Question 1

What does the top number in a blood pressure reading represent?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The top (first) number in a BP reading is the systolic pressure, the peak arterial pressure during ventricular contraction.

Question 2

Which arteries supply blood to the heart muscles?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The myocardium is perfused by the right and left coronary arteries arising from the aortic root; other listed arteries do not supply the heart muscle.

Question 3

Which structure separates the right and left ventricles?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The right and left ventricles are divided by the interventricular septum; valves separate atria from ventricles or ventricles from great vessels, not the two ventricles.

Question 4

Which chamber of the heart pumps blood to the lungs?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary artery, sending it to the lungs.

Question 5

Which organ pumps blood throughout the body?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The heart is the muscular pump of the circulatory system that propels blood throughout the body.

Question 6

What is an aneurysm?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: An aneurysm is a focal arterial dilation caused by weakening of the vessel wall; other options describe a venous thrombus, vasculitis, and hypotension.

Question 7

Which of the following changes does NOT occur in the fetal circulation within minutes of birth?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Immediately after birth, umbilical vessels constrict, the ductus venosus flow ceases and functionally closes, the foramen ovale functionally closes, and the ductus arteriosus begins to constrict. Hepatic portal sinusoids do not constrict; hepatic blood flow increases. Thus constriction of the hepatic portal sinus does not occur.

Question 8

Which of the following do not correctly correlates the increase BP of Ms. Aida, a 70 year old diabetic?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: After age 65, women tend to have higher—not lower—blood pressure than men. The other statements correctly relate to higher BP risk or patterns: diabetes increases BP, BP is lowest at night with a morning surge, and people of African ancestry have higher hypertension risk.

Question 9

Which characteristic is typical of atrial fibrillation on an ECG?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Atrial fibrillation shows an irregularly irregular ventricular rhythm and absence of discrete P waves, replaced by fibrillatory baseline. Option B describes atrial flutter; C is normal sinus rhythm; D incorrectly includes visible P waves.

Question 10

What is the definition of stroke volume?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Stroke volume is defined as the volume of blood pumped from one ventricle with each heartbeat.

Question 11

Which maternal cardiac lesion is associated with a pregnancy-related maternal mortality rate of 50% or more?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Pregnancy markedly increases hemodynamic stress; in Marfan syndrome an aortic root ≥ 5 cm carries a very high risk of aortic dissection and maternal death, with mortality reported around or above 50%. The other lesions generally have substantially lower maternal mortality when managed.

Question 12

What is the most common cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: In SLE, pericarditis is the most common cardiac involvement. Libman-Sacks endocarditis can occur but is less frequent; infective endocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy are not typical primary manifestations.

Question 13

What type of muscle has its own rich supply of blood?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Cardiac muscle has a dedicated, rich blood supply via the coronary circulation to meet its high metabolic demand.

Question 14

What is the normal fetal heart rate?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Normal baseline fetal heart rate is approximately 110–160 bpm; the closest option is 120–160 bpm.

Question 15

The nurse is aware that the term bradycardia means?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Bradycardia is defined as a slow heart rate, specifically less than 60 beats per minute in adults.

Question 16

What is the name of the circulation where blood is carried from the right ventricle to the left atrium?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Blood leaves the right ventricle via the pulmonary artery, passes through the lungs, and returns to the left atrium via pulmonary veins—this pathway is the pulmonary circulation.

Question 17

The tricuspid valve is located between which two heart chambers?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The tricuspid valve is the right atrioventricular valve, situated between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Question 18

What is a pathological effect on the body when a patient is suffering from white coat hypertension?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: White coat hypertension is a transient, anxiety-induced elevation of blood pressure occurring in clinical settings and is generally considered a physiological, not pathological, response.

Question 19

Which of the following ECG findings is characteristic of third-degree AV block?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Third-degree (complete) AV block shows AV dissociation: atrial and ventricular rhythms are independent, so P waves bear no consistent relationship to the QRS complexes.

Question 20

Why does diastolic blood pressure decrease during pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Pregnancy causes systemic vasodilation and decreased systemic/peripheral vascular resistance due to progesterone and the placental circulation, lowering diastolic pressure. Cardiac output, heart rate, and stroke volume typically increase, not decrease.

Question 21

Which condition is characterized by slurring of the initial QRS deflection, shortened PR interval, and prolonged QRS duration?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: WPW presents with a delta wave (slurred initial QRS), a short PR interval due to pre-excitation via an accessory pathway, and a widened QRS complex.

