Question 1

A 13 year old took a weight loss drug that activated the sympathetic nervous system.Which of the following assessment findings would the nurse expect?
A) Decreased myocardial contraction
B) Decreased heart rate
C) Increased cardiac conduction
D) Increased intranodal conduction time

Accepted Answer

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system typically results in increased cardiac conduction, as it stimulates the heart to beat faster and more forcefully.

Question 2

The pericardium is:
A) the outer muscular layer of the heart.
B) the innermost layer of the heart chambers.
C) a membranous sac that encloses the heart.
D) the heart's fibrous skeleton.

Accepted Answer

The pericardium is a double-walled sac that surrounds and protects the heart, providing a lubricated environment for its movements.

Question 3

The internal lining of the cardiovascular system is formed by what tissue?
A) Tunica adventitia
B) Connective
C) Mesothelium
D) Endothelium

Accepted Answer

The internal lining of the cardiovascular system is formed by endothelial cells, which make up the endothelium.

Question 4

A 50-year old received trauma to the chest that caused severe impairment of the primary pacemaker cells of the heart.Which of the following areas received the greatest damage?
A) Atrioventricular (AV) node
B) Sinoatrial (SA) node
C) Bundle of His
D) Ventricles

Accepted Answer

The sinoatrial (SA) node is the primary pacemaker of the heart, responsible for initiating the heartbeat and setting the pace for the heart rate. Damage to this area would impair the primary pacemaker cells.

Question 5

A 28 year old with seizure disorder has a vagus nerve stimulator implanted to help control seizure activity.Which result will the nurse expect to occur?
A) Increased speed of cardiac cycle
B) Increased cardiac contractility
C) Decreased vasodilation
D) Decreased cardiac conduction

Accepted Answer

Vagus nerve stimulation can lead to decreased cardiac conduction as it primarily affects the parasympathetic nervous system, which can slow down heart rate and conduction.

Question 6

Which structures would not receive an electrical impulse when the patient is experiencing a left bundle branch block?
A) Atrioventricular (AV) node
B) Sinoatrial (SA) node
C) Bundle of His
D) The left ventricle

Accepted Answer

In a left bundle branch block, the electrical impulse is delayed or blocked in the left bundle branch, preventing it from reaching the left ventricle effectively.

Question 7

What represents the sum of all ventricular muscle cell depolarization?
A) PR interval
B) QRS complex
C) QT interval
D) P wave

Accepted Answer

The QRS complex represents the sum of all ventricular muscle cell depolarization.

Question 8

A nurse assesses the heart after acetylcholine because the effect of acetylcholine on the heart is to:
A) decrease the refractory period.
B) increase calcium influx.
C) increase the strength of myocardial contraction.
D) decrease the heart rate.

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine, when acting on the heart, primarily affects the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a decrease in heart rate by increasing the permeability of the heart's pacemaker cells to potassium, which slows down the rate of depolarization.

Question 9

Which statement indicates the nurse understands coronary ostia? The coronary ostia (the openings to the coronary arteries) are found in the:
A) left ventricle.
B) inferior vena cava.
C) coronary sinus.
D) aorta.

Accepted Answer

The coronary ostia are located in the aorta, specifically at the base of the aorta just above the aortic valve, where the coronary arteries originate.

Question 10

What is the nurse monitoring when observing the QRS complex on the electrocardiogram?
A) Ventricular activity
B) Pulmonary artery closure
C) Mitral valve opening
D) Aortic valve closing

Accepted Answer

The QRS complex on an electrocardiogram represents the depolarization of the ventricles, which is associated with ventricular activity.

Question 11

What term is used to identify the period that follows depolarization of the myocardium and represents a period during which no new cardiac potential can be propagated?
A) Absolute refractory
B) Hyperpolarization
C) Resting
D) Threshold

Accepted Answer

The absolute refractory period is the time during which the myocardium cannot be re-excited, following depolarization, ensuring that the heart muscle has time to contract and relax before the next impulse.

Question 12

Which chamber of the heart generates the highest pressure?
A) Right atrium
B) Left atrium
C) Left ventricle
D) Right ventricle

Accepted Answer

The left ventricle generates the highest pressure because it needs to pump oxygenated blood throughout the entire body, overcoming the high resistance of the systemic circulation.

Question 13

The PR interval viewed on a normal electrocardiogram represents:
A) atrial depolarization.
B) ventricular depolarization.
C) onset of atrial activation to onset of ventricular activity.
D) "electrical systole" of the ventricles.

