Cardiovascular Test Bank

Question 1

What is the most common congenital heart defect recognized in clinical practice?
a. Interatrial septal defect
b. Interventricular septal defect
c. Tetralogy of Fallot
d. Transposition of great vessels

Answer 1

b. Interventricular septal defect

Question 2

What complication results from atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries?
a. Angina pectoris
b. A coronary vascular accident
c. A cerebrovascular accident
d. Hypertension

Answer 2

c. A cerebrovascular accident

Question 3

Which of the following has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis?
a. Excessive or intensive exercise
b. Chronic hypotension
c. Cigarette smoking
d. Aspirin

Answer 3

c. Cigarette smoking

Question 4

Where do most atherosclerotic aneurysms tend to occur?
a. In the coronary arteries
b. In the ascending aorta
c. In the thoracic aorta
d. In the abdominal aorta

Answer 4

d. In the abdominal aorta

Question 5

Atherosclerosis of which artery results in intermittent claudication?
a. The abdominal aorta
b. The splenic artery
c. The renal artery
d. The femoral or popliteal artery

Answer 5

d. The femoral or popliteal artery

Question 6

A patient has suffered a myocardial infarction of the posterior wall of the left ventricle. Which
artery was occluded?
a. The main trunk of the left coronary artery
b. The anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery
c. The circumflex branch of the left coronary artery
d. The right coronary artery

Answer 6

d. The right coronary artery

Question 7

A patient presents with edema in the lower extremities, ascites, and dyspnea with activity.
What do you suspect the patient is suffering from?
a. Myocardial infarction
b. Congestive heart failure
c. Ventricular aneurysm
d. Severe hypertension

Answer 7

b. Congestive heart failure

Question 8

A patient is suspected to have suffered a myocardial infarction. Which of the following
enzymes appearing in the blood is an early and highly specific marker for this condition?
a. Alanine aminotransferase
b. Aspartate aminotransferase
c. Troponin I (troponin T)
d. Lactate dehydrogenase

Answer 8

d. Lactate dehydrogenase

Question 9

A patient is suspected to have suffered a myocardial infarction. Which of the following
enzymes appearing in the blood is an early and highly specific marker for this condition?
a. Alanine aminotransferase
b. Aspartate aminotransferase
c. Troponin I (troponin T)
d. Lactate dehydrogenase

Answer 9

c. Troponin I (troponin T)

Question 10

What form of arterial hypertension is considered to be the most common?
a. Essential or idiopathic
b. Caused by kidney disease
c. Caused by adrenal cortical hyperactivity
d. Secondary to adrenal medullar tumors

Answer 10

a. Essential or idiopathic

Question 11

Which infection typically precedes rheumatic fever and its cardiac complications?
a. Streptococcal throat infection
b. Staphylococcal skin infection
c. Gonococcal arthritis
d. Coxsackie B virus myositis

Answer 11

a. Streptococcal throat infection

Question 12

What is the most common complication of rheumatic fever?
a. Bacterial endocarditis
b. Viral endocarditis
c. Fungal myocarditis
d. Parasitic endocarditis

Answer 12

a. Bacterial endocarditis

Question 13

What is the most common cause of infectious myocarditis in the United States?
a. Toxoplasma gondii
b. Trypanosoma cruzi
c. Coxsackie A and B virus
d. Treponema pallidum

Answer 13

c. Coxsackie A and B virus

Question 14

A woman with varicose veins has developed stasis dermatitis. What does this condition
involve?
a. A brown discoloration of the skin with pinpoint hemorrhage
b. A blue, cyanotic discoloration of the skin
c. Red, warm, and swollen lower extremities
d. Local connective tissue weakness

Answer 14

d. Local connective tissue weakness

Question 15

In the diastolic phase, the right side of the heart is filled with what type of blood?
a. Peripheral venous blood
b. Pulmonary venous blood
c. Peripheral arterial blood
d. Pulmonary arterial blood

Answer 15

a. Peripheral venous blood

Question 16

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between a vein and an artery?
a. Veins have thicker walls than arteries.
b. Venous circulation requires high pressure volume for the blood to travel back to
the heart.
c. Veins have valves that minimize the backflow of blood.
d. Arteries have valves that hinder the backflow of blood.

Answer 16

c. Veins have valves that minimize the backflow of blood.

Question 17

How is lymph fluid different from blood?
a. It contains red and white blood cells diluted in a serous lymphatic plasma.
b. It contains fewer red blood cells and more clotting factors.
c. It contains red blood cells only.
d. It contains white blood cells only

Answer 17

d. It contains white blood cells only

Question 18

What is the medical term for chest pain?
a. Infarct
b. Ischemia
c. Myocardial infarct
d. Angina pectoris

Answer 18

d. Angina pectoris

Question 19

Which of the following organs helps regulate arterial blood pressure?
a. Kidneys
b. Heart
c. Spleen
d. Liver

Answer 19

a. Kidneys

Question 20

What might be heard in a patient with a septal defect?
a. A low-pitched systolic heart murmur
b. A high-pitched systolic heart murmur
c. A low-pitched diastolic heart murmur
d. A high-pitched diastolic heart murmur

Answer 20

b. A high-pitched systolic heart murmur