Question 22

Standing increases the intensity of murmurs in which of the following disease conditions?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Standing decreases preload, which worsens left ventricular outflow obstruction in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, intensifying its systolic murmur. Most other murmurs decrease with reduced preload.

Question 23

What type of atrial septal defect is located at the bottom of the septum near the tricuspid and mitral valves?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Ostium primum ASD occurs in the inferior atrial septum adjacent to the atrioventricular valves (tricuspid and mitral).

Question 24

Which of the following vessels is most likely to supply the anterior left ventricular myocardium?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The LAD supplies the anterior wall of the left ventricle and the anterior two-thirds of the interventricular septum; other options supply different regions (PDA posterior/inferior, marginal RV margin, circumflex lateral LV).

Question 25

What type of heart murmur is typically noted at the 2nd intercostal space at the left upper sternal border in a patient with an atrial septal defect?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: ASD produces increased flow across the pulmonic valve, causing a systolic ejection (mid‑systolic) murmur best heard at the left upper sternal border at the 2nd intercostal space.

Question 26

What characteristic finding would you expect to see on the ECG of a patient with junctional rhythm?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: In junctional rhythm the impulse originates near the AV junction, causing retrograde or absent atrial depolarization; thus P waves are inverted or not visible, with typically narrow QRS.

Question 27

A 58-year-old male patient presents with chest pain that occurs with exertion and resolves with rest; which type of angina is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Exertional chest pain that is relieved by rest is classic for stable angina due to fixed atherosclerotic stenosis. Unstable angina or MI occurs at rest or is not relieved by rest; Prinzmetal is vasospastic and occurs at rest.

Question 28

Which of the following vessels carries oxygenated blood from the lung to the left atrium?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Pulmonary veins return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium. Coronary arteries supply the heart muscle, pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the inferior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.

Question 29

Small painful nodes on fingers and toes called Osler's nodes are seen in which condition?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Osler's nodes are tender, painful nodules on the pads of fingers and toes caused by immune complex deposition, classically associated with infective endocarditis.

Question 30

The heart valves open and close in response to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Cardiac valves are passive structures that open and close due to pressure gradients between chambers; SA node impulses and hormones regulate rate/force, and papillary muscles prevent prolapse but do not open valves.

Question 31

What is the most dangerous complication of venous thrombus?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: A venous thrombus can dislodge and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism which can lead to sudden hemodynamic collapse and death, making it the most dangerous complication.

Question 32

Which of the following are blood vessels?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart; lymph vessels carry lymph, not blood.

Question 33

Myocardium is special muscle tissue found only in the?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The myocardium is the muscular layer of the heart wall and is unique to the heart.

Question 34

Which blood vessels collect blood from the organs?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Veins collect deoxygenated blood from body organs and return it to the heart; arteries carry blood away, and lungs and nerves are not blood vessels.

Question 35

What is the pacemaker of the heart?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The sinoatrial (SA) node has the highest intrinsic firing rate and initiates impulses that set the normal heart rhythm, making it the heart’s natural pacemaker.

Question 36

What is the pacemaker of the heart?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The sinoatrial (SA) node initiates spontaneous depolarization and sets the intrinsic heart rate, serving as the heart’s natural pacemaker; the AV node, Bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers conduct impulses downstream.

Question 37

What layers make up the heart wall?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The heart wall consists of three layers: epicardium (outer), myocardium (middle), and endocardium (inner). Therefore, all listed options are correct.

Question 38

Which organ is first supplied with oxygenated blood?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The first branches of the aorta are the coronary arteries, which immediately supply the myocardium with oxygenated blood as it leaves the left ventricle; therefore the heart is first.

Question 39

The layer of the heart wall primarily responsible for the heart’s pumping action is the?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The myocardium is the thick muscular layer of the heart wall that contracts to pump blood; the endocardium lines chambers, the epicardium is the outer surface, and the pericardium is the surrounding sac.

Question 40

Apex of the heart is formed by left ventricle & present at?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The cardiac apex is formed by the left ventricle and is located at the left 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line.

Question 41

The volume of blood, in liters, that each ventricle of the heart ejects every minute is known as?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Cardiac output is the volume of blood ejected by each ventricle per minute (L/min). Stroke volume is per beat, not per minute.

Question 42

The Normal JVP from above the right sternal angel is?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Normal jugular venous pressure is up to about 3 cm above the sternal angle; thus 2–3 cm is normal.

