heart Flashcards
- Which of the following actions causes the atrioventricular (AV) valves to close?
a. Increased intraventricular pressure
b. Depolarization at the AV node
c. Ventricular relaxation and backflow of
blood
d. Contraction of the atria
a. Increased intraventricular pressure
- When stroke volume decreases, which of the following could maintain cardiac output?
a. Decreased peripheral
resistance
b. Increased heart rate
c. Decreased venous return
d. General vasodilation
b. Increased heart rate
- Which of the following describes the pericardial cavity?
a. It contains sufficient fluid to provide a protective cushion for the heart.
b. It is a potential space containing a very small amount of serous fluid.
c. It is lined by the endocardium.
d. It is located between the double-walled pericardium and the
epicardium.
b. It is a potential space containing a very small amount of serous fluid.
- Which of the following factors greatly improves venous return to the heart during strenuous exercise?
a. Rapid emptying of the right side of the heart
b. Forceful action of the valves in the veins
c. Contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscles
d. Peristalsis in the large veins
c. Contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscles
- The function of the baroreceptors is to:
a. stimulate the parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system at the sinoatrial (SA) node as
needed.
b. adjust blood pressure by changing peripheral resistance.
c. sense a change in blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
d. signal the cardiovascular control center of changes in systemic blood pressure.
d. signal the cardiovascular control center of changes in systemic blood pressure.
- The normal delay in conduction through the AV node is essential for:
a. preventing an excessively rapid heart rate.
b. limiting the time for a myocardial contraction.
c. allowing the ventricles to contract before the atria.
d. completing ventricular filling.
d. completing ventricular filling.
- Which of the following is a result of increased secretion of epinephrine?
a. Increased heart rate and force of contraction
b. Decreased stimulation of the SA node and
ventricles
c. Vasoconstriction in skeletal muscles and kidneys
d. Vasodilation of cutaneous blood vessels
a. Increased heart rate and force of contraction
- Which of the following causes increased heart rate?
a. Stimulation of the vagus nerve
b. Increased renin secretion
c. Administration of beta-blocking drugs
d. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous
system
d. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous
system
- The event that causes the QRS wave on an electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing is:
a. atrial depolarization.
b. atrial repolarization.
c. ventricular depolarization.
d. ventricular repolarization.
c. ventricular depolarization.
- The cardiac reserve is:
a. afterload.
b. the difference between the apical and radial pulses.
c. the ability of the heart to increase cardiac output when
needed.
d. the extra blood remaining in the heart after it contracts.
c. the ability of the heart to increase cardiac output when
needed.
- The term preload refers to:
a. volume of venous
return.
b. peripheral resistance.
c. stroke volume.
d. cardiac output.
a. volume of venous
return.
- The first arteries to branch off the aorta are the:
a. common carotid arteries.
b. pulmonary arteries.
c. coronary arteries.
d. subclavian arteries
c. coronary arteries.
- Cardiac output refers to:
a. the amount of blood passing through either of the atria.
b. the volume of blood ejected by a ventricle in one minute.
c. the volume of blood ejected by each ventricle in a single
contraction.
d. the total number of heartbeats in one minute.
b. the volume of blood ejected by a ventricle in one minute.
- Vasodilation in the skin and viscera results directly from:
a. decreased blood pressure.
b. increased parasympathetic stimulation.
c. relaxation of smooth muscle in the arterioles.
d. increased stimulation of alpha-adrenergic
receptors.
c. relaxation of smooth muscle in the arterioles
- Which of the following drugs decrease sodium and fluid retention in the body?
a. warfarin (Coumadin)
b. digoxin (Lanoxin)
c. nitroglycerin (Isordil)
d. hydrochlorothiazide
(HydroDIURIL)
d. hydrochlorothiazide
HydroDIURIL
- Which of the following are predisposing factors to thrombus formation in the circulation?
- Decreased viscosity of the blood
- Damaged blood vessel walls
- Immobility
- Prosthetic valves
a. 1, 3
b. 2, 4
c. 1, 3, 4
d. 2, 3, 4
d. 2, 3, 4
- A drug taken in small doses on a continuing basis to reduce platelet adhesion is:
a. acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).
b. streptokinase.
c. acetaminophen.
d. heparin.
a. acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).
- A partial obstruction in a coronary artery will likely cause:
a. pulmonary embolus.
b. hypertension.
c. angina attacks.
d. myocardial infarction.
c. angina attacks.
- Cigarette smoking is a risk factor in coronary artery disease because smoking:
a. reduces vasoconstriction and peripheral
resistance.
b. decreases serum lipid levels.
c. promotes platelet adhesion.
d. increases serum HDL levels.
c. promotes platelet adhesion.
- The term arteriosclerosis specifically refers to:
a. development of atheromas in large arteries.
b. intermittent vasospasm in coronary arteries.
c. degeneration with loss of elasticity and obstruction in small
arteries.
d. ischemia and necrosis in the brain, kidneys, and heart.
c. degeneration with loss of elasticity and obstruction in small
arteries
- A modifiable factor that increases the risk for atherosclerosis is:
a. leading a sedentary lifestyle.
b. being female and older than 40 years of
age.
c. excluding saturated fats from the diet.
d. familial hypercholesterolemia.
a. leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- An atheroma develops from:
a. a torn arterial wall and blood clots.
b. accumulated lipids, cells, and fibrin where endothelial injury has
occurred.
c. thrombus forming on damaged walls of veins.
d. repeated vasospasms.
b. accumulated lipids, cells, and fibrin where endothelial injury has
occurred.
- Low-density lipoproteins (LDL):
a. promote atheroma development.
b. contain only small amounts of cholesterol.
c. transport cholesterol from cells to the liver for
excretion.
d. are associated with low intake of saturated fats.
a. promote atheroma development.
