medsurg cardiac quiz/Medical Surgical
Cardiovascular Exam Questions and
Answers Review 2026
What are the four chambers of the heart? - Answer--Right atrium, right ventricle, left
atrium, left ventricle.
What is the function of the endocardium? - Answer--It lines the heart and valves.
What is the role of the myocardium? - Answer--It is the muscular pumping layer of
the heart.
What does the epicardium do? - Answer--It protects the heart.
What surrounds the heart? - Answer--The pericardium, which contains visceral and
parietal layers.
From where do coronary arteries arise? - Answer--From the aorta above the aortic
valve.
What branches does the left coronary artery have? - Answer--Left anterior
descending (LAD) and circumflex arteries.
What is the significance of coronary perfusion? - Answer--It occurs during diastole.
Describe the blood flow through the heart. - Answer--Vena cava → right atrium →
tricuspid valve → right ventricle → pulmonic valve → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary veins → left atrium → mitral valve → left ventricle → aortic valve → aorta.
What is the role of the SA node? - Answer--It is the heart's natural pacemaker.
What is the function of the AV node? - Answer--It delays impulses to allow for
ventricular filling.
How does epinephrine affect the heart? - Answer--It increases heart rate, blood
pressure, and cardiac output.
,What effect does aldosterone have on the body? - Answer--It increases sodium and
water retention, raising blood pressure.
What does atrial natriuretic peptide do? - Answer--It lowers blood pressure by
promoting sodium and water excretion.
What cardiovascular changes occur with aging? - Answer--Arteriosclerosis, less
efficient heart muscle, increased arrhythmias, and less elastic blood vessels.
What should be inspected during a cardiovascular assessment? - Answer--Skin
color, capillary refill, edema, nail beds, and jugular vein distention.
What does elevated troponin indicate? - Answer--Possible myocardial injury or
myocardial infarction (MI).
What is the normal range for potassium levels? - Answer--3.5-5.0 mEq/L.
What is the action of ACE inhibitors? - Answer--They block the conversion of
angiotensin I to angiotensin II, causing vasodilation and lowering blood pressure.
What is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors? - Answer--Dry cough.
What electrolyte imbalance is associated with spironolactone? -
Answer--Hyperkalemia.
What is the action of beta blockers? - Answer--They block beta1 receptors,
decreasing heart rate, contractility, and blood pressure.
What should be assessed before administering atenolol? - Answer--Apical pulse.
What is the primary use of calcium channel blockers like nifedipine? - Answer--To
vasodilate peripheral arteries.
What is a symptom of digoxin toxicity? - Answer--Yellow-green halos in vision.
What lifestyle change can reduce cardiovascular disease risk? - Answer--Smoking
cessation.
What is the purpose of cardiac catheterization? - Answer--To evaluate coronary
artery patency.
What should be monitored after a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)? -
Answer--Gag reflex before oral intake.
, What are the main components of the cardiovascular system? - Answer--The heart,
blood vessels, and blood.
What is the function of the heart? - Answer--To pump blood throughout the body,
delivering oxygen and nutrients while removing carbon dioxide and waste.
How does deoxygenated blood flow through the heart? - Answer--It returns from the
body via the superior and inferior vena cava into the right atrium, through the
tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, and is pumped to the lungs via the pulmonary
valve.
What is the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node? - Answer--It acts as the natural
pacemaker of the heart, initiating the electrical impulse that controls heart rhythm.
What is cardiac output? - Answer--The amount of blood pumped by one ventricle in
one minute, calculated by multiplying heart rate by stroke volume.
What are some non-modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease? -
Answer--Increasing age, family history, sex, and race or ethnicity.
What are some modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease? -
Answer--Smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, poor sleep, high cholesterol,
hypertension, diabetes, stress, poor diet, and excessive alcohol use.
What lifestyle changes can help modify cardiovascular disease risk factors? -
Answer--Stopping smoking, increasing physical activity, maintaining a healthy
weight, and following a heart-healthy diet.
What is the action of centrally acting alpha2 agonists like clonidine? - Answer--They
stimulate alpha2 receptors in the brain, reducing sympathetic outflow and lowering
blood pressure.
What is a key side effect of clonidine? - Answer--Drowsiness and dry mouth.
What is the primary use of IV lidocaine? - Answer--To treat ventricular arrhythmias.
What are common side effects of beta blockers like propranolol? -
Answer--Bronchospasm, bradycardia, and fatigue.
What serious adverse effect should be monitored with long-term amiodarone use? -
Answer--Pulmonary fibrosis.
What is the action of calcium channel blockers like verapamil? - Answer--They slow
SA and AV node conduction.