Question 43

The first branch of the arch of aorta is?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The aortic arch typically gives off three branches in order: brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid, and left subclavian. Therefore, the first branch is the brachiocephalic artery; the right common carotid arises from the brachiocephalic trunk.

Question 44

Anterior (Sternocostal) surface is formed mainly by the?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The sternocostal (anterior) surface of the heart is formed predominantly by the right ventricle, with minor contributions from the right atrium and left ventricle.

Question 45

Allen test is performed in which system?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The Allen test assesses collateral circulation of the radial and ulnar arteries in the hand, which is part of the peripheral vascular (cardiovascular) system.

Question 46

Vascular system consists of the _______?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The vascular system is the network of blood vessels, primarily arteries and veins (with capillaries), not organs or musculoskeletal structures.

Question 47

Reynaud's disease is a condition in which the arterioles in the fingers develop spasms, causing ______?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Raynaud's involves vasospasm of digital arterioles leading to ischemia with cold, cyanotic fingers; swelling can occur during reperfusion. Therefore all listed effects can occur.

Question 48

Pulse pressure is best described as?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Pulse pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure minus diastolic blood pressure.

Question 49

The heart is innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers of the autonomic nervous system via the?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) fibers to the heart converge and distribute through the cardiac plexus.

Question 50

_____ is the types of the pulse in which there is difference in the rate of pulse and apex beat?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Pulse deficit is defined as the difference between the apical (apex beat) and peripheral pulse rates.

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What does the top number in a blood pressure reading represent?

Which arteries supply blood to the heart muscles?

Which structure separates the right and left ventricles?

Which chamber of the heart pumps blood to the lungs?

Which organ pumps blood throughout the body?

What is an aneurysm?

Which of the following changes does NOT occur in the fetal circulation within minutes of birth?

Which of the following do not correctly correlates the increase BP of Ms. Aida, a 70 year old diabetic?

Which characteristic is typical of atrial fibrillation on an ECG?

What is the definition of stroke volume?

Which maternal cardiac lesion is associated with a pregnancy-related maternal mortality rate of 50% or more?

What is the most common cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

What type of muscle has its own rich supply of blood?

What is the normal fetal heart rate?

The nurse is aware that the term bradycardia means?

What is the name of the circulation where blood is carried from the right ventricle to the left atrium?

The tricuspid valve is located between which two heart chambers?

What is a pathological effect on the body when a patient is suffering from white coat hypertension?

Which of the following ECG findings is characteristic of third-degree AV block?

Why does diastolic blood pressure decrease during pregnancy?

Which condition is characterized by slurring of the initial QRS deflection, shortened PR interval, and prolonged QRS duration?

Standing increases the intensity of murmurs in which of the following disease conditions?

What type of atrial septal defect is located at the bottom of the septum near the tricuspid and mitral valves?

Which of the following vessels is most likely to supply the anterior left ventricular myocardium?

What type of heart murmur is typically noted at the 2nd intercostal space at the left upper sternal border in a patient with an atrial septal defect?

What characteristic finding would you expect to see on the ECG of a patient with junctional rhythm?

A 58-year-old male patient presents with chest pain that occurs with exertion and resolves with rest; which type of angina is most likely?

Which of the following vessels carries oxygenated blood from the lung to the left atrium?

Small painful nodes on fingers and toes called Osler's nodes are seen in which condition?

The heart valves open and close in response to which of the following?

What is the most dangerous complication of venous thrombus?

Which of the following are blood vessels?

Myocardium is special muscle tissue found only in the?

Which blood vessels collect blood from the organs?

What is the pacemaker of the heart?

What is the pacemaker of the heart?

What layers make up the heart wall?

Which organ is first supplied with oxygenated blood?

The layer of the heart wall primarily responsible for the heart’s pumping action is the?

Apex of the heart is formed by left ventricle & present at?

The volume of blood, in liters, that each ventricle of the heart ejects every minute is known as?

The Normal JVP from above the right sternal angel is?

The first branch of the arch of aorta is?

Anterior (Sternocostal) surface is formed mainly by the?

Allen test is performed in which system?

Vascular system consists of the _______?

Reynaud's disease is a condition in which the arterioles in the fingers develop spasms, causing ______?

Pulse pressure is best described as?

The heart is innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers of the autonomic nervous system via the?

_____ is the types of the pulse in which there is difference in the rate of pulse and apex beat?

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