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Cardiovascular System Exam Questions Pdf
1. What is a condition where the heart is unable to relax properly between beats, reducing its ability to fill with blood?
- A. Diastolic heart failure
- B. Systolic heart failure
- C. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- D. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Diastolic heart failure. In diastolic heart failure, the heart is unable to relax properly between beats, leading to a reduced ability to fill with blood. This condition primarily affects the heart's filling function rather than its pumping function, which is characteristic of systolic heart failure (choice B). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (choice C) involves the abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, while restrictive cardiomyopathy (choice D) is characterized by the heart muscle becoming stiff and less compliant. Therefore, choices B, C, and D are incorrect in the context of a heart condition where relaxation between beats is impaired.
2. Which type of heart valve disease occurs when the mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the left atrium?
- A. Mitral regurgitation
- B. Aortic stenosis
- C. Tricuspid regurgitation
- D. Pulmonary hypertension
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Mitral regurgitation is the correct answer. It occurs when the mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the left atrium. This condition can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and if left untreated, it can progress to heart failure. Aortic stenosis (choice B) is a different heart valve condition characterized by narrowing of the aortic valve, restricting blood flow from the heart. Tricuspid regurgitation (choice C) involves the tricuspid valve not closing properly, leading to blood flowing back into the right atrium. Pulmonary hypertension (choice D) is a condition characterized by high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.
3. Which fibers distribute the electrical impulse to the ventricles, causing them to contract?
- A. Purkinje fibers
- B. SA node
- C. AV node
- D. Bundle of His
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is Purkinje fibers. Purkinje fibers are specialized conducting fibers that distribute the electrical impulse to the ventricles, leading to their contraction. The SA node (sinoatrial node) is responsible for initiating the electrical impulse in the heart, the AV node (atrioventricular node) delays the impulse to allow for proper atrial contraction before ventricular contraction, and the Bundle of His transmits the impulse from the AV node to the ventricles. Therefore, choices B, C, and D are not the correct options for fibers directly distributing the impulse to the ventricles.
4. Which structure serves as the normal pacemaker of the heart?
- A. SA node
- B. AV node
- C. Purkinje fibers
- D. Atria
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is the SA node. The sinoatrial (SA) node is known as the natural pacemaker of the heart as it generates electrical impulses initiating each heartbeat. The SA node is located in the right atrium and sets the rhythm and rate of the heartbeat. The AV node (choice B) is responsible for delaying the electrical impulse to allow the atria to contract before the ventricles. Purkinje fibers (choice C) are specialized cardiac fibers responsible for the rapid conduction of impulses to the myocardial cells, and the atria (choice D) are the upper chambers of the heart involved in receiving blood from the veins.
5. What is the term for a condition where the lung collapses due to air leaking into the space between the lung and the chest wall?
- A. Pneumothorax
- B. Pleural effusion
- C. Atelectasis
- D. Pulmonary fibrosis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Pneumothorax is the correct answer for this question. Pneumothorax is the collapse of a lung caused by the presence of air in the pleural space between the lung and chest wall. This condition can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and may require emergency treatment such as chest tube insertion to remove the air. Pleural effusion is the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, not air. Atelectasis is the collapse or closure of a lung resulting in reduced or absent gas exchange. Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition characterized by scarring and thickening of lung tissue, not related to air leaking into the pleural space.
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