Heart Anatomy & Physiology2026
1. The thickest chamber of the heart, responsible for generating the highest
pressure, is the:
A) Right atrium
B) Left atrium
C) Right ventricle
D) Left ventricle
Answer: D) Left ventricle
2. The ridge-like muscular structures found inside the ventricles that prevent the
AV valve cusps from bulging too far backward are called:
A) Pectinate muscles
B) Trabeculae carneae
C) Chordae tendineae
D) Papillary muscles
Answer: D) Papillary muscles
3. The groove that marks the external boundary between the atria and ventricles is
the:
A) Interventricular sulcus
B) Coronary sulcus
C) Fossa ovalis
,D) Sulcus terminalis
Answer: B) Coronary sulcus
4. Which of the following vessels directly delivers deoxygenated blood to the right
atrium from the heart muscle itself?
A) Superior vena cava
B) Pulmonary veins
C) Coronary sinus
D) Azygos vein
Answer: C) Coronary sinus
5. The auricles are small, wrinkled appendages that increase the capacity of which
chambers?
A) Ventricles only
B) Atria only
C) Both atria and ventricles
D) Neither
Answer: B) Atria only
6. The moderator band (septomarginal trabecula) is a muscular band found in
which chamber?
A) Right atrium
B) Left atrium
C) Right ventricle
D) Left ventricle
Answer: C) Right ventricle
7. Which of the following is NOT a branch of the aortic arch?
A) Brachiocephalic trunk
,B) Left common carotid artery
C) Right subclavian artery
D) Left subclavian artery
Answer: C) Right subclavian artery (it branches from the brachiocephalic trunk)
8. The fibrous pericardium is composed of which type of tissue?
A) Serous membrane
B) Dense irregular connective tissue
C) Smooth muscle
D) Cardiac muscle
Answer: B) Dense irregular connective tissue
9. The pericardial cavity contains a thin layer of fluid that functions to:
A) Increase friction during heartbeats
B) Reduce friction during heartbeats
C) Supply oxygen to the myocardium
D) Conduct electrical impulses
Answer: B) Reduce friction during heartbeats
10. Which of the following structures is found in the right ventricle but NOT in the
left ventricle?
A) Papillary muscles
B) Chordae tendineae
C) Trabeculae carneae
D) Moderator band
Answer: D) Moderator band
, Cardiac Valves & Blood Flow (11–20)
11. During ventricular systole, the AV valves are kept closed primarily by:
A) Contraction of the atria
B) Pressure of blood in the ventricles pushing the cusps upward
C) Papillary muscle contraction pulling chordae tendineae
D) Closure of the semilunar valves
Answer: B) Pressure of blood in the ventricles pushing the cusps upward
12. A patient is diagnosed with a stenotic (narrowed) aortic valve. This condition
directly increases the workload of which chamber?
A) Right atrium
B) Right ventricle
C) Left atrium
D) Left ventricle
Answer: D) Left ventricle
13. Incompetence (failure) of the pulmonary valve would allow blood to flow
backward from the:
A) Right ventricle into the right atrium
B) Pulmonary trunk into the right ventricle
C) Aorta into the left ventricle
D) Pulmonary veins into the left atrium
Answer: B) Pulmonary trunk into the right ventricle
14. The opening and closing of heart valves is primarily driven by:
A) Neural stimulation
B) Pressure gradients across the valves
1. The thickest chamber of the heart, responsible for generating the highest
pressure, is the:
A) Right atrium
B) Left atrium
C) Right ventricle
D) Left ventricle
Answer: D) Left ventricle
2. The ridge-like muscular structures found inside the ventricles that prevent the
AV valve cusps from bulging too far backward are called:
A) Pectinate muscles
B) Trabeculae carneae
C) Chordae tendineae
D) Papillary muscles
Answer: D) Papillary muscles
3. The groove that marks the external boundary between the atria and ventricles is
the:
A) Interventricular sulcus
B) Coronary sulcus
C) Fossa ovalis
,D) Sulcus terminalis
Answer: B) Coronary sulcus
4. Which of the following vessels directly delivers deoxygenated blood to the right
atrium from the heart muscle itself?
A) Superior vena cava
B) Pulmonary veins
C) Coronary sinus
D) Azygos vein
Answer: C) Coronary sinus
5. The auricles are small, wrinkled appendages that increase the capacity of which
chambers?
A) Ventricles only
B) Atria only
C) Both atria and ventricles
D) Neither
Answer: B) Atria only
6. The moderator band (septomarginal trabecula) is a muscular band found in
which chamber?
A) Right atrium
B) Left atrium
C) Right ventricle
D) Left ventricle
Answer: C) Right ventricle
7. Which of the following is NOT a branch of the aortic arch?
A) Brachiocephalic trunk
,B) Left common carotid artery
C) Right subclavian artery
D) Left subclavian artery
Answer: C) Right subclavian artery (it branches from the brachiocephalic trunk)
8. The fibrous pericardium is composed of which type of tissue?
A) Serous membrane
B) Dense irregular connective tissue
C) Smooth muscle
D) Cardiac muscle
Answer: B) Dense irregular connective tissue
9. The pericardial cavity contains a thin layer of fluid that functions to:
A) Increase friction during heartbeats
B) Reduce friction during heartbeats
C) Supply oxygen to the myocardium
D) Conduct electrical impulses
Answer: B) Reduce friction during heartbeats
10. Which of the following structures is found in the right ventricle but NOT in the
left ventricle?
A) Papillary muscles
B) Chordae tendineae
C) Trabeculae carneae
D) Moderator band
Answer: D) Moderator band
, Cardiac Valves & Blood Flow (11–20)
11. During ventricular systole, the AV valves are kept closed primarily by:
A) Contraction of the atria
B) Pressure of blood in the ventricles pushing the cusps upward
C) Papillary muscle contraction pulling chordae tendineae
D) Closure of the semilunar valves
Answer: B) Pressure of blood in the ventricles pushing the cusps upward
12. A patient is diagnosed with a stenotic (narrowed) aortic valve. This condition
directly increases the workload of which chamber?
A) Right atrium
B) Right ventricle
C) Left atrium
D) Left ventricle
Answer: D) Left ventricle
13. Incompetence (failure) of the pulmonary valve would allow blood to flow
backward from the:
A) Right ventricle into the right atrium
B) Pulmonary trunk into the right ventricle
C) Aorta into the left ventricle
D) Pulmonary veins into the left atrium
Answer: B) Pulmonary trunk into the right ventricle
14. The opening and closing of heart valves is primarily driven by:
A) Neural stimulation
B) Pressure gradients across the valves
