2026 ARRT Cardiac Interventional Radiography
Study Guide: Questions with Answer
Explanations Cardiac Anatomy | Angiography
Procedures | Radiation Safety | Contrast |
Patient Care Review
Section 1: Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology (Questions 1–20)
1. Which coronary artery is most commonly the source of the artery supplying the
posterior descending artery (PDA) in a right-dominant circulation?
• A. Left circumflex
• B. Left anterior descending
• C. Right coronary artery
• D. Left main coronary artery
Rationale: In approximately 85–90% of the population, the right coronary
artery (RCA) gives rise to the PDA, making it a right-dominant circulation.
2. The "left main" coronary artery typically bifurcates into which two primary
vessels?
• A. RCA and LAD
• B. LAD and Left Circumflex
• C. Left Circumflex and RCA
• D. PDA and LAD
Rationale: The left main coronary artery bifurcates into the left anterior
descending (LAD) and the left circumflex (LCx) arteries.
3. Which cardiac valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle?
, • A. Tricuspid valve
• B. Pulmonic valve
• C. Mitral valve
• D. Aortic valve
Rationale: The mitral (bicuspid) valve separates the left atrium from the left
ventricle.
4. The normal resting heart rate is generated by the sinoatrial (SA) node at a rate
of:
• A. 20–40 beats per minute
• B. 40–60 beats per minute
• C. 60–100 beats per minute
• D. 100–120 beats per minute
Rationale: The SA node, the primary pacemaker of the heart, typically fires at
60–100 bpm.
5. Which structure separates the right and left ventricles?
• A. Interatrial septum
• B. Interventricular septum
• C. Pericardium
• D. Myocardium
Rationale: The interventricular septum is the muscular wall dividing the right
and left ventricles.
6. The "dominance" of coronary circulation is determined by which artery supplies
the posterior descending artery (PDA) and the atrioventricular (AV) nodal branch.
• A. Left main
, • B. LAD
• C. RCA
• D. Left circumflex
Rationale: Coronary dominance is defined by which artery supplies the PDA
and AV nodal branch. Right dominance is most common.
7. Blood flow through the coronary arteries primarily occurs during which phase
of the cardiac cycle?
• A. Systole
• B. Diastole
• C. Isovolumetric contraction
• D. Atrial kick
Rationale: Coronary perfusion occurs mainly during diastole when the
myocardium is relaxed and the aortic valve is closed.
8. Which vessel is a branch of the right coronary artery (RCA) that supplies the
right atrium?
• A. Acute marginal branch
• B. Obtuse marginal branch
• C. Diagonal branch
• D. Septal perforator
Rationale: The acute marginal branch of the RCA supplies the right ventricular
free wall.
9. The normal range for cardiac output in a resting adult is:
• A. 1–2 L/min
• B. 2–4 L/min
, • C. 4–8 L/min
• D. 8–12 L/min
Rationale: Normal cardiac output is approximately 4–8 liters per minute,
calculated as heart rate × stroke volume.
10. Which layer of the heart is responsible for the pumping action?
• A. Endocardium
• B. Myocardium
• C. Epicardium
• D. Pericardium
Rationale: The myocardium is the thick, muscular middle layer responsible for
contraction.
11. The "widow maker" lesion typically refers to a critical stenosis in which artery?
• A. Right coronary artery
• B. Left circumflex
• C. Proximal left anterior descending
• D. Left main
Rationale: A proximal LAD occlusion is often called the "widow maker" due to
its high mortality risk.
12. Which cardiac chamber receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?
• A. Right atrium
• B. Right ventricle
• C. Left atrium
• D. Left ventricle
Study Guide: Questions with Answer
Explanations Cardiac Anatomy | Angiography
Procedures | Radiation Safety | Contrast |
Patient Care Review
Section 1: Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology (Questions 1–20)
1. Which coronary artery is most commonly the source of the artery supplying the
posterior descending artery (PDA) in a right-dominant circulation?
• A. Left circumflex
• B. Left anterior descending
• C. Right coronary artery
• D. Left main coronary artery
Rationale: In approximately 85–90% of the population, the right coronary
artery (RCA) gives rise to the PDA, making it a right-dominant circulation.
2. The "left main" coronary artery typically bifurcates into which two primary
vessels?
• A. RCA and LAD
• B. LAD and Left Circumflex
• C. Left Circumflex and RCA
• D. PDA and LAD
Rationale: The left main coronary artery bifurcates into the left anterior
descending (LAD) and the left circumflex (LCx) arteries.
3. Which cardiac valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle?
, • A. Tricuspid valve
• B. Pulmonic valve
• C. Mitral valve
• D. Aortic valve
Rationale: The mitral (bicuspid) valve separates the left atrium from the left
ventricle.
4. The normal resting heart rate is generated by the sinoatrial (SA) node at a rate
of:
• A. 20–40 beats per minute
• B. 40–60 beats per minute
• C. 60–100 beats per minute
• D. 100–120 beats per minute
Rationale: The SA node, the primary pacemaker of the heart, typically fires at
60–100 bpm.
5. Which structure separates the right and left ventricles?
• A. Interatrial septum
• B. Interventricular septum
• C. Pericardium
• D. Myocardium
Rationale: The interventricular septum is the muscular wall dividing the right
and left ventricles.
6. The "dominance" of coronary circulation is determined by which artery supplies
the posterior descending artery (PDA) and the atrioventricular (AV) nodal branch.
• A. Left main
, • B. LAD
• C. RCA
• D. Left circumflex
Rationale: Coronary dominance is defined by which artery supplies the PDA
and AV nodal branch. Right dominance is most common.
7. Blood flow through the coronary arteries primarily occurs during which phase
of the cardiac cycle?
• A. Systole
• B. Diastole
• C. Isovolumetric contraction
• D. Atrial kick
Rationale: Coronary perfusion occurs mainly during diastole when the
myocardium is relaxed and the aortic valve is closed.
8. Which vessel is a branch of the right coronary artery (RCA) that supplies the
right atrium?
• A. Acute marginal branch
• B. Obtuse marginal branch
• C. Diagonal branch
• D. Septal perforator
Rationale: The acute marginal branch of the RCA supplies the right ventricular
free wall.
9. The normal range for cardiac output in a resting adult is:
• A. 1–2 L/min
• B. 2–4 L/min
, • C. 4–8 L/min
• D. 8–12 L/min
Rationale: Normal cardiac output is approximately 4–8 liters per minute,
calculated as heart rate × stroke volume.
10. Which layer of the heart is responsible for the pumping action?
• A. Endocardium
• B. Myocardium
• C. Epicardium
• D. Pericardium
Rationale: The myocardium is the thick, muscular middle layer responsible for
contraction.
11. The "widow maker" lesion typically refers to a critical stenosis in which artery?
• A. Right coronary artery
• B. Left circumflex
• C. Proximal left anterior descending
• D. Left main
Rationale: A proximal LAD occlusion is often called the "widow maker" due to
its high mortality risk.
12. Which cardiac chamber receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?
• A. Right atrium
• B. Right ventricle
• C. Left atrium
• D. Left ventricle
