APEA Pathophysiology Exam 2026/2027 Newest With Complete Questions And
Correct Detailed Answers| Brand New Version
Which type of angina results from coronary artery vasospasm and occurs in atypical
patterns?
Classic angina
Prinzmetal's angina
Unstable angina
Pleuritic chest pain- correct answer>>>Prinzmetal's angina
Results from coronary artery vasospasm and occurs in an atypical pattern. It is usually
at a single site. It can occur in a normal or disease vessel. Pain is usually resolved with
angina medication.
Classic (stable angina) occurs when the heart is stressed, lasts less than 5 minutes,
and usually resolves with rest.
Unstable angina is considered a medical emergency because it lasts longer than 5
minutes, does not follow the normal pain pattern, and may not resolve with rest or
angina medication. It is often associated or signals a MI.
A patient who is in cardiogenic shock will present with:
a high cardiac index
decreased vascular resistance
increased ventricular ejection fraction
mixed venous oxygen saturation- correct answer>>>mixed venous oxygen saturation
Patients will have a low cardiac index, elevated filling pressures of the left, right, or both
ventricles, and a decreased mixed venous oxygen saturation.
With each heart beat, blood within the left and right ventricle is ejected into the:
left atrium only
aorta and pulmonary artery
anterior descending artery
right coronary artery- correct answer>>>aorta and pulmonary artery
The primary cause of cardiogenic shock in a patient with an acute MI is:
failure of the ventricle to pump blood adequately
failure of the aortic valve to pump blood adequately
regurgitation of the tricuspid valve
regurgitation of the mitral valve- correct answer>>>failure of the ventricle to pump
adequately
Unstable angina is characterized by:
angina with prolonged activity
angina symptoms lasting >6 months.
increasing crescendo angina
angina with elevated cardiac markers- correct answer>>>increased crescendo angina
,unstable angina is characterized by prolonged angina at rest (usually >20 minutes at
rest), and increasing crescendo angina (now more frequent & longer duration)
Which one of the following produces visible evidence of an underlying problem with
reverse venous flow?
cellulitis
bruising
stasis dermatitis
varicose veins- correct answer>>>varicose veins
Which one of the following is NOT an assessment finding in a patient who is
experiencing shock?
low urine output
end-organ hyperperfusion
poor mentation
hypotension- correct answer>>>end-organ hyperperfusion
A progressive disease of heart muscle that is characterized by ventricular chamber
enlargement and contractile dysfunction is:
acute coronary syndrome
cardiac tamponade
dilated cardiomyopathy
thyrotoxicosis- correct answer>>>dilated cardiomyopathy
Patients with acute coronary syndrome may experience chest pain secondary to:
arterial vasodilation
oxygen demand
potassium depletion
elevated creatine- correct answer>>>oxygen demand
What is the purpose of activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the renin-
angiotensin-aldosterone system, and the antidiuretic system in the presence of impaired
cardiac pumping and/or filling?
promotion of venous relaxation
production of arterial vasoconstriction
decrease in venous pressure
decrease in ventricular filling- correct answer>>>Production of arterial vasoconstriction
all three of those systems are activated in the presence of heart failure and produce
arterial vasoconstriction and help to maintain systemic pressure to ensure tissue &
organ perfusion
Atherosclerosis in the lower extremities commonly causes:
venous insufficiency
peripheral artery disease
lymphadenopathy
,diabetic neuropathy- correct answer>>>peripheral artery disease
Which of the following is not a deficit of tetralogy of Fallot?
a hole between the ventricles of the heart
a narrowing of the pulmonary valve and artery
an enlargement of the tricuspid valves
a thickening of the ventricle chambers- correct answer>>>an enlargement of the
tricuspid valves
which of the following cardiac rhythms do not lead to a decrease in cardiac output?
normal sinus rhythm
bradycardia
atrial fibrillation
atrioventricular block- correct answer>>>normal sinus rhythm
Aortic stenosis may be identified by:
a low-intensity, high pitched murmur
a crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur
a high pitched and blowing murmur with a decrescendo configuration
a murmur with a rumbling character- correct answer>>>a crescendo-decrescendo
systolic murmur
this begins shortly after the first heart sound. S1 is usually normal or soft and the A2
(second heart sound) is usually diminished or absent due to aortic valve calcification &
immobility
Transposition of the great arteries is described as:
acyanotic deficits increasing pulmonary blood flow
cyanotic defect that decreases pulmonary blood flow
cyanotic mixed defects with increased pulmonary blood flow
obstructive lesions with poor blood flow from ventricles- correct answer>>>cyanotic
mixed defects with increased pulmonary blood flow
Which of the following cardiac rhythms is characterized by P waves that precede each
QRS interval
sinus bradycardia
atrial flutter
ventricle tachycardia
Torsades de Pointes- correct answer>>>Sinus bradycardia
A common cause of diastolic heart failure is:
myocarditis
myocardial infarction
dilated cardiomyopathy
hypertension- correct answer>>>Hypertension
long-term hypertension is a common cause of diastolic heart failure.
