IVY TECH APHY 102 MIDTERM
PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 UPDATED VERSION
VERIFIED A+
◉ Know the difference between arteries and veins.
Answer: Arteries- Transport blood away from the heart.
Veins- Return blood toward the heart.
◉ Explain the functions of capillaries.
Answer: Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels where gas, nutrient,
and waste exchange occurs between blood and surrounding tissues.
◉ Explain the difference between the pulmonary circuit and the
systemic circuit.
Answer: Pulmonary Circuit- Moves blood between the heart and lungs
to exchange gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
Systemic Circuit- Moves oxygenated blood from the heart to the body
and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
◉ Describe the location and basic shape of the heart.
,Answer: The heart is a cone-shaped muscular organ located in the
mediastinum, slightly left of center, between the lungs, and rests on the
diaphragm.
◉ Define pericardium, fibrous pericardium, parietal pericardium,
visceral pericardium, and pericardial cavity.
Answer: Pericardium- The entire protective sac around the heart.
Fibrous Pericardium- The outermost tough layer.
Parietal Pericardium- Lines the inner surface of the fibrous layer.
Visceral Pericardium (Epicardium)- Covers the heart directly.
Pericardial Cavity- The space between parietal and visceral layers;
contains fluid to reduce friction.
◉ Define epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium.
Answer: Epicardium- Outer layer (same as visceral pericardium).
Myocardium- Middle, muscular layer responsible for contractions.
Endocardium- Inner lining that contracts blood inside the heart.
◉ Explain functions and locations of atria, auricles, ventricles, and more
specifically the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left
ventricle.
Answer: Right Atrium- Receives blood from the body.
Right Ventricle- Pumps blood to the lungs.
Left Atrium- Receives blood from the lungs.
Left Ventricle- Pumps blood to the body.
,Auricles- Flaps on the atria that increase capacity.
◉ List the four valves of the heart and know their location and function.
Answer: Tricuspid Valve (Right AV Valve)- Right atrium --> right
ventricle.
Pulmonary Valve- Right ventricle --> pulmonary artery.
Bicuspid/Mitral Valve (Left AV Valve)- Left atrium --> left ventricle.
Aortic Valve- Left ventricle --> aorta.
◉ Be able to describe the pathway of blood through the heart.
Answer: Right atrium --> Tricuspid valve --> right ventricle -->
pulmonary valve --> pulmonary arteries --> lungs --> pulmonary veins --
> left atrium --> bicuspid/mitral valve
--> left ventricle --> aortic valve --> aorta --> body --> returns via veins
to right atrium.
◉ What is the name of the structure that separates the right and left
atria?
Answer: Interatrial septum.
◉ What is the name of the structure that separates the right and left
ventricles?
Answer: Interventricular septum.
◉ Which blood vessels return blood to the right atrium?
, Answer: Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, coronary sinus.
◉ Explain the functions of chordae tendineae and papillary muscles.
Answer: Chordae Tendineae- Fibrous cords that anchor valve flaps.
Papillary Muscles- Contract to prevent valve prolapse (back flow).
◉ Identify the name of the arteries that supply blood to tissue of the
heart.
Answer: Right and left coronary arteries (branch off the aorta).
◉ Define systole and diastole.
Answer: Systole- Contraction phase (pumping).
Diastole- Relaxation phase (filling).
◉ Describe the events of the cardiac cycle.
Answer: The cardiac cycle includes all events associated with one
heartbeat:
1. Atrial systole- Atria contract, pushing blood into ventricles.
2. Ventricular systole- Ventricles contract, pumping blood into the
pulmonary artery and aorta.
3. Diastole- Both atria and ventricles relax, allowing chambers to fill
with blood again.
◉ Define functional syncytium.
PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 UPDATED VERSION
VERIFIED A+
◉ Know the difference between arteries and veins.
Answer: Arteries- Transport blood away from the heart.
Veins- Return blood toward the heart.
◉ Explain the functions of capillaries.
Answer: Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels where gas, nutrient,
and waste exchange occurs between blood and surrounding tissues.
◉ Explain the difference between the pulmonary circuit and the
systemic circuit.
Answer: Pulmonary Circuit- Moves blood between the heart and lungs
to exchange gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
Systemic Circuit- Moves oxygenated blood from the heart to the body
and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
◉ Describe the location and basic shape of the heart.
,Answer: The heart is a cone-shaped muscular organ located in the
mediastinum, slightly left of center, between the lungs, and rests on the
diaphragm.
◉ Define pericardium, fibrous pericardium, parietal pericardium,
visceral pericardium, and pericardial cavity.
Answer: Pericardium- The entire protective sac around the heart.
Fibrous Pericardium- The outermost tough layer.
Parietal Pericardium- Lines the inner surface of the fibrous layer.
Visceral Pericardium (Epicardium)- Covers the heart directly.
Pericardial Cavity- The space between parietal and visceral layers;
contains fluid to reduce friction.
◉ Define epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium.
Answer: Epicardium- Outer layer (same as visceral pericardium).
Myocardium- Middle, muscular layer responsible for contractions.
Endocardium- Inner lining that contracts blood inside the heart.
◉ Explain functions and locations of atria, auricles, ventricles, and more
specifically the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left
ventricle.
Answer: Right Atrium- Receives blood from the body.
Right Ventricle- Pumps blood to the lungs.
Left Atrium- Receives blood from the lungs.
Left Ventricle- Pumps blood to the body.
,Auricles- Flaps on the atria that increase capacity.
◉ List the four valves of the heart and know their location and function.
Answer: Tricuspid Valve (Right AV Valve)- Right atrium --> right
ventricle.
Pulmonary Valve- Right ventricle --> pulmonary artery.
Bicuspid/Mitral Valve (Left AV Valve)- Left atrium --> left ventricle.
Aortic Valve- Left ventricle --> aorta.
◉ Be able to describe the pathway of blood through the heart.
Answer: Right atrium --> Tricuspid valve --> right ventricle -->
pulmonary valve --> pulmonary arteries --> lungs --> pulmonary veins --
> left atrium --> bicuspid/mitral valve
--> left ventricle --> aortic valve --> aorta --> body --> returns via veins
to right atrium.
◉ What is the name of the structure that separates the right and left
atria?
Answer: Interatrial septum.
◉ What is the name of the structure that separates the right and left
ventricles?
Answer: Interventricular septum.
◉ Which blood vessels return blood to the right atrium?
, Answer: Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, coronary sinus.
◉ Explain the functions of chordae tendineae and papillary muscles.
Answer: Chordae Tendineae- Fibrous cords that anchor valve flaps.
Papillary Muscles- Contract to prevent valve prolapse (back flow).
◉ Identify the name of the arteries that supply blood to tissue of the
heart.
Answer: Right and left coronary arteries (branch off the aorta).
◉ Define systole and diastole.
Answer: Systole- Contraction phase (pumping).
Diastole- Relaxation phase (filling).
◉ Describe the events of the cardiac cycle.
Answer: The cardiac cycle includes all events associated with one
heartbeat:
1. Atrial systole- Atria contract, pushing blood into ventricles.
2. Ventricular systole- Ventricles contract, pumping blood into the
pulmonary artery and aorta.
3. Diastole- Both atria and ventricles relax, allowing chambers to fill
with blood again.
◉ Define functional syncytium.
