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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Heart
Increased epinephrine would have what effect on stroke volume?
Stroke volume would decrease
Stroke volume would stay the same
It would cause irregularities in stroke volume
Stroke volume would increase
Stroke volume would increase
Increased epinephrine, released either by the adrenal medulla or by myocardial innervation, increases contractility in the heart, which in turn increases stroke volume.
Example Question #2 : Circulatory System
Which of the following valves must blood pass through to go from the right atrium into the right ventricle?
The mitral valve
The tricuspid valve
The foramen ovale
The semilunar valve
The tricuspid valve
Blood in the right atrium must pass through the tricuspid valve to enter the right ventricle. The mitral valve is between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The semilunar valves are located at the base of the aorta and the pulmonary trunk, also known as the aortic valve and pulmonary valve. The foramen ovale is a type of shunt that exists in the fetal heart. It's presence in an adult patient is a form of congenital heart defect.
Example Question #31 : Circulatory And Respiratory Systems
The S2 heart sound ("dub") is heard during what part of the cardiac cycle?
Systole; during the closing of the tricuspid and mitral valves
Diastole; during the closing of the aortic and pulmonary valves
Diastole; during the closing of the tricuspid and mitral valves
Systole; during the closing of the aortic and pulmonary valves
Diastole; during the closing of the aortic and pulmonary valves
The S2 heart sound (sometimes referred to as the "dub" in "lub-dub") occurs in diastole, during the closing of the aortic and pulmonary valves. When pressure within the aorta and pulmonary arteries exceeds pressure within the heart, the cups of the valves fill with blood and snap shut, causing the "dub" sound.
Example Question #32 : Circulatory And Respiratory Systems
Depolarization is able to travel in a uniform wave through myocardium due to what physiological feature?
Striation
Gap junctions
T-tubules
Desmosomes
Gap junctions
Depolarization is able to travel in a uniform wave through myocardium due to the presence of gap junctions. These junctions allow the depolarizing current to be transmitted directly from cell to cell in the heart. Striation in cardiac muscle is a feature of contraction, created by overlapping thick and thin contractile filaments. Desmosomes are strong fiber-like anchors between myocardial cells, and T-tubules, while an important part of depolarization, are not responsible for the rapid inter-cellular communication that occurs as a result of the presence of gap junctions.
Example Question #33 : Circulatory And Respiratory Systems
Parasympathetic innervation of the heart is primarily controlled by what nerve?
The recurrent laryngeal nerve
The cardiac nerve
None of these is correct
The vagus nerve (CN X)
The vagus nerve (CN X)
The vagus nerve provides the main parasympathetic innervation of the heart. The recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve, innervates the majority of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. The cardiac nerve is part of the sympathetic innervation of the heart.
Example Question #6 : Circulatory System
What coronary artery supplies left atrium and left ventricle?
The septal branches
The left coronary artery
The left circumflex artery
The posterior descending artery
The left coronary artery
The majority of blood supply to the left atrium and left ventricle is provided by the left coronary artery. The septal branches and left circumflex artery are smaller divisions of this main artery. The posterior descending artery supplies the posterior one-third of the interventricular septum.
Example Question #7 : Circulatory System
A nurse is performing an abdominal exam and notices a strong pulse in the abdomen just above the umbilicus. She is most likely palpating what blood vessel?
The abdominal aorta
The inferior mesenteric artery
The exterior iliac artery
The femoral artery
The abdominal aorta
The nurse is most likely palpating the abdominal aorta. This vessel is large, generally 2.5-4 cm in diameter, and a strong pulse can often be felt on palpation. The femoral artery is also an area where a pulse may be felt, but it is only palpable in the mid-inguinal point of the inner thigh. The exterior iliac artery branches off of the abdominal aorta below the umbilicus, and the inferior mesenteric artery is a minor artery and is not generally palpable on examination.
Example Question #34 : Circulatory And Respiratory Systems
What is the formula for finding cardiac output (CO)?
Cardiac output (CO) is the measure of the amount of blood that is able to circulate through the heart in one minute. It is found by multiplying the stroke volume times the heart rate, in beats per minute. The ejection fraction, another important measure of cardiac function, is not considered when calculating cardiac output.
Example Question #35 : Circulatory And Respiratory Systems
Oxygen-poor blood flows from the __________ to the __________.
pulmonary veins . . . left atrium
vena cava . . . right atrium
vena cava . . . left atrium
pulmonary arteries . . . right atrium
vena cava . . . right atrium
Deoxygenated blood from the body flows through the superior and inferior vena cava into the right atrium of the heart. From there it enters the right ventricle, then is ejected into the lungs via the pulmonary arteries. The blood is oxygenated in the lungs, then flows through the pulmonary veins into the left atrium, then into the left ventricle to be pumped back out into the body.
Example Question #9 : Circulatory System
How does parasympathetic innervation affect the heart?
Increases heart rate and increases cardiac output
Slows heart rate and increases cardiac output
Slows heart rate and decreases cardiac output
Increases heart rate and decreases cardiac output
Slows heart rate and decreases cardiac output
Sympathetic innervation will decrease the heart rate, which will automatically decrease the cardiac output
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