COMPREHENSIVE EXAM REVIEW 2026
FULL SOLUTION STUDY GUIDE
⩥ Inotropic. Answer: force of myocardial contractility
⩥ Dromotropic. Answer: conduction velocity through the AV node
⩥ Systole. Answer: contraction of chamber, blood is being ejected.
Pressure rises during systole.
⩥ Diastole. Answer: rest, relaxation of chamber, chamber is allowed to
fill. Pressure falls during diastole.
⩥ Stroke Volume. Answer: the amount of blood left ventricle pumps in
each beat. (mL/beat)
⩥ Cardiac output- definition. Answer: The amount of blood pumped into
the aorta each minute. (units= mL/min)
⩥ Cardiac output- equation. Answer: (HR) X (Stroke Volume) Avg.
healthy adult= 4-8 L/min
, ⩥ Venous return. Answer: amount of blood flowing into the right heart
from the systemic ciruclation
⩥ Blood Pressure- definition. Answer: force exerted by the blood against
the walls of the arteries as the ventricles contract and relax
⩥ Blood pressure- equation. Answer: (cardiac output) X (peripheral
resistance) or you could put it another way: (HR)(Stroke
Volume)(Peripheral Resistance)
⩥ An increase in Potassium or decrease in Calcium cause the heart to be
____.. Answer: flaccid, limp, dilated, lower HR
⩥ Excess Calcium can cause the heart to be _____.. Answer: spastic
contractions.
⩥ Although about 70% of ventricular filling occurs passively, ______
______ contributes an additional 10% to 30% of blood flow to
ventricular filling.. Answer: atrial kick
⩥ The area in the middle of the thoracic cavity in which the heart lies is
the:. Answer: Mediastinum
⩥ The inferior surface of the heart is formed by the. Answer: Right and
left ventricles