Cardiovascular
Pathophysiology Exam
Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus
Rationales 2025/2026
Q&A
1. Which layer of the heart is responsible for the contractile
function?
A) Epicardium
B) Endocardium
C) Myocardium
D) Pericardium
Rationale: The myocardium is the muscular middle layer of the heart
responsible for contraction and pumping blood.
2. The primary pacemaker of the heart is:
,A) AV node
B) Bundle of His
C) Purkinje fibers
D) SA node
Rationale: The sinoatrial (SA) node generates impulses that initiate
each heartbeat and set the heart rate.
3. During the cardiac cycle, systole refers to:
A) Relaxation of the ventricles
B) Contraction of the ventricles
C) Relaxation of the atria
D) Filling of the atria
Rationale: Systole is the phase of ventricular contraction, ejecting
blood into the arteries.
4. Which condition is characterized by chest pain due to myocardial
ischemia?
A) Heart failure
B) Angina pectoris
C) Myocarditis
D) Pericarditis
Rationale: Angina pectoris occurs when myocardial oxygen demand
exceeds supply, usually due to coronary artery disease.
5. Which lipid is most strongly associated with atherosclerosis?
A) HDL
B) Triglycerides
,C) VLDL
D) LDL
Rationale: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) promotes plaque formation
in arterial walls, leading to atherosclerosis.
6. Left-sided heart failure commonly results in:
A) Peripheral edema
B) Pulmonary congestion
C) Jugular venous distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure leads to fluid backup in the lungs,
causing pulmonary edema and dyspnea.
7. Right-sided heart failure often presents with:
A) Dyspnea and orthopnea
B) Peripheral edema and hepatomegaly
C) Pulmonary edema
D) Chest pain
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous
congestion, leading to edema and liver enlargement.
8. The Frank-Starling law states that:
A) Heart rate increases with stress
B) Stroke volume is independent of preload
C) Stroke volume increases with increased ventricular filling
D) Contractility decreases with increased afterload
Rationale: The Frank-Starling mechanism shows that the heart
pumps more forcefully when more blood fills the ventricles.
, 9. Which electrolyte abnormality is most likely to cause cardiac
arrhythmias?
A) Hyperglycemia
B) Hypercalcemia
C) Hypokalemia
D) Both B and C
Rationale: Calcium and potassium levels critically affect cardiac
action potentials, and abnormalities can lead to arrhythmias.
10. A patient with hypertension develops concentric left ventricular
hypertrophy. This is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Adaptive hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Atrophy
Rationale: The heart adapts to increased afterload by thickening the
ventricular wall to maintain cardiac output.
11. The most common cause of myocardial infarction is:
A) Vasculitis
B) Atherosclerotic plaque rupture with thrombosis
C) Hypertension
D) Congenital heart defect
Rationale: Acute myocardial infarction usually occurs when a
coronary artery is blocked by thrombus at the site of an
atherosclerotic plaque.
Pathophysiology Exam
Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus
Rationales 2025/2026
Q&A
1. Which layer of the heart is responsible for the contractile
function?
A) Epicardium
B) Endocardium
C) Myocardium
D) Pericardium
Rationale: The myocardium is the muscular middle layer of the heart
responsible for contraction and pumping blood.
2. The primary pacemaker of the heart is:
,A) AV node
B) Bundle of His
C) Purkinje fibers
D) SA node
Rationale: The sinoatrial (SA) node generates impulses that initiate
each heartbeat and set the heart rate.
3. During the cardiac cycle, systole refers to:
A) Relaxation of the ventricles
B) Contraction of the ventricles
C) Relaxation of the atria
D) Filling of the atria
Rationale: Systole is the phase of ventricular contraction, ejecting
blood into the arteries.
4. Which condition is characterized by chest pain due to myocardial
ischemia?
A) Heart failure
B) Angina pectoris
C) Myocarditis
D) Pericarditis
Rationale: Angina pectoris occurs when myocardial oxygen demand
exceeds supply, usually due to coronary artery disease.
5. Which lipid is most strongly associated with atherosclerosis?
A) HDL
B) Triglycerides
,C) VLDL
D) LDL
Rationale: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) promotes plaque formation
in arterial walls, leading to atherosclerosis.
6. Left-sided heart failure commonly results in:
A) Peripheral edema
B) Pulmonary congestion
C) Jugular venous distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure leads to fluid backup in the lungs,
causing pulmonary edema and dyspnea.
7. Right-sided heart failure often presents with:
A) Dyspnea and orthopnea
B) Peripheral edema and hepatomegaly
C) Pulmonary edema
D) Chest pain
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous
congestion, leading to edema and liver enlargement.
8. The Frank-Starling law states that:
A) Heart rate increases with stress
B) Stroke volume is independent of preload
C) Stroke volume increases with increased ventricular filling
D) Contractility decreases with increased afterload
Rationale: The Frank-Starling mechanism shows that the heart
pumps more forcefully when more blood fills the ventricles.
, 9. Which electrolyte abnormality is most likely to cause cardiac
arrhythmias?
A) Hyperglycemia
B) Hypercalcemia
C) Hypokalemia
D) Both B and C
Rationale: Calcium and potassium levels critically affect cardiac
action potentials, and abnormalities can lead to arrhythmias.
10. A patient with hypertension develops concentric left ventricular
hypertrophy. This is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Adaptive hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Atrophy
Rationale: The heart adapts to increased afterload by thickening the
ventricular wall to maintain cardiac output.
11. The most common cause of myocardial infarction is:
A) Vasculitis
B) Atherosclerotic plaque rupture with thrombosis
C) Hypertension
D) Congenital heart defect
Rationale: Acute myocardial infarction usually occurs when a
coronary artery is blocked by thrombus at the site of an
atherosclerotic plaque.
