atrial pressure
c) atrial pressure falls below ventricular pressure
d) the papillary muscles contract
e) the chordae tendineae contract

Answer 20

c) atrial pressure falls below ventricular pressure

Question 21

The second heart sound (dupp) is created by the:

a) turbulance generated as a result of the opening of the atrioventricular valves
b) turbulance generated as a result of the closing of the semilunar valves
c) turbulance generated as a result of the opening of the semilunar valves
d) vibration of the chordae tendineae during ventricular systole
e) turbulance generated as a result of the closing of the atrioventricular valves

Answer 21

b) turbulance generated as a result of the closing of the semilunar valves

Question 22

All of the following are TRUE regarding the ventricles, EXCEPT:

a) the left ventricle expels a greater volume of blood per beat than does the right ventricle
b) the lumen of the left ventricle is rounder than that of the right ventricle
c) the left ventricle pumps blood to the systemic circulation and the right ventricle pumps blood to the pulmonary circulation
d) the wall of the left ventricle is thicker than that of the right ventricle
e) walls of both ventricles have trabeculae carneae and papillary muscles

Answer 22

a) the left ventricle expels a greater volume of blood per beat than does the right ventricle

Question 23

All valves are closed during:

a) the entire phase of diastole
b) atrial systole
c) isovolumetric contraction
d) rapid ventricular filling
e) ventricular ejection

Answer 23

c) isovolumetric contraction

Question 24

All of the following statements about the human cardiovascular system is correct, EXCEPT:

a) All arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart
b) The system contains two pumps, each of a single effective chamber
c) The atria are collecting/reservoir chambers upstream of the pumps
d) Portal veins are vessels which link two capillary beds
e) Mean pressures in the left pump are approximately 5-6 times greater than in the right pump

Answer 24

a) All arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart

Question 25

The part of the heart’s conduction system which conducts most slowly is the:

a) atrioventricular bundle
b) ventricular muscle fibres
c) atrial muscle fibres
d) Purkinje fibres
e) fibres of the AV node

Answer 25

e) fibres of the AV node

Question 26

During the cardiac cycle, the volume of blood in the ventricles:

a) does not increase until the atria contract
b) decreases most rapidly early in the phase of ventricular ejection
c) is about three times greater in the left ventricle than in the right
d) reaches a maximum of about 400ml
e) decreases to zero during the phase of isovolumetric ventricular relaxation

Answer 26

b) decreases most rapidly early in the phase of ventricular ejection

Question 27

Which of the following statements about the anatomy of the human heart is INCORRECT?

a) The aortic valve is posterior to the pulmonary valve
b) The ventricular inlets are larger than the outlets
c) The atria and great veins are more posterior than the ventricles and great arteries
d) The apex of the heart is comprised mainly of the right ventricle
e) The right ventricle is crescent-shaped in cross-section

Answer 27

d) The apex of the heart is comprised mainly of the right ventricle

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT true of the mitral valve of the heart?

a) It is the outlet valve of the left ventricle
b) Its closure contributes to the first heart sound
c) It is also named the bicuspid valve
d) When closed it is restrained by chordae tendineae
e) It is closed during the phase of ventricular ejection

Answer 28

a) It is the outlet valve of the left ventricle

Question 29

Which of the following statements is correct about the left ventricle?

a) contains oxygenated blood
b) pumps blood into the pulmonary trunk
c) has an atrioventricular valve with 3 cusps
d) has a ‘C’ shaped lumen when cut in cross section
e) generates low pressure

Answer 29

a) contains oxygenated blood

Question 30

The initiation of the heart beat is the responsibility of the:

a) fossa ovalis
b) cardiovascular center
c) baroreceptors
d) vagus nerve
e) SA node

Answer 30

e) SA node

Question 31

The myocardium is made of:

a) dense connective tissue
b) skeletal muscle
c) smooth muscle
d) cardiac muscle
e) endothelium

Answer 31

d) cardiac muscle

Question 32

The function of the chordae tendineae is to:

a) pull the walls of the ventricles inward during contraction
b) open the AV valves
c) prevent eversion of the AV valves during ventricular systole
d) open the semilunar valves
e) hold the heart in place within the mediastinum

Answer 32

c) prevent eversion of the AV valves during ventricular systole

Question 33

The role of the papillary muscles is to:

a) hold the heart in position within the mediastinum
b) There is no known function
c) tighten the chordae tendineae by contracting during ventricular systole
d) transmit the action potential to the AV valves
e) secrete pericardial fluid into the pericardial space

Answer 33

c) tighten the chordae tendineae by contracting during ventricular systole