, Diastolic dysfunction occurs when the filling of one or both ventricles is impaired
because the ventricle has become less compliant.
The heart must pump more forcefully in order to push blood into circulation against
increased vascular resistance.
Pediatric patients with tetralogy of Fallot have episodes of bluish skin during crying and
feeding that are called:
tachypnea
dyspnea
tet spells
Cheyne-Stokes breathing- correct answer>>>tet spells
Which of the following types of angina involves nocturnal symptoms?
Classic angina
Stable angina
Prinzmetal's angina
Unstable angina- correct answer>>>Unstable angina
Causes symptoms at rest & at night
Whish congenital heart defect is known to cause cyanotic crying episodes precipitated
by crying, feeding, or other activities?
Atrial septal defect
Ventricular septal defect
Patent ductus arteriosus
Tetralogy of Fallot- correct answer>>>Tetralogy of Fallot
Which of the following statements accurately describes a premature ventricular
contraction (PVC)?
It is caused by a ventricular ectopic pacemaker
It is caused by failure of the AV node to fire
It is caused by bifurcation of the bundle of HIs
It is caused by prolongation of the QT interval- correct answer>>>It is caused by a
ventricular ectopic pacemaker
Which of the following is secreted by ventricular myocytes and assists in the diagnosis
of heart failure?
Atrial natriuretic peptide
Brain natriuretic peptide
Endothelin
Nitric oxide- correct answer>>>Brain natriuretic peptide
important biomarker with an established role in the diagnosis of heart failure and in
predicting long-term morbidity and mortality
The primary function of the heart is:
to maintain pressure throughout the cardiovascular system
to generate the flow of blood to the right ventricle
Correct Detailed Answers| Brand New Version
Which type of angina results from coronary artery vasospasm and occurs in atypical
patterns?
Classic angina
Prinzmetal's angina
Unstable angina
Pleuritic chest pain- correct answer>>>Prinzmetal's angina
Results from coronary artery vasospasm and occurs in an atypical pattern. It is usually
at a single site. It can occur in a normal or disease vessel. Pain is usually resolved with
angina medication.
Classic (stable angina) occurs when the heart is stressed, lasts less than 5 minutes,
and usually resolves with rest.
Unstable angina is considered a medical emergency because it lasts longer than 5
minutes, does not follow the normal pain pattern, and may not resolve with rest or
angina medication. It is often associated or signals a MI.
A patient who is in cardiogenic shock will present with:
a high cardiac index
decreased vascular resistance
increased ventricular ejection fraction
mixed venous oxygen saturation- correct answer>>>mixed venous oxygen saturation
Patients will have a low cardiac index, elevated filling pressures of the left, right, or both
ventricles, and a decreased mixed venous oxygen saturation.
With each heart beat, blood within the left and right ventricle is ejected into the:
left atrium only
aorta and pulmonary artery
anterior descending artery
right coronary artery- correct answer>>>aorta and pulmonary artery
The primary cause of cardiogenic shock in a patient with an acute MI is:
failure of the ventricle to pump blood adequately
failure of the aortic valve to pump blood adequately
regurgitation of the tricuspid valve
regurgitation of the mitral valve- correct answer>>>failure of the ventricle to pump
adequately
Unstable angina is characterized by:
angina with prolonged activity
angina symptoms lasting >6 months.
increasing crescendo angina
angina with elevated cardiac markers- correct answer>>>increased crescendo angina
,unstable angina is characterized by prolonged angina at rest (usually >20 minutes at
rest), and increasing crescendo angina (now more frequent & longer duration)
Which one of the following produces visible evidence of an underlying problem with
reverse venous flow?
cellulitis
bruising
stasis dermatitis
varicose veins- correct answer>>>varicose veins
Which one of the following is NOT an assessment finding in a patient who is
experiencing shock?
