Advent Health EKG Exam Practice Test Actual
2025/2026 with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified |
Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: Cardiac Anatomy & Electrophysiology (Questions 1–12)
Q1: The sinoatrial (SA) node is located in which anatomical structure of the heart?
A. The interventricular septum near the apex
B. The posterior wall of the right atrium near the superior vena cava opening
C. The left atrial appendage
D. The base of the aortic valve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the SA node is situated in the posterior wall of the right
atrium near the opening of the superior vena cava, serving as the primary pacemaker
of the heart with an intrinsic rate of 60–100 beats per minute.
Q2: Which ion is primarily responsible for the rapid depolarization (phase 0) of the
ventricular myocardial action potential?
A. Calcium influx through L-type channels
B. Sodium influx through fast voltage-gated channels
C. Potassium efflux through rectifier channels
D. Chloride influx through ligand-gated channels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because phase 0 of the ventricular action potential is
characterized by rapid depolarization driven primarily by sodium ion influx through
fast voltage-gated sodium channels, creating the upstroke of the action potential.
,Q3: The atrioventricular (AV) node is located in which region of the heart?
A. The lateral wall of the left ventricle
B. The interatrial septum near the coronary sinus opening
C. The interventricular septum near the moderator band
D. The base of the pulmonary artery
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the AV node is located in the Koch triangle of the right
atrium, near the opening of the coronary sinus and the septal leaflet of the tricuspid
valve, serving as the electrical gateway between the atria and ventricles.
Q4: The normal intrinsic firing rate of the AV node is approximately:
A. 20–40 beats per minute
B. 40–60 beats per minute
C. 60–100 beats per minute
D. 100–120 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the AV node has an intrinsic firing rate of 40–60 beats
per minute, slower than the SA node (60–100 bpm) but faster than the Purkinje
fibers (20–40 bpm), establishing the normal hierarchy of cardiac pacemakers.
Q5: The bundle of His divides into which two main branches that conduct electrical
impulses to the ventricles?
A. The anterior and posterior fascicles
B. The right and left bundle branches
C. The septal and lateral fascicles
D. The superior and inferior divisions
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because the bundle of His bifurcates into the right bundle branch
(supplying the right ventricle) and the left bundle branch (which further divides into
anterior and posterior fascicles supplying the left ventricle).
Q6: The Purkinje fiber network is responsible for which function in the cardiac
conduction system?
A. Generating the initial electrical impulse in the atria
B. Rapidly distributing the electrical impulse throughout the ventricular myocardium
C. Delaying the electrical impulse at the AV junction
D. Regulating heart rate in response to autonomic input
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the Purkinje fibers form an extensive network in the
ventricular endocardium that rapidly conducts the electrical impulse to the
ventricular myocardium, ensuring coordinated and synchronous ventricular
contraction.
Q7: Which autonomic nervous system division increases heart rate by releasing
norepinephrine that acts on beta-1 adrenergic receptors?
A. The parasympathetic nervous system via the vagus nerve
B. The sympathetic nervous system via cardiac accelerator nerves
C. The somatic nervous system via spinal nerves
D. The enteric nervous system via gastric plexuses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because sympathetic stimulation via cardiac accelerator nerves
releases norepinephrine, which binds to beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the SA and AV
nodes, increasing heart rate, conduction velocity, and contractility.
Q8: The parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart rate primarily through
which neurotransmitter and receptor mechanism?
2025/2026 with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified |
Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: Cardiac Anatomy & Electrophysiology (Questions 1–12)
Q1: The sinoatrial (SA) node is located in which anatomical structure of the heart?
A. The interventricular septum near the apex
B. The posterior wall of the right atrium near the superior vena cava opening
C. The left atrial appendage
D. The base of the aortic valve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the SA node is situated in the posterior wall of the right
atrium near the opening of the superior vena cava, serving as the primary pacemaker
of the heart with an intrinsic rate of 60–100 beats per minute.
Q2: Which ion is primarily responsible for the rapid depolarization (phase 0) of the
ventricular myocardial action potential?
A. Calcium influx through L-type channels
B. Sodium influx through fast voltage-gated channels
C. Potassium efflux through rectifier channels
D. Chloride influx through ligand-gated channels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because phase 0 of the ventricular action potential is
characterized by rapid depolarization driven primarily by sodium ion influx through
fast voltage-gated sodium channels, creating the upstroke of the action potential.
,Q3: The atrioventricular (AV) node is located in which region of the heart?
A. The lateral wall of the left ventricle
B. The interatrial septum near the coronary sinus opening
C. The interventricular septum near the moderator band
D. The base of the pulmonary artery
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the AV node is located in the Koch triangle of the right
atrium, near the opening of the coronary sinus and the septal leaflet of the tricuspid
valve, serving as the electrical gateway between the atria and ventricles.
Q4: The normal intrinsic firing rate of the AV node is approximately:
A. 20–40 beats per minute
B. 40–60 beats per minute
C. 60–100 beats per minute
D. 100–120 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the AV node has an intrinsic firing rate of 40–60 beats
per minute, slower than the SA node (60–100 bpm) but faster than the Purkinje
fibers (20–40 bpm), establishing the normal hierarchy of cardiac pacemakers.
Q5: The bundle of His divides into which two main branches that conduct electrical
impulses to the ventricles?
A. The anterior and posterior fascicles
B. The right and left bundle branches
C. The septal and lateral fascicles
D. The superior and inferior divisions
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because the bundle of His bifurcates into the right bundle branch
(supplying the right ventricle) and the left bundle branch (which further divides into
anterior and posterior fascicles supplying the left ventricle).
Q6: The Purkinje fiber network is responsible for which function in the cardiac
conduction system?
A. Generating the initial electrical impulse in the atria
B. Rapidly distributing the electrical impulse throughout the ventricular myocardium
C. Delaying the electrical impulse at the AV junction
D. Regulating heart rate in response to autonomic input
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the Purkinje fibers form an extensive network in the
ventricular endocardium that rapidly conducts the electrical impulse to the
ventricular myocardium, ensuring coordinated and synchronous ventricular
contraction.
Q7: Which autonomic nervous system division increases heart rate by releasing
norepinephrine that acts on beta-1 adrenergic receptors?
A. The parasympathetic nervous system via the vagus nerve
B. The sympathetic nervous system via cardiac accelerator nerves
C. The somatic nervous system via spinal nerves
D. The enteric nervous system via gastric plexuses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because sympathetic stimulation via cardiac accelerator nerves
releases norepinephrine, which binds to beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the SA and AV
nodes, increasing heart rate, conduction velocity, and contractility.
Q8: The parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart rate primarily through
which neurotransmitter and receptor mechanism?
