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NCAL Kaiser EKG Actual Exam Study Guide |
Comprehensive Practice Questions (2025–2026)
1. When the heart rate drops to 40-60 beats per minute, where is the impulse typically generated?
A) SA Node
B) Purkinje Fibers
C) AV Node
D) Bundle Branches
Correct Answer: C) AV Node
The AV node serves as the secondary pacemaker when the SA node fails, producing a junctional rhythm at 40-60
BPM.
2. Which blood vessel leaves the heart and carries oxygenated blood to all parts of the body?
A) Pulmonary Artery
B) Superior Vena Cava
C) Aorta
D) Pulmonary Vein
Correct Answer: C) Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body and carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the systemic
circulation.
3. When measuring EKG waveforms, what does each large square represent in terms of height?
A) 1 millimeter by 1 millimeter
B) 5 millimeters by 5 millimeters
C) 10 millimeters by 10 millimeters
D) 0.5 millimeters by 0.5 millimeters
Correct Answer: B) 5 millimeters by 5 millimeters
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Each large square on EKG paper measures 5mm x 5mm and represents 0.2 seconds horizontally and 0.5mV
vertically.
4. What is the time duration represented by each small square on EKG paper?
A) 0.20 seconds
B) 0.04 seconds
C) 0.12 seconds
D) 0.08 seconds
Correct Answer: B) 0.04 seconds
Each small square represents 0.04 seconds, with 5 small squares equaling one large square of 0.20 seconds.
5. How do you calculate heart rate from an EKG strip using the 6-second method?
A) Count complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 20
B) Count complexes in 3 seconds and multiply by 10
C) Count complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 10
D) Count complexes in 3 seconds and multiply by 20
Correct Answer: C) Count complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 10
The 6-second method involves counting R waves over a 6-second strip and multiplying by 10 for beats per minute.
6. During ventricular systole, what physiological event occurs in the heart?
A) The ventricles fill with blood
B) The ventricles contract and pump blood out
C) The atria contract
D) The heart rests
Correct Answer: B) The ventricles contract and pump blood out
Systole refers to the contraction phase where the ventricles eject blood into the pulmonary artery and aorta.
7. What is the name of the membrane that encloses the heart?
A) Myocardium
B) Endocardium
C) Pericardial Sac
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D) Epicardium
Correct Answer: C) Pericardial Sac
The pericardial sac is a double-walled fibroserous sac that surrounds and protects the heart from friction.
8. What are pericardial leads also known as?
A) Limb leads
B) Chest leads
C) Augmented leads
D) Bipolar leads
Correct Answer: B) Chest leads
Pericardial leads are commonly called chest leads or precordial leads and record the heart's electrical activity from
the anterior chest wall.
9. What is the normal standard for EKG machine calibration?
A) 5 millimeters
B) 10 millimeters
C) 15 millimeters
D) 20 millimeters
Correct Answer: B) 10 millimeters
Standard calibration is 10mm/mV, meaning a 1mV signal produces a 10mm deflection on the EKG paper.
10. What are leads in an EKG context?
A) The electrodes placed on the patient's chest
B) The colored wires placed on a patient's limbs
C) The EKG paper markings
D) The electrical signals from the heart
Correct Answer: B) The colored wires placed on a patient's limbs
Leads are the electrical connections that detect and transmit cardiac electrical activity from the patient to the EKG
machine.
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11. What does AVL represent in terms of cardiac electrical activity?
A) The voltage between the right arm and left arm
B) The voltage between the left leg and right arm
C) The difference in heart voltage between the left arm and a central point
D) The voltage between the right leg and left arm
Correct Answer: C) The difference in heart voltage between the left arm and a central point
AVL is an augmented limb lead that views the heart from the left arm position, looking at the high lateral wall.
12. What does AVF record in relation to the heart's electrical activity?
A) Voltage between the left leg and right arm
B) Voltage between the right arm and left arm
C) Voltage between the left leg and a midpoint between left leg and right arm
D) Voltage between the right leg and left leg
Correct Answer: C) Voltage between the left leg and a midpoint between left leg and right arm
AVF records the electrical activity from the left leg and provides an inferior view of the heart.
13. What do leads V1 through V6 record in an EKG?
A) The heart's voltage from the back to the front
B) The heart's voltage from the front to the back recorded from the central point
C) The heart's voltage from the right side only
D) The heart's voltage from the left side only
Correct Answer: B) The heart's voltage from the front to the back recorded from the central point
V1 through V6 are precordial leads that provide a transverse view of the heart's electrical activity from anterior to
posterior.