low urine output
end-organ hyperperfusion
poor mentation
hypotension- correct answer>>>end-organ hyperperfusion
A progressive disease of heart muscle that is characterized by ventricular chamber
enlargement and contractile dysfunction is:
acute coronary syndrome
cardiac tamponade
dilated cardiomyopathy
thyrotoxicosis- correct answer>>>dilated cardiomyopathy
Patients with acute coronary syndrome may experience chest pain secondary to:
arterial vasodilation
oxygen demand
potassium depletion
elevated creatine- correct answer>>>oxygen demand
What is the purpose of activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the renin-
angiotensin-aldosterone system, and the antidiuretic system in the presence of impaired
cardiac pumping and/or filling?
promotion of venous relaxation
production of arterial vasoconstriction
decrease in venous pressure
decrease in ventricular filling- correct answer>>>Production of arterial vasoconstriction
all three of those systems are activated in the presence of heart failure and produce
arterial vasoconstriction and help to maintain systemic pressure to ensure tissue &
organ perfusion
Atherosclerosis in the lower extremities commonly causes:
venous insufficiency
peripheral artery disease
lymphadenopathy
,diabetic neuropathy- correct answer>>>peripheral artery disease
Which of the following is not a deficit of tetralogy of Fallot?
a hole between the ventricles of the heart
a narrowing of the pulmonary valve and artery
an enlargement of the tricuspid valves
a thickening of the ventricle chambers- correct answer>>>an enlargement of the
tricuspid valves
which of the following cardiac rhythms do not lead to a decrease in cardiac output?
normal sinus rhythm
bradycardia
atrial fibrillation
atrioventricular block- correct answer>>>normal sinus rhythm
Aortic stenosis may be identified by:
a low-intensity, high pitched murmur
a crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur
a high pitched and blowing murmur with a decrescendo configuration
a murmur with a rumbling character- correct answer>>>a crescendo-decrescendo
systolic murmur
this begins shortly after the first heart sound. S1 is usually normal or soft and the A2
(second heart sound) is usually diminished or absent due to aortic valve calcification &
immobility
Transposition of the great arteries is described as:
acyanotic deficits increasing pulmonary blood flow
cyanotic defect that decreases pulmonary blood flow
cyanotic mixed defects with increased pulmonary blood flow
obstructive lesions with poor blood flow from ventricles- correct answer>>>cyanotic
mixed defects with increased pulmonary blood flow
Which of the following cardiac rhythms is characterized by P waves that precede each
QRS interval
sinus bradycardia
atrial flutter
ventricle tachycardia
Torsades de Pointes- correct answer>>>Sinus bradycardia
A common cause of diastolic heart failure is:
myocarditis
myocardial infarction
dilated cardiomyopathy
hypertension- correct answer>>>Hypertension
long-term hypertension is a common cause of diastolic heart failure.
, Diastolic dysfunction occurs when the filling of one or both ventricles is impaired
because the ventricle has become less compliant.
The heart must pump more forcefully in order to push blood into circulation against
increased vascular resistance.
Pediatric patients with tetralogy of Fallot have episodes of bluish skin during crying and
feeding that are called:
tachypnea
dyspnea
tet spells
Cheyne-Stokes breathing- correct answer>>>tet spells
Which of the following types of angina involves nocturnal symptoms?
Classic angina
Stable angina
Prinzmetal's angina
Unstable angina- correct answer>>>Unstable angina
Causes symptoms at rest & at night
Whish congenital heart defect is known to cause cyanotic crying episodes precipitated
by crying, feeding, or other activities?
Atrial septal defect
Ventricular septal defect
Patent ductus arteriosus
Tetralogy of Fallot- correct answer>>>Tetralogy of Fallot
Which of the following statements accurately describes a premature ventricular
contraction (PVC)?
It is caused by a ventricular ectopic pacemaker
It is caused by failure of the AV node to fire
It is caused by bifurcation of the bundle of HIs
It is caused by prolongation of the QT interval- correct answer>>>It is caused by a
ventricular ectopic pacemaker
Which of the following is secreted by ventricular myocytes and assists in the diagnosis
of heart failure?
Atrial natriuretic peptide
Brain natriuretic peptide
Endothelin
Nitric oxide- correct answer>>>Brain natriuretic peptide
important biomarker with an established role in the diagnosis of heart failure and in
predicting long-term morbidity and mortality
The primary function of the heart is:
to maintain pressure throughout the cardiovascular system
to generate the flow of blood to the right ventricle
