Question 1

A Doppler ultrasound was performed on an infant who had symptoms of breathlessness and it was found that he had a patent ductus arteriosus. Discuss the location and function of the ductus arteriosus in the fetus and relate it to the reason for the infant's breathlessness.

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Question 2

List the three vessels that bring oxygen-poor blood to the right atrium. Which regions of the body do they serve?

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Question 3

What is the functional importance of the intercalated discs of cardiac muscle? What is the functional importance of the fibrous cardiac skeleton of the heart?

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Question 4

An older woman complains of shortness of breath and intermittent fainting spells. Her doctor runs various tests and finds that the atrioventricular (AV) node is not functioning properly. What is the suggested treatment?

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Question 5

Asystole is the total absence of ventricular electrical activity. Explain why defibrillation would not be effective in this situation.

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Question 6

What two important functions does the intrinsic cardiac conduction system perform?

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Question 7

List and define the three most important factors that affect stroke volume.

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Question 8

A man enters the hospital complaining of chest pain. His history includes smoking, a stressful job, a diet heavy in saturated fats, lack of exercise, and high blood pressure. Although he is not suffering from a heart attack, his doctor explains to him that a heart attack is quite possible. What did the chest pain indicate? Why is this man a prime candidate for a heart attack?

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Question 9

A 55-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with heart failure. He complains of increasing shortness of breath on exertion and needing to sleep on three pillows at night. On physical assessment, the nurse determines that his ankles and feet are very swollen. Which of these symptoms reflect left-sided heart failure and which reflect right-sided heart failure?

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Question 10

The heart is called a "double pump" because there are two functionally separate circulations. Trace the pathway of each of these circulations and include the following information: heart chambers involved, major blood vessels involved, and general areas through which the blood flows. Begin with the right atrium.

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Question 11

Why is oxygen so much more critical to the heart muscle than to skeletal muscles?

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Question 12

Explain the role of pacemaker cells in cardiac tissue.

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Question 13

A patient was admitted to the hospital with chest pains. On admission, his pulse was 110 and blood pressure was 96/64. According to his history, his normal pulse rate is usually between 80 and 88 and his blood pressure runs from 120/70 to 130/80. Explain why these changes in BP and HR occur.

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Question 14

A 14-year-old girl undergoing a physical examination prior to being admitted to summer camp was found to have a loud diastolic murmur at the second intercostal space to the left side of the sternum. Explain the reason for the loud heart murmur associated with this girl's condition.

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Question 15

A patient is prescribed a calcium channel blocker to prevent angina (chest pain), by decreasing the demand for oxygen. Explain why.

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Question 16

What is the difference between the auricles and the atria?

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Question 17

A patient takes a nitroglycerin tablet sublingually for chest pain. Nitroglycerin acts directly on smooth muscle, producing relaxation and vessel dilation. How would this relieve chest pain?

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Quiz 18: The Cardiovascular System: the Heart