EMT Cardiology — 200 Original Practice Questions
Answer-choice format: A, B, C, D • Answer + rationale: immediately after each question
Important: This is an original study resource. It does not reproduce or claim to contain protected, leaked, or
'actual' FISDAP exam questions. FISDAP states that its exams are secure and emphasizes
critical-thinking/application questions.
How to use this packet
• Answer each question before reading the green answer line.
• Use the red rationale to understand why the correct choice fits.
• Use the gold instructor note as a quick teaching/remediation prompt.
• For protocol-sensitive care, verify current AHA guidance and your local EMS protocol.
Original EMT Cardiology Practice Bank • Not an official FISDAP exam Page 1
,Quick Cardiology Study Guide
Cardiac anatomy
Right heart → pulmonary circulation; left heart → systemic circulation. Know the four valves, major vessels,
myocardium, and normal conduction pathway.
Perfusion
Assess mental status, skin signs, pulse quality/rate, blood pressure, and overall condition. A single normal vital
sign does not rule out serious disease.
ACS / ischemia
Recognize pressure/discomfort, dyspnea, diaphoresis, nausea, weakness, radiation, and atypical
presentations. Use OPQRST and focused cardiac history.
Cardiac arrest
Recognize unresponsiveness and abnormal/absent normal breathing. Start high-quality CPR and use an AED
as soon as available. Minimize interruptions.
Shock
Think in terms of inadequate tissue perfusion. Cardiogenic shock is pump failure; tamponade and tension
pneumothorax are obstructive mechanisms.
Heart failure
Left-sided failure commonly causes pulmonary congestion; right-sided failure commonly causes systemic
venous congestion. Severe respiratory distress is an emergency.
Dysrhythmias
Treat the patient, not just the number. Determine whether the rhythm is associated with a pulse and adequate
perfusion, and identify instability.
Medication safety
Use only medications and indications permitted by scope, current protocol, and medical direction. Verify
allergies, contraindications, and relevant medication history.
High-yield test-taking reminders
• Read the entire stem before looking for a familiar answer.
• For 'what should you do first/next?' identify the immediate life threat and best next action.
• For 'what should you suspect?' choose the condition best supported by the findings.
• When two answers seem reasonable, use the patient's current instability and exact question wording.
• Do not memorize answer letters; practice recognizing clinical patterns.
Original EMT Cardiology Practice Bank • Not an official FISDAP exam Page 2
,200 Questions with Immediate Answers & Rationales
Anatomy & Physiology
1. Which chamber normally generates the highest pressure during systole?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
ANSWER: D — Left ventricle
RATIONALE: The left ventricle pumps blood through the systemic circulation, which has higher resistance than the
pulmonary circulation.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Emphasize pressure differences between systemic and pulmonary circulation.
2. Which valve lies between the right atrium and right ventricle?
A. Mitral
B. Aortic
C. Tricuspid
D. Pulmonic
ANSWER: C — Tricuspid
RATIONALE: The tricuspid valve is the right atrioventricular valve.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: A useful memory aid is tri = three cusps.
3. Which valve lies between the left atrium and left ventricle?
A. Tricuspid
B. Mitral
C. Pulmonic
D. Aortic
ANSWER: B — Mitral
RATIONALE: The mitral valve is the left atrioventricular valve.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Connect valve anatomy to blood-flow direction.
Original EMT Cardiology Practice Bank • Not an official FISDAP exam Page 3
, 4. Which vessel carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle toward the lungs?
A. Aorta
B. Pulmonary artery
C. Pulmonary vein
D. Superior vena cava
ANSWER: B — Pulmonary artery
RATIONALE: The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Exception to the simple artery=oxygenated rule.
5. Which vessel returns oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?
A. Pulmonary veins
B. Pulmonary arteries
C. Venae cavae
D. Coronary arteries
ANSWER: A — Pulmonary veins
RATIONALE: Pulmonary veins return oxygenated blood to the left atrium.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Arteries and veins are named by direction of flow, not oxygen content.
6. The myocardium is best described as the:
A. Inner chamber lining
B. Heart muscle
C. Outer sac
D. Electrical node
ANSWER: B — Heart muscle
RATIONALE: The myocardium is the muscular tissue responsible for cardiac contraction.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Differentiate myocardium, endocardium, and pericardium.
7. What is the primary role of the coronary arteries?
A. Carry blood from lungs to left atrium
B. Supply the myocardium
C. Drain blood from the brain
D. Return blood to the right atrium
ANSWER: B — Supply the myocardium
RATIONALE: Coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to cardiac muscle.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Coronary perfusion is especially important during diastole.
