Cardiovascular System Practice Exam

Cardiovascular System Practice Exam Related

Review Cardiovascular System Practice Exam related questions and content

What term describes the phenomenon wherein decreased BP causes a reflex SNS response with increased pulse, increased contractility, and vasoconstriction; and increased BP causes reflex vagal responses resulting in decreased heart rate and passive vasodilation in the systemic arterioles?

  • A. Baroreflex
  • B. Cheyne-Stokes breathing
  • C. Frank-Starling Law
  • D. Starling reflex
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Baroreflex. The baroreflex is a physiological mechanism that helps regulate blood pressure by responding to changes in pressure. When blood pressure decreases, the baroreceptors detect this change and trigger a sympathetic nervous system (SNS) response, leading to increased heart rate, contractility, and vasoconstriction to raise blood pressure. Conversely, when blood pressure increases, the baroreceptors trigger a parasympathetic (vagal) response, resulting in decreased heart rate and vasodilation to lower blood pressure.

Summary of other choices:
B: Cheyne-Stokes breathing is a pattern of breathing characterized by periodic waxing and waning of tidal volume.
C: Frank-Starling Law describes the relationship between preload and stroke volume, not the response to changes in blood pressure.
D: Starling reflex is not a recognized physiological mechanism related to blood pressure regulation.

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Which condition is characterized by the lungs becoming scarred and stiff, leading to difficulty breathing and inadequate oxygen intake into the bloodstream?

  • A. Pulmonary fibrosis
  • B. Cystic fibrosis
  • C. COPD
  • D. Tuberculosis
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by scarring and stiffening of the lungs, impairing their ability to expand and contract properly for breathing. This leads to difficulty breathing and inadequate oxygen intake into the bloodstream. In contrast, cystic fibrosis primarily affects the respiratory and digestive systems, COPD is a progressive lung disease primarily caused by smoking, and tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. Therefore, the correct answer is A because it specifically describes the scarring and stiffness of the lungs resulting in breathing difficulties and inadequate oxygen intake.

What is the condition where the lung collapses due to air leaking into the space between the lung and chest wall?

  • A. Pneumothorax
  • B. Pleural effusion
  • C. Pulmonary fibrosis
  • D. Lung cancer
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pneumothorax. This condition occurs when air enters the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse. The air disrupts the pressure balance, leading to lung collapse. Pleural effusion (B) is the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, not air. Pulmonary fibrosis (C) is scarring of lung tissue, unrelated to air leakage. Lung cancer (D) is the abnormal growth of cells in the lung, not directly causing air leakage.

In the patient with chest pain, which results can differentiate unstable angina from an MI?

  • A. ECG changes present at the onset of the pain
  • B. A chest x-ray indicating left ventricular hypertrophy
  • C. Appearance of troponin in the blood 48 hours after the infarct
  • D. Creatine kinase (CK)-MB enzyme elevations that peak 18 hours after the infarct
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: ECG changes distinguish unstable angina from MI.

Which type of medication helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood?

  • A. Statins
  • B. Beta-blockers
  • C. ACE inhibitors
  • D. Diuretics
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Statins are the correct answer as they specifically target and lower cholesterol levels in the blood by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in the liver responsible for producing cholesterol. Statins are proven to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of cardiovascular events. Beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics do not directly affect cholesterol levels; beta-blockers are used for managing blood pressure and heart rate, ACE inhibitors for blood pressure and heart function, and diuretics for reducing fluid buildup in the body. Therefore, statins are the most appropriate medication for lowering cholesterol levels.

During which process does coronary artery blood flow to the myocardium occur during diastole, when coronary vascular resistance is reduced?

  • A. Coronary perfusion pressure
  • B. Coronary vascular resistance
  • C. Diastolic filling
  • D. Ventricular ejection
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Coronary perfusion pressure. Coronary perfusion pressure is the pressure gradient that drives blood flow through the coronary arteries into the myocardium during diastole when the coronary vascular resistance is reduced. This pressure gradient is essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle when it is relaxed and filling with blood. During diastole, the coronary arteries receive blood flow predominantly due to the pressure difference between the aortic diastolic pressure and the pressure in the coronary vasculature.

Summary of why the other choices are incorrect:
B: Coronary vascular resistance - This factor is reduced during diastole, allowing for increased blood flow, but it does not directly drive blood flow to the myocardium.
C: Diastolic filling - This refers to the filling of blood into the ventricles of the heart, not specifically the flow of blood through the coronary arteries.
D: Ventricular ejection - This occurs during systole when the ventricles contract

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