Accepted Answer

The PR interval on an ECG represents the time from the onset of atrial depolarization (beginning of the P wave) to the onset of ventricular depolarization (beginning of the QRS complex), indicating the time taken for electrical impulses to travel from the atria to the ventricles.

Question 14

A 20 year old underwent an echocardiogram to assess chest pain.Results revealed a congenital defect in the papillary muscles.Which of the following would the nurse expect to occur?
A) Closure of the semilunar valve
B) Backward expulsion of the atrioventricular valves
C) Closure of the atrioventricular valve
D) Backward expulsion of the semilunar valves

Accepted Answer

A congenital defect in the papillary muscles can lead to improper functioning of the atrioventricular valves, causing them to prolapse or be expelled backward during ventricular contraction.

Question 15

Which structures act as anchors for the atrioventricular valves?
A) Chordae tendineae
B) Great vessels
C) Coronary ostia
D) Trabeculae carneae

Accepted Answer

The chordae tendineae are fibrous cords that connect the atrioventricular valves to the papillary muscles, anchoring the valves and preventing them from inverting during ventricular contraction.

Question 16

What structure conducts action potentials down the atrioventricular septum?
A) Bachmann bundle
B) Bundle of His
C) Sinoatrial node
D) Atrioventricular node

Accepted Answer

The Bundle of His conducts action potentials down the atrioventricular septum, transmitting impulses from the atrioventricular node to the ventricles.

Question 17

Depolarization of a cardiac muscle cell occurs as the result of:
A) a decrease in the permeability of the cell membrane to ions.
B) the rapid movement of ions across the cell membrane.
C) a blockade by calcium ions.
D) stimuli instigated during the refractory period.

Accepted Answer

Depolarization of a cardiac muscle cell is primarily due to the rapid influx of sodium ions into the cell, which changes the electrical charge across the cell membrane.

Question 18

As a result of blockage in the pulmonary artery, blood would first back up into the:
A) aorta.
B) left ventricle.
C) pulmonary veins.
D) right ventricle.

Accepted Answer

A blockage in the pulmonary artery would cause blood to back up into the right ventricle, as it is the chamber that pumps blood into the pulmonary artery.

Question 19

A function of the pericardium is to:
A) provide a barrier against extracardial infections.
B) improve blood flow through the heart.
C) play a role in cardiac conduction.
D) assist in cardiac contraction.

Accepted Answer

The pericardium is a fibrous sac surrounding the heart that provides a protective barrier against infections that could spread from nearby organs.

Question 20

The cardiac electrical impulse normally begins spontaneously in the sinoatrial (SA) node because it:
A) has a superior location in the right atrium.
B) is the only area of the heart capable of spontaneous depolarization.
C) has rich sympathetic innervation via the vagus nerve.
D) depolarizes more rapidly than other automatic cells of the heart.

Accepted Answer

The sinoatrial (SA) node depolarizes more rapidly than other automatic cells of the heart, making it the natural pacemaker of the heart.

Quiz 25: Structure and Function of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

A 13 year old took a weight loss drug that activated the sympathetic nervous system.Which of the following assessment findings would the nurse expect?

The pericardium is:

The internal lining of the cardiovascular system is formed by what tissue?

A 50-year old received trauma to the chest that caused severe impairment of the primary pacemaker cells of the heart.Which of the following areas received the greatest damage?

A 28 year old with seizure disorder has a vagus nerve stimulator implanted to help control seizure activity.Which result will the nurse expect to occur?

Which structures would not receive an electrical impulse when the patient is experiencing a left bundle branch block?

What represents the sum of all ventricular muscle cell depolarization?

A nurse assesses the heart after acetylcholine because the effect of acetylcholine on the heart is to:

Which statement indicates the nurse understands coronary ostia? The coronary ostia (the openings to the coronary arteries) are found in the:

What is the nurse monitoring when observing the QRS complex on the electrocardiogram?

What term is used to identify the period that follows depolarization of the myocardium and represents a period during which no new cardiac potential can be propagated?

Which chamber of the heart generates the highest pressure?

The PR interval viewed on a normal electrocardiogram represents:

A 20 year old underwent an echocardiogram to assess chest pain.Results revealed a congenital defect in the papillary muscles.Which of the following would the nurse expect to occur?

Which structures act as anchors for the atrioventricular valves?

What structure conducts action potentials down the atrioventricular septum?

Depolarization of a cardiac muscle cell occurs as the result of:

As a result of blockage in the pulmonary artery, blood would first back up into the:

A function of the pericardium is to:

The cardiac electrical impulse normally begins spontaneously in the sinoatrial (SA) node because it: