WEST COAST EMT BLOCK 2
STUDY GUIDE, WEST COAST EMT
1. Electrical conduction of the heart primarily results in which of the
following?
A. Relaxation of all skeletal muscles
B. Smooth, coordinated heart contractions that produce the pumping action
C. Increased blood viscosity
D. Formation of red blood cells
Correct Answer: B. Smooth, coordinated heart contractions that produce the pumping
action
Rationale: Electrical conduction causes coordinated contraction of cardiac muscle, allowing
the heart to pump blood effectively.
2. What occurs during depolarization?
A. The heart returns completely to its resting state
B. Electrical charges on the muscle-cell surface change from positive to negative
C. The ventricles permanently stop contracting
D. Oxygen leaves the bloodstream
Correct Answer: B. Electrical charges on the muscle-cell surface change from positive
to negative
Rationale: Depolarization is the electrical change that initiates contraction of cardiac muscle
cells.
3. Repolarization refers to:
A. Initiation of cardiac contraction
B. Movement of blood into the ventricles
C. Return of the heart to its resting electrical state
D. Opening of the pulmonary artery
Correct Answer: C. Return of the heart to its resting electrical state
Rationale: During repolarization, the cardiac muscle cell restores its resting electrical charge
and prepares for another impulse.
,4. Where do the electrical impulses of the heart normally begin?
A. Atrioventricular node
B. Bundle of His
C. Sinoatrial node
D. Purkinje fibers
Correct Answer: C. Sinoatrial node
Rationale: The sinoatrial (SA) node initiates the electrical impulse. The impulse then travels
through the AV node, bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers.
5. Which three types of muscle tissue are found in the human body?
A. Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth
B. Cardiac, epithelial, and nervous
C. Smooth, connective, and skeletal
D. Skeletal, vascular, and epithelial
Correct Answer: A. Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth
Rationale: The three major muscle types are skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.
6. Which statement correctly describes skeletal muscle?
A. It is involuntary and found only in the heart
B. It is voluntary and striated and is attached to bones
C. It is found exclusively in blood vessels
D. It produces electrical impulses automatically
Correct Answer: B. It is voluntary and striated and is attached to bones
Rationale: Skeletal muscle is generally under voluntary control, has a striated appearance,
and produces body movement by acting on bones.
7. Smooth muscle is primarily found in which structures?
A. Bones and tendons
B. Blood vessels and intestines
C. Heart valves and ligaments
D. Brain and spinal cord
Correct Answer: B. Blood vessels and intestines
,Rationale: Smooth muscle is involuntary muscle found in structures such as the
gastrointestinal tract and blood vessels.
8. Which statement about cardiac muscle is correct?
A. It is voluntary muscle attached to bones
B. It is found only within the heart and can generate and conduct electrical impulses
C. It is found only in the intestines
D. It cannot contract without skeletal-muscle stimulation
Correct Answer: B. It is found only within the heart and can generate and conduct
electrical impulses
Rationale: Cardiac muscle is specialized for continuous heart contraction and has intrinsic
electrical activity.
9. Ligaments connect:
A. Muscle to bone
B. Bone to bone
C. Nerve to muscle
D. Cartilage to muscle
Correct Answer: B. Bone to bone
Rationale: Ligaments are strong connective tissues that stabilize joints by connecting bones
to other bones.
10. Tendons are structures that:
A. Connect bone to bone
B. Connect muscles to bones
C. Connect arteries to veins
D. Cover the ends of bones
Correct Answer: B. Connect muscles to bones
Rationale: Tendons attach skeletal muscles to bones and transmit the force generated by
muscle contraction.
, 11. Which structure is smooth connective tissue that covers the ends of bones
at mobile joints?
A. Ligament
B. Tendon
C. Cartilage
D. Fascia
Correct Answer: C. Cartilage
Rationale: Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones at movable joints and helps provide
smooth movement.
12. Which structure serves as the major conduit for air entering the lungs and
divides at the carina?
A. Esophagus
B. Trachea
C. Pharynx
D. Alveolus
Correct Answer: B. Trachea
Rationale: The trachea carries air toward the lungs and divides at the carina into the right and
left mainstem bronchi.
13. What is a major function of the bronchioles?
A. Produce red blood cells
B. Dilate and constrict as air passes through them
C. Pump blood to the lungs
D. Exchange nutrients with the blood
Correct Answer: B. Dilate and constrict as air passes through them
Rationale: Bronchioles are small airways whose diameter can change, influencing airflow
into the lungs.
14. What is the primary function of the alveoli?
A. Produce mucus
B. Store oxygen
STUDY GUIDE, WEST COAST EMT
1. Electrical conduction of the heart primarily results in which of the
following?
A. Relaxation of all skeletal muscles
B. Smooth, coordinated heart contractions that produce the pumping action
C. Increased blood viscosity
D. Formation of red blood cells
Correct Answer: B. Smooth, coordinated heart contractions that produce the pumping
action
Rationale: Electrical conduction causes coordinated contraction of cardiac muscle, allowing
the heart to pump blood effectively.
2. What occurs during depolarization?
A. The heart returns completely to its resting state
B. Electrical charges on the muscle-cell surface change from positive to negative
C. The ventricles permanently stop contracting
D. Oxygen leaves the bloodstream
Correct Answer: B. Electrical charges on the muscle-cell surface change from positive
to negative
Rationale: Depolarization is the electrical change that initiates contraction of cardiac muscle
cells.
3. Repolarization refers to:
A. Initiation of cardiac contraction
B. Movement of blood into the ventricles
C. Return of the heart to its resting electrical state
D. Opening of the pulmonary artery
Correct Answer: C. Return of the heart to its resting electrical state
Rationale: During repolarization, the cardiac muscle cell restores its resting electrical charge
and prepares for another impulse.
,4. Where do the electrical impulses of the heart normally begin?
A. Atrioventricular node
B. Bundle of His
C. Sinoatrial node
D. Purkinje fibers
Correct Answer: C. Sinoatrial node
Rationale: The sinoatrial (SA) node initiates the electrical impulse. The impulse then travels
through the AV node, bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers.
5. Which three types of muscle tissue are found in the human body?
A. Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth
B. Cardiac, epithelial, and nervous
C. Smooth, connective, and skeletal
D. Skeletal, vascular, and epithelial
Correct Answer: A. Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth
Rationale: The three major muscle types are skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.
6. Which statement correctly describes skeletal muscle?
A. It is involuntary and found only in the heart
B. It is voluntary and striated and is attached to bones
C. It is found exclusively in blood vessels
D. It produces electrical impulses automatically
Correct Answer: B. It is voluntary and striated and is attached to bones
Rationale: Skeletal muscle is generally under voluntary control, has a striated appearance,
and produces body movement by acting on bones.
7. Smooth muscle is primarily found in which structures?
A. Bones and tendons
B. Blood vessels and intestines
C. Heart valves and ligaments
D. Brain and spinal cord
Correct Answer: B. Blood vessels and intestines
,Rationale: Smooth muscle is involuntary muscle found in structures such as the
gastrointestinal tract and blood vessels.
8. Which statement about cardiac muscle is correct?
A. It is voluntary muscle attached to bones
B. It is found only within the heart and can generate and conduct electrical impulses
C. It is found only in the intestines
D. It cannot contract without skeletal-muscle stimulation
Correct Answer: B. It is found only within the heart and can generate and conduct
electrical impulses
Rationale: Cardiac muscle is specialized for continuous heart contraction and has intrinsic
electrical activity.
9. Ligaments connect:
A. Muscle to bone
B. Bone to bone
C. Nerve to muscle
D. Cartilage to muscle
Correct Answer: B. Bone to bone
Rationale: Ligaments are strong connective tissues that stabilize joints by connecting bones
to other bones.
10. Tendons are structures that:
A. Connect bone to bone
B. Connect muscles to bones
C. Connect arteries to veins
D. Cover the ends of bones
Correct Answer: B. Connect muscles to bones
Rationale: Tendons attach skeletal muscles to bones and transmit the force generated by
muscle contraction.
, 11. Which structure is smooth connective tissue that covers the ends of bones
at mobile joints?
A. Ligament
B. Tendon
C. Cartilage
D. Fascia
Correct Answer: C. Cartilage
Rationale: Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones at movable joints and helps provide
smooth movement.
12. Which structure serves as the major conduit for air entering the lungs and
divides at the carina?
A. Esophagus
B. Trachea
C. Pharynx
D. Alveolus
Correct Answer: B. Trachea
Rationale: The trachea carries air toward the lungs and divides at the carina into the right and
left mainstem bronchi.
13. What is a major function of the bronchioles?
A. Produce red blood cells
B. Dilate and constrict as air passes through them
C. Pump blood to the lungs
D. Exchange nutrients with the blood
Correct Answer: B. Dilate and constrict as air passes through them
Rationale: Bronchioles are small airways whose diameter can change, influencing airflow
into the lungs.
14. What is the primary function of the alveoli?
A. Produce mucus
B. Store oxygen