14. What is a sinus arrhythmia most commonly associated with?
A) Changes in breathing patterns
B) Changes in blood pressure
C) Changes in body temperature
D) Changes in physical activity
NCAL Kaiser EKG Actual Exam Study Guide |
Comprehensive Practice Questions (2025–2026)
1. When the heart rate drops to 40-60 beats per minute, where is the impulse typically generated?
A) SA Node
B) Purkinje Fibers
C) AV Node
D) Bundle Branches
Correct Answer: C) AV Node
The AV node serves as the secondary pacemaker when the SA node fails, producing a junctional rhythm at 40-60
BPM.
2. Which blood vessel leaves the heart and carries oxygenated blood to all parts of the body?
A) Pulmonary Artery
B) Superior Vena Cava
C) Aorta
D) Pulmonary Vein
Correct Answer: C) Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body and carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the systemic
circulation.
3. When measuring EKG waveforms, what does each large square represent in terms of height?
A) 1 millimeter by 1 millimeter
B) 5 millimeters by 5 millimeters
C) 10 millimeters by 10 millimeters
D) 0.5 millimeters by 0.5 millimeters
Correct Answer: B) 5 millimeters by 5 millimeters
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Each large square on EKG paper measures 5mm x 5mm and represents 0.2 seconds horizontally and 0.5mV
vertically.
4. What is the time duration represented by each small square on EKG paper?
A) 0.20 seconds
B) 0.04 seconds
C) 0.12 seconds
D) 0.08 seconds
Correct Answer: B) 0.04 seconds
Each small square represents 0.04 seconds, with 5 small squares equaling one large square of 0.20 seconds.
5. How do you calculate heart rate from an EKG strip using the 6-second method?
A) Count complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 20
B) Count complexes in 3 seconds and multiply by 10
C) Count complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 10
D) Count complexes in 3 seconds and multiply by 20
Correct Answer: C) Count complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 10
The 6-second method involves counting R waves over a 6-second strip and multiplying by 10 for beats per minute.
6. During ventricular systole, what physiological event occurs in the heart?
A) The ventricles fill with blood
B) The ventricles contract and pump blood out
C) The atria contract
D) The heart rests
Correct Answer: B) The ventricles contract and pump blood out
Systole refers to the contraction phase where the ventricles eject blood into the pulmonary artery and aorta.
7. What is the name of the membrane that encloses the heart?
A) Myocardium
B) Endocardium
C) Pericardial Sac
,3
D) Epicardium
Correct Answer: C) Pericardial Sac
The pericardial sac is a double-walled fibroserous sac that surrounds and protects the heart from friction.
8. What are pericardial leads also known as?
A) Limb leads
B) Chest leads
C) Augmented leads
D) Bipolar leads
Correct Answer: B) Chest leads
Pericardial leads are commonly called chest leads or precordial leads and record the heart's electrical activity from
the anterior chest wall.
9. What is the normal standard for EKG machine calibration?
A) 5 millimeters
B) 10 millimeters
C) 15 millimeters
D) 20 millimeters
Correct Answer: B) 10 millimeters
Standard calibration is 10mm/mV, meaning a 1mV signal produces a 10mm deflection on the EKG paper.
10. What are leads in an EKG context?
A) The electrodes placed on the patient's chest
B) The colored wires placed on a patient's limbs
C) The EKG paper markings
D) The electrical signals from the heart
Correct Answer: B) The colored wires placed on a patient's limbs
Leads are the electrical connections that detect and transmit cardiac electrical activity from the patient to the EKG
machine.
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11. What does AVL represent in terms of cardiac electrical activity?
A) The voltage between the right arm and left arm
B) The voltage between the left leg and right arm
C) The difference in heart voltage between the left arm and a central point
D) The voltage between the right leg and left arm
Correct Answer: C) The difference in heart voltage between the left arm and a central point
AVL is an augmented limb lead that views the heart from the left arm position, looking at the high lateral wall.
12. What does AVF record in relation to the heart's electrical activity?
A) Voltage between the left leg and right arm
B) Voltage between the right arm and left arm
C) Voltage between the left leg and a midpoint between left leg and right arm
D) Voltage between the right leg and left leg
Correct Answer: C) Voltage between the left leg and a midpoint between left leg and right arm
AVF records the electrical activity from the left leg and provides an inferior view of the heart.
13. What do leads V1 through V6 record in an EKG?
A) The heart's voltage from the back to the front
B) The heart's voltage from the front to the back recorded from the central point
C) The heart's voltage from the right side only
D) The heart's voltage from the left side only
Correct Answer: B) The heart's voltage from the front to the back recorded from the central point
V1 through V6 are precordial leads that provide a transverse view of the heart's electrical activity from anterior to
posterior.
14. What is a sinus arrhythmia most commonly associated with?
A) Changes in breathing patterns
B) Changes in blood pressure
C) Changes in body temperature
D) Changes in physical activity
