NR507 Advanced Pathophysiology
Week 2 – Cardiac Functions and CAD
Questions and Correct Answers
Review/ NR 507 Week 2 Practice Test
GRADED A +
NR507 Week 2 Practice Test: Cardiac Functions and CAD
1. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is mainly the result of:
A) Acute viral infection
B) Longstanding Atherosclerosis
C) Congenital heart defect
D) Valvular stenosis
Correct Answer: B) Longstanding Atherosclerosis
Rationale: CAD is primarily caused by the chronic process of atherosclerosis, where
plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, leading to obstruction of blood flow and
oxygen supply to the heart muscle .
2. Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor for Coronary Artery Disease
(CAD)?
A) Family History
B) Age
C) Genetics
D) Obesity
,Correct Answer: D) Obesity
Rationale: Modifiable risk factors are those that can be changed or controlled through
lifestyle or medical interventions. Obesity is a classic modifiable risk factor. Other
modifiable risks include smoking, hypertension, and a sedentary lifestyle. Non-
modifiable risk factors include age, family history, and genetics .
3. True or False? In Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), the pumping ability of the
heart can be impaired due to the deprivation of oxygen.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: A) True
Rationale: The deprivation of oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium, caused by the
obstructed coronary arteries, can impair the heart's pumping ability, leading to
myocardial ischemia or infarction and interfering with cardiac output .
4. The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis begins with damage to which structure?
A) Tunica media
B) Myocardium
C) Pericardium
D) Endothelium
Correct Answer: D) Endothelium
Rationale: The initiation of atherosclerosis is typically marked by damage or dysfunction
to the endothelium, the thin membrane lining the inside of blood vessels. This damage
triggers an inflammatory process .
5. Which of the following conditions is characterized as right ventricular failure
secondary to pulmonary hypertension?
A) Cor Pulmonale
B) Myocardial Infarction
, C) Left-sided Heart Failure
D) Cardiac Tamponade
Correct Answer: A) Cor Pulmonale
Rationale: Cor pulmonale is a specific condition defined as the failure of the right side
of the heart due to prolonged high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries and right
ventricle .
6. The pain associated with stable angina is best explained by which
pathophysiological mechanism?
A) Complete occlusion of a coronary artery
B) Myocardial ischemia due to increased demand and fixed supply
C) Rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque with thrombus formation
D) Inflammation of the pericardial sac
Correct Answer: B) Myocardial ischemia due to increased demand and fixed supply
Rationale: Stable angina occurs when there is a predictable mismatch between the
heart's oxygen demand and the fixed, limited oxygen supply caused by narrowed
coronary arteries, typically during exertion or stress. The pain is relieved by rest .
7. Hypertension has its most immediate effect on which of the following?
A) Preload
B) Contractility
C) Afterload
D) Stroke Volume
Correct Answer: C) Afterload
Rationale: Afterload is the resistance or "load" the heart must pump against.
Hypertension directly increases systemic vascular resistance, which is the primary
component of afterload .
, 8. Which of the following is a true statement regarding the flow of blood between
the heart and lungs?
A) Deoxygenated blood is transported from the lungs to the heart via the
pulmonary arteries.
B) Oxygenated blood is transported from the lungs to the heart via the
pulmonary veins.
C) Deoxygenated blood is transported from the heart to the lungs via the
pulmonary veins.
D) Oxygenated blood is transported from the heart to the lungs via the
pulmonary arteries.
Correct Answer: B) Oxygenated blood is transported from the lungs to the heart
via the pulmonary veins.
Rationale: The pulmonary veins are unique in that they carry oxygenated blood from
the lungs back to the left side of the heart .
9. A patient with a history of a myocardial infarction (MI) now has structural heart
disease with a reduced ejection fraction but has not yet developed symptoms of
heart failure. According to the stages of heart failure, this patient would be
classified as:
A) Stage A
B) Stage B
C) Stage C
D) Stage D
Correct Answer: B) Stage B
Rationale: Stage B heart failure is defined as patients who have structural heart disease
(like reduced ejection fraction, left ventricular hypertrophy) but have never shown signs
or symptoms of heart failure .
