NRSG 3420 Exam 2 Questions and
Answers Graded A+
Layers of the heart wall - Correct answer-endocardium, myocardium, epicardium,
pericardium, pericardial sac
Systole - Correct answer-Contraction of the heart
diastole - Correct answer-Relaxation of the heart
CO - Correct answer-cardiac output - amount of blood pumped by ventricle in
liters per minute
SV - Correct answer-stroke volume - amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat
factors affecting stroke volume - Correct answer-preload, afterload, contractility
preload - Correct answer-degree of stretch of the ventricular cardiac muscle fibers
at the e end of diastole, which depends on the amount of blood within the ventricle
at the end of diastole. The greater the amount of blood left in the ventricle, the
greater the ventricle is stretched to accommodate the increased volume and
therefore increased preload
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,afterload - Correct answer-resistance to ejection of blood from the ventricle;
inverse relationship between afterload and stroke volume - the greater resistance
(afterload), the less volume will be put out (SV)
contractility - Correct answer-the force generated by the contracting myocardium;
increased contractility = increased SV
Coronary arteries - Correct answer-left main coronary artery, left anterior
descending artery, left circumflex, right coronary, posterior descending artery
SA node - Correct answer-natural pacemaker
AV node - Correct answer-controls rate of conduction/heart rate
Bundle of His - Correct answer-conducts impulses to the right and left bundle
branches through both ventricles
S/sx of heart conditions affecting the sympathetic nervous system - Correct
answer-increased HR, contractile force, vasoconstriction (increased workload,
ventricular remodeling)
S/sx of heart conditions affecting the RAAS system - Correct answer-
vasoconstriction and conservation of Na+ and water (increased preload, afterload,
and workload)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Ventricular remodeling/myocardial hypertrophy - Correct answer-- ventricle dilates
to compensate for increased volume
- hypertrophy to compensate for increased workload
- leads to increased ventricular muscle mass, changes in shape, and impaired
contractility
S/sx: increased ventricular muscle mass and impaired contractility
Natriuretic peptides - Correct answer-ANP: atrial natriuretic peptide
BNP: brain or b-type natriuretic peptide
- first noted in porcine brain
- S/sx of disease: diuresis, vasodilation, decreased preload and afterload
P wave - Correct answer-represents atrial depolarization
PR interval - Correct answer-- represents the time it takes an impulse to travel
through the atria and the delay at the AV junction
- measure from beginning of P wave to beginning of QRS
- normally 0.12-0.20 secs (3-5 boxes)
QRS Complex - Correct answer-- represents ventricular depolarization
- normal is 0.04-0.12 secs (1-3 boxes)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Answers Graded A+
Layers of the heart wall - Correct answer-endocardium, myocardium, epicardium,
pericardium, pericardial sac
Systole - Correct answer-Contraction of the heart
diastole - Correct answer-Relaxation of the heart
CO - Correct answer-cardiac output - amount of blood pumped by ventricle in
liters per minute
SV - Correct answer-stroke volume - amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat
factors affecting stroke volume - Correct answer-preload, afterload, contractility
preload - Correct answer-degree of stretch of the ventricular cardiac muscle fibers
at the e end of diastole, which depends on the amount of blood within the ventricle
at the end of diastole. The greater the amount of blood left in the ventricle, the
greater the ventricle is stretched to accommodate the increased volume and
therefore increased preload
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,afterload - Correct answer-resistance to ejection of blood from the ventricle;
inverse relationship between afterload and stroke volume - the greater resistance
(afterload), the less volume will be put out (SV)
contractility - Correct answer-the force generated by the contracting myocardium;
increased contractility = increased SV
Coronary arteries - Correct answer-left main coronary artery, left anterior
descending artery, left circumflex, right coronary, posterior descending artery
SA node - Correct answer-natural pacemaker
AV node - Correct answer-controls rate of conduction/heart rate
Bundle of His - Correct answer-conducts impulses to the right and left bundle
branches through both ventricles
S/sx of heart conditions affecting the sympathetic nervous system - Correct
answer-increased HR, contractile force, vasoconstriction (increased workload,
ventricular remodeling)
S/sx of heart conditions affecting the RAAS system - Correct answer-
vasoconstriction and conservation of Na+ and water (increased preload, afterload,
and workload)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Ventricular remodeling/myocardial hypertrophy - Correct answer-- ventricle dilates
to compensate for increased volume
- hypertrophy to compensate for increased workload
- leads to increased ventricular muscle mass, changes in shape, and impaired
contractility
S/sx: increased ventricular muscle mass and impaired contractility
Natriuretic peptides - Correct answer-ANP: atrial natriuretic peptide
BNP: brain or b-type natriuretic peptide
- first noted in porcine brain
- S/sx of disease: diuresis, vasodilation, decreased preload and afterload
P wave - Correct answer-represents atrial depolarization
PR interval - Correct answer-- represents the time it takes an impulse to travel
through the atria and the delay at the AV junction
- measure from beginning of P wave to beginning of QRS
- normally 0.12-0.20 secs (3-5 boxes)
QRS Complex - Correct answer-- represents ventricular depolarization
- normal is 0.04-0.12 secs (1-3 boxes)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3