- Factors that may precipitate an angina attack include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. eating a large meal.
b. engaging in an angry argument.
c. taking a nap.
d. shoveling snow on a cold, windy
day.
c. taking a nap.
- When comparing angina with myocardial infarction (MI), which statement is true?
a. Both angina and MI cause tissue necrosis.
b. Angina often occurs at rest; MI occurs during a stressful time.
c. Pain is more severe and lasts longer with angina than with MI.
d. Angina pain is relieved by rest and intake of nitroglycerin; the pain of MI is
not.
d. Angina pain is relieved by rest and intake of nitroglycerin; the pain of MI is
not.
- The basic pathophysiology of myocardial infarction is best described as:
a. cardiac output that is insufficient to meet the needs of the heart and
body.
b. temporary vasospasm that occurs in a coronary artery.
c. total obstruction of a coronary artery, which causes myocardial necrosis.
d. irregular heart rate and force, reducing blood supply to coronary arteries.
c. total obstruction of a coronary artery, which causes myocardial necrosis
- Typical early signs or symptoms of myocardial infarction include:
a. brief, substernal pain radiating to the right arm, with labored breathing.
b. persistent chest pain radiating to the left arm, pallor, and rapid, weak
pulse.
c. bradycardia, increased blood pressure, and severe dyspnea.
d. flushed face, rapid respirations, left-side weakness, and numbness.
b. persistent chest pain radiating to the left arm, pallor, and rapid, weak
pulse.
- The most common cause of a myocardial infarction is:
a. an imbalance in calcium ions.
b. an infection of the heart muscle.
c. atherosclerosis involving an attached
thrombus.
d. a disruption of the heart conduction system.
c. atherosclerosis involving an attached
thrombus.
- Calcium-channel blocking drugs are effective in:
a. reducing the risk of blood clotting.
b. decreasing the attraction of cholesterol into lipid
plaques.
c. reducing cardiac and smooth muscle contractions.
d. decreasing all types of cardiac arrhythmias.
c. reducing cardiac and smooth muscle contractions.
- Which of the following confirms the presence of a myocardial infarction?
a. A full description of the pain, including the sequence of
development
b. The presence of elevated serum cholesterol and triglycerides
c. Serum isoenzymes released from necrotic cells and an ECG
d. Leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein
c. Serum isoenzymes released from necrotic cells and an ECG
- The size of the necrotic area resulting from myocardial infarction may be minimized by all of the following
EXCEPT:
a. previously established collateral circulation.
b. immediate administration of thrombolytic drugs.
c. maintaining maximum oxygen supply to the myocardium.
d. removing the predisposing factors to atheroma
development.
d. removing the predisposing factors to atheroma
development.
- The most common cause of death immediately following a myocardial infarction is:
a. cardiac arrhythmias and fibrillation.
b. ruptured ventricle or aorta.
c. congestive heart failure.
d. cerebrovascular accident.
a. cardiac arrhythmias and fibrillation.
Why does ventricular fibrillation result in cardiac arrest?
a. Delayed conduction through the AV node blocks ventricular
stimulation.
b. Insufficient blood is supplied to the myocardium.
c. The ventricles contract before the atria.
d. Parasympathetic stimulation depresses the SA node.
b. Insufficient blood is supplied to the myocardium.
- The term cardiac arrest refers to which of the following?
a. Condition where cardiac output is less than the
demand
b. A decreased circulating blood volume
c. Missing a ventricular contraction
d. The cessation of all cardiac function
d. The cessation of all cardiac function
- Which change results from total heart block?
a. A prolonged PR interval
b. Periodic omission of a ventricular contraction
c. A wide QRS wave
d. Spontaneous slow ventricular contractions, not coordinated with atrial
contraction
d. Spontaneous slow ventricular contractions, not coordinated with atrial
contraction
- The term premature ventricular contraction refers to the condition where:
a. atrial muscle cells are stimulating additional cardiac contractions.
b. the ventricles contract spontaneously following a period without a
stimulus.
c. additional contractions arise from ectopic foci in the ventricular muscle.
d. increased heart rate causes palpitations.
c. additional contractions arise from ectopic foci in the ventricular muscle
- Which of the following is most likely to cause left-sided congestive heart failure?
a. Incompetent tricuspid heart valve
b. Chronic pulmonary disease
c. Infarction in the right atrium
d. Uncontrolled essential
hypertension
d. Uncontrolled essential
hypertension
- The definition of congestive heart failure is:
a. cessation of all cardiac activity.
b. inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the metabolic needs of the
body.
c. insufficient circulating blood in the body.
d. the demand for oxygen by the heart is greater than the supply.
b. inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the metabolic needs of the
body.
- Significant signs of right-sided congestive heart failure include:
a. severe chest pain and tachycardia.
b. edematous feet and legs with hepatomegaly.
c. frequent cough with blood-streaked frothy
sputum.
d. orthopnea, fatigue, increased blood pressure.
b. edematous feet and legs with hepatomegaly.
- Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is marked by:
a. hemoptysis and rales.
b. distended neck veins and flushed
face.
c. bradycardia and weak pulse.
d. cardiomegaly.
a. hemoptysis and rales.
- Compensation mechanisms for decreased cardiac output in cases of congestive heart failure include:
a. slow cardiac contractions.
b. increased renin and aldosterone
secretions.
c. decreased erythropoietin secretion.
d. fatigue and cold intolerance.
b. increased renin and aldosterone
- In which blood vessels will failure of the left ventricle cause increased hydrostatic pressure?
a. Veins of the legs and feet
b. Jugular veins
c. Pulmonary capillaries
d. Blood vessels of the liver and
spleen
c. Pulmonary capillaries