Original EMT Cardiology Practice Bank • Not an official FISDAP exam Page 4
Answer-choice format: A, B, C, D • Answer + rationale: immediately after each question
Important: This is an original study resource. It does not reproduce or claim to contain protected, leaked, or
'actual' FISDAP exam questions. FISDAP states that its exams are secure and emphasizes
critical-thinking/application questions.
How to use this packet
• Answer each question before reading the green answer line.
• Use the red rationale to understand why the correct choice fits.
• Use the gold instructor note as a quick teaching/remediation prompt.
• For protocol-sensitive care, verify current AHA guidance and your local EMS protocol.
Original EMT Cardiology Practice Bank • Not an official FISDAP exam Page 1
,Quick Cardiology Study Guide
Cardiac anatomy
Right heart → pulmonary circulation; left heart → systemic circulation. Know the four valves, major vessels,
myocardium, and normal conduction pathway.
Perfusion
Assess mental status, skin signs, pulse quality/rate, blood pressure, and overall condition. A single normal vital
sign does not rule out serious disease.
ACS / ischemia
Recognize pressure/discomfort, dyspnea, diaphoresis, nausea, weakness, radiation, and atypical
presentations. Use OPQRST and focused cardiac history.
Cardiac arrest
Recognize unresponsiveness and abnormal/absent normal breathing. Start high-quality CPR and use an AED
as soon as available. Minimize interruptions.
Shock
Think in terms of inadequate tissue perfusion. Cardiogenic shock is pump failure; tamponade and tension
pneumothorax are obstructive mechanisms.
Heart failure
Left-sided failure commonly causes pulmonary congestion; right-sided failure commonly causes systemic
venous congestion. Severe respiratory distress is an emergency.
Dysrhythmias
Treat the patient, not just the number. Determine whether the rhythm is associated with a pulse and adequate
perfusion, and identify instability.
Medication safety
Use only medications and indications permitted by scope, current protocol, and medical direction. Verify
allergies, contraindications, and relevant medication history.
High-yield test-taking reminders
• Read the entire stem before looking for a familiar answer.
• For 'what should you do first/next?' identify the immediate life threat and best next action.
• For 'what should you suspect?' choose the condition best supported by the findings.
• When two answers seem reasonable, use the patient's current instability and exact question wording.
• Do not memorize answer letters; practice recognizing clinical patterns.
Original EMT Cardiology Practice Bank • Not an official FISDAP exam Page 2
,200 Questions with Immediate Answers & Rationales
Anatomy & Physiology
1. Which chamber normally generates the highest pressure during systole?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
ANSWER: D — Left ventricle
RATIONALE: The left ventricle pumps blood through the systemic circulation, which has higher resistance than the
pulmonary circulation.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Emphasize pressure differences between systemic and pulmonary circulation.
2. Which valve lies between the right atrium and right ventricle?
A. Mitral
B. Aortic
C. Tricuspid
D. Pulmonic
ANSWER: C — Tricuspid
RATIONALE: The tricuspid valve is the right atrioventricular valve.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: A useful memory aid is tri = three cusps.
3. Which valve lies between the left atrium and left ventricle?
A. Tricuspid
B. Mitral
C. Pulmonic
D. Aortic
ANSWER: B — Mitral
RATIONALE: The mitral valve is the left atrioventricular valve.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Connect valve anatomy to blood-flow direction.
Original EMT Cardiology Practice Bank • Not an official FISDAP exam Page 3
, 4. Which vessel carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle toward the lungs?
A. Aorta
B. Pulmonary artery
C. Pulmonary vein
D. Superior vena cava
ANSWER: B — Pulmonary artery
RATIONALE: The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Exception to the simple artery=oxygenated rule.
5. Which vessel returns oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?
A. Pulmonary veins
B. Pulmonary arteries
C. Venae cavae
D. Coronary arteries
ANSWER: A — Pulmonary veins
RATIONALE: Pulmonary veins return oxygenated blood to the left atrium.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Arteries and veins are named by direction of flow, not oxygen content.
6. The myocardium is best described as the:
A. Inner chamber lining
B. Heart muscle
C. Outer sac
D. Electrical node
ANSWER: B — Heart muscle
RATIONALE: The myocardium is the muscular tissue responsible for cardiac contraction.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Differentiate myocardium, endocardium, and pericardium.
7. What is the primary role of the coronary arteries?
A. Carry blood from lungs to left atrium
B. Supply the myocardium
C. Drain blood from the brain
D. Return blood to the right atrium
ANSWER: B — Supply the myocardium
RATIONALE: Coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to cardiac muscle.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Coronary perfusion is especially important during diastole.
Original EMT Cardiology Practice Bank • Not an official FISDAP exam Page 4
