this is a chronic condition where the heart muscle becomes weakened and enlarged reducing its ability to pump blood effectively
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Cardiovascular System Exam Questions

1. What is a chronic condition where the heart muscle becomes weakened and enlarged, reducing its ability to pump blood effectively?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Dilated cardiomyopathy is characterized by the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle, leading to its reduced ability to pump blood effectively. This condition is different from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which involves abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, which is inflammation of the pericardium. Therefore, the correct answer is Dilated cardiomyopathy.

2. What is the procedure where a device is used to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm during a life-threatening arrhythmia?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, Defibrillation. Defibrillation is the procedure of using a device to deliver an electric shock to the heart during life-threatening arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia to restore a normal rhythm. Choice B, Cardioversion, is similar but is typically used for less severe arrhythmias. Choice C, Echocardiogram, is a diagnostic test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart. Choice D, Ablation, is a procedure to treat certain types of arrhythmias by scarring or destroying tissue that triggers abnormal electrical signals.

3. What test measures the pressure in the arteries during the contraction and relaxation of the heart?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Blood pressure test.' This test measures the pressure in the arteries during the contraction (systolic) and relaxation (diastolic) phases of the heart, providing important information about heart health. Choice B, 'Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG),' records the heart's electrical activity and is not specifically related to measuring arterial pressure. Choice C, 'Spirometry,' assesses lung function by measuring airflow. Choice D, 'Pulse oximetry,' measures oxygen saturation in the blood, not arterial pressure.

4. Which term refers to the contraction phase of the heart when blood is ejected from the chambers?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, systole. Systole is the phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers. During diastole (choice B), the heart relaxes and fills with blood, contrasting with systole. Contractility (choice C) refers to the ability of the heart to contract effectively. Afterload (choice D) is the pressure the heart must work against to eject blood during systole.

5. What type of stroke is caused by a blockage in an artery supplying blood to the brain?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery supplying blood to the brain, leading to brain damage. Choice B, Hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by bleeding in the brain, not a blockage. Choice C, Transient ischemic attack, is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain with symptoms similar to a stroke but typically lasting only a few minutes. Choice D, Embolism, refers to a blood clot or other particle that travels through the bloodstream and blocks a blood vessel.

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