Week 2 – Cardiac Functions and CAD
Questions and Correct Answers
Review/ NR 507 Week 2 Practice Test
GRADED A +
NR507 Week 2 Practice Test: Cardiac Functions and CAD
1. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is mainly the result of:
A) Acute viral infection
B) Longstanding Atherosclerosis
C) Congenital heart defect
D) Valvular stenosis
Correct Answer: B) Longstanding Atherosclerosis
Rationale: CAD is primarily caused by the chronic process of atherosclerosis, where
plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, leading to obstruction of blood flow and
oxygen supply to the heart muscle .
2. Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor for Coronary Artery Disease
(CAD)?
A) Family History
B) Age
C) Genetics
D) Obesity
,Correct Answer: D) Obesity
Rationale: Modifiable risk factors are those that can be changed or controlled through
lifestyle or medical interventions. Obesity is a classic modifiable risk factor. Other
modifiable risks include smoking, hypertension, and a sedentary lifestyle. Non-
modifiable risk factors include age, family history, and genetics .
3. True or False? In Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), the pumping ability of the
heart can be impaired due to the deprivation of oxygen.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: A) True
Rationale: The deprivation of oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium, caused by the
obstructed coronary arteries, can impair the heart's pumping ability, leading to
myocardial ischemia or infarction and interfering with cardiac output .
4. The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis begins with damage to which structure?
A) Tunica media
B) Myocardium
C) Pericardium
D) Endothelium
Correct Answer: D) Endothelium
Rationale: The initiation of atherosclerosis is typically marked by damage or dysfunction
to the endothelium, the thin membrane lining the inside of blood vessels. This damage
triggers an inflammatory process .
5. Which of the following conditions is characterized as right ventricular failure
secondary to pulmonary hypertension?
A) Cor Pulmonale
B) Myocardial Infarction
, C) Left-sided Heart Failure
D) Cardiac Tamponade
Correct Answer: A) Cor Pulmonale
Rationale: Cor pulmonale is a specific condition defined as the failure of the right side
of the heart due to prolonged high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries and right
ventricle .
6. The pain associated with stable angina is best explained by which
pathophysiological mechanism?
A) Complete occlusion of a coronary artery
B) Myocardial ischemia due to increased demand and fixed supply
C) Rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque with thrombus formation
D) Inflammation of the pericardial sac
Correct Answer: B) Myocardial ischemia due to increased demand and fixed supply
Rationale: Stable angina occurs when there is a predictable mismatch between the
heart's oxygen demand and the fixed, limited oxygen supply caused by narrowed
coronary arteries, typically during exertion or stress. The pain is relieved by rest .
7. Hypertension has its most immediate effect on which of the following?
A) Preload
B) Contractility
C) Afterload
D) Stroke Volume
Correct Answer: C) Afterload
Rationale: Afterload is the resistance or "load" the heart must pump against.
Hypertension directly increases systemic vascular resistance, which is the primary
component of afterload .
, 8. Which of the following is a true statement regarding the flow of blood between
the heart and lungs?
A) Deoxygenated blood is transported from the lungs to the heart via the
pulmonary arteries.
B) Oxygenated blood is transported from the lungs to the heart via the
pulmonary veins.
C) Deoxygenated blood is transported from the heart to the lungs via the
pulmonary veins.
D) Oxygenated blood is transported from the heart to the lungs via the
pulmonary arteries.
Correct Answer: B) Oxygenated blood is transported from the lungs to the heart
via the pulmonary veins.
Rationale: The pulmonary veins are unique in that they carry oxygenated blood from
the lungs back to the left side of the heart .
9. A patient with a history of a myocardial infarction (MI) now has structural heart
disease with a reduced ejection fraction but has not yet developed symptoms of
heart failure. According to the stages of heart failure, this patient would be
classified as:
A) Stage A
B) Stage B
C) Stage C
D) Stage D
Correct Answer: B) Stage B
Rationale: Stage B heart failure is defined as patients who have structural heart disease
(like reduced ejection fraction, left ventricular hypertrophy) but have never shown signs
or symptoms of heart failure .