Cardiovascular Exam Questions and
Answers Review 2026
What are the four chambers of the heart? - Answer--Right atrium, right ventricle, left
atrium, left ventricle.
What is the function of the endocardium? - Answer--It lines the heart and valves.
What is the role of the myocardium? - Answer--It is the muscular pumping layer of
the heart.
What does the epicardium do? - Answer--It protects the heart.
What surrounds the heart? - Answer--The pericardium, which contains visceral and
parietal layers.
From where do coronary arteries arise? - Answer--From the aorta above the aortic
valve.
What branches does the left coronary artery have? - Answer--Left anterior
descending (LAD) and circumflex arteries.
What is the significance of coronary perfusion? - Answer--It occurs during diastole.
Describe the blood flow through the heart. - Answer--Vena cava → right atrium →
tricuspid valve → right ventricle → pulmonic valve → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary veins → left atrium → mitral valve → left ventricle → aortic valve → aorta.
What is the role of the SA node? - Answer--It is the heart's natural pacemaker.
What is the function of the AV node? - Answer--It delays impulses to allow for
ventricular filling.
How does epinephrine affect the heart? - Answer--It increases heart rate, blood
pressure, and cardiac output.
,What effect does aldosterone have on the body? - Answer--It increases sodium and
water retention, raising blood pressure.
What does atrial natriuretic peptide do? - Answer--It lowers blood pressure by
promoting sodium and water excretion.
What cardiovascular changes occur with aging? - Answer--Arteriosclerosis, less
efficient heart muscle, increased arrhythmias, and less elastic blood vessels.
What should be inspected during a cardiovascular assessment? - Answer--Skin
color, capillary refill, edema, nail beds, and jugular vein distention.
What does elevated troponin indicate? - Answer--Possible myocardial injury or
myocardial infarction (MI).
What is the normal range for potassium levels? - Answer--3.5-5.0 mEq/L.
What is the action of ACE inhibitors? - Answer--They block the conversion of
angiotensin I to angiotensin II, causing vasodilation and lowering blood pressure.
What is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors? - Answer--Dry cough.
What electrolyte imbalance is associated with spironolactone? -
Answer--Hyperkalemia.
What is the action of beta blockers? - Answer--They block beta1 receptors,
decreasing heart rate, contractility, and blood pressure.
What should be assessed before administering atenolol? - Answer--Apical pulse.
What is the primary use of calcium channel blockers like nifedipine? - Answer--To
vasodilate peripheral arteries.
What is a symptom of digoxin toxicity? - Answer--Yellow-green halos in vision.
What lifestyle change can reduce cardiovascular disease risk? - Answer--Smoking
cessation.
What is the purpose of cardiac catheterization? - Answer--To evaluate coronary
artery patency.
What should be monitored after a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)? -
Answer--Gag reflex before oral intake.
, What are the main components of the cardiovascular system? - Answer--The heart,
blood vessels, and blood.
What is the function of the heart? - Answer--To pump blood throughout the body,
delivering oxygen and nutrients while removing carbon dioxide and waste.
How does deoxygenated blood flow through the heart? - Answer--It returns from the
body via the superior and inferior vena cava into the right atrium, through the
tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, and is pumped to the lungs via the pulmonary
valve.
What is the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node? - Answer--It acts as the natural
pacemaker of the heart, initiating the electrical impulse that controls heart rhythm.
What is cardiac output? - Answer--The amount of blood pumped by one ventricle in
one minute, calculated by multiplying heart rate by stroke volume.
What are some non-modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease? -
Answer--Increasing age, family history, sex, and race or ethnicity.
What are some modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease? -
Answer--Smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, poor sleep, high cholesterol,
hypertension, diabetes, stress, poor diet, and excessive alcohol use.
What lifestyle changes can help modify cardiovascular disease risk factors? -
Answer--Stopping smoking, increasing physical activity, maintaining a healthy
weight, and following a heart-healthy diet.
What is the action of centrally acting alpha2 agonists like clonidine? - Answer--They
stimulate alpha2 receptors in the brain, reducing sympathetic outflow and lowering
blood pressure.
What is a key side effect of clonidine? - Answer--Drowsiness and dry mouth.
What is the primary use of IV lidocaine? - Answer--To treat ventricular arrhythmias.
What are common side effects of beta blockers like propranolol? -
Answer--Bronchospasm, bradycardia, and fatigue.
What serious adverse effect should be monitored with long-term amiodarone use? -
Answer--Pulmonary fibrosis.
What is the action of calcium channel blockers like verapamil? - Answer--They slow
SA and AV node conduction.
