NURS611 CH 12 Cardiovascular System
Disorders Testbank – 2026/2027 Edition – Actual
Questions & Correct Answers
(Maryville University)
105 Questions with Step-by-Step Answers | 100% Verified | A+ Graded Review
OVERVIEW:
NURS611 CH 12 Cardiovascular System Disorders Testbank – 2026/2027 Edition
covers comprehensive cardiovascular pathophysiology including cardiac
anatomy, conduction system, ECG interpretation, cardiac output, preload,
afterload, and cardiac reserve. It details coronary circulation, arteriosclerosis,
atherosclerosis, LDL role, angina vs MI, biomarkers, arrhythmias, heart blocks,
left/right heart failure, compensation mechanisms, valvular stenosis/regurgitation,
congenital defects like VSD and Tetralogy of Fallot, rheumatic fever, endocarditis,
pericarditis, hypertension, aneurysms, varicose veins, and all shock types with
pharmacology and clinical manifestations for exam preparation success
guaranteed.
Answers are in bold Green, with rationales after.
1. Which of the following actions causes the atrioventricular (AV) valves to
close?
a. Increased intraventricular pressure
b. Depolarization at the AV node
c. Ventricular relaxation and backflow of blood
d. Contraction of the atria
,Rationale: Increased intraventricular pressure during systole forces AV valves
(mitral/tricuspid) to close, preventing backflow into atria.
2. When stroke volume decreases, which of the following could maintain
cardiac output?
a. Decreased peripheral resistance
b. Increased heart rate
c. Decreased venous return
d. General vasodilation
Rationale: Cardiac output = HR x SV. If SV falls, increasing HR compensates to
maintain output.
3. Which of the following describes the pericardial cavity?
a. It contains sufficient fluid to provide a protective cushion for the heart.
b. It is a potential space containing a very small amount of serous fluid.
c. It is lined by the endocardium.
d. It is located between the double-walled pericardium and the epicardium.
Rationale: Pericardial cavity is a potential space with only 10-50ml serous
fluid for friction reduction, not a large cushion.
4. Which of the following factors greatly improves venous return to the heart
during strenuous exercise?
a. Rapid emptying of the right side of the heart
b. Forceful action of the valves in the veins
c. Contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscle
d. Peristalsis in the large veins
,Rationale: Skeletal muscle pump during exercise squeezes veins, greatly
enhancing venous return.
5. The function of the baroreceptors is to:
a. stimulate the parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system at the sinoatrial
(SA) node as needed.
b. adjust blood pressure by changing peripheral resistance.
c. sense a change in blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
d. signal the cardiovascular control center of changes in systemic blood
pressure.
Rationale: Baroreceptors in carotid sinus and aortic arch sense pressure
changes and signal medullary cardiovascular center.
6. The normal delay in conduction through the AV node is essential for:
a. preventing an excessively rapid heart rate.
b. limiting the time for a myocardial contraction.
c. allowing the ventricles to contract before the atria.
d. completing ventricular filling.
Rationale: AV nodal delay (~0.1s) allows complete ventricular filling before
ventricular contraction.
7. Which of the following is a result of increased secretion of epinephrine?
a. Increased heart rate and force of contraction
b. Decreased stimulation of the SA node and ventricles
c. Vasoconstriction in skeletal muscles and kidneys
d. Vasodilation of cutaneous blood vessels
, Rationale: Epinephrine increases SA node automaticity, conduction velocity,
and myocardial contractility via beta-1 receptors.
8. Which of the following causes increased heart rate?
a. Stimulation of the vagus nerve
b. Increased renin secretion
c. Administration of beta-blocking drugs
d. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system
Rationale: Sympathetic stimulation releases norepinephrine, increasing SA
node rate; vagal stimulation slows it.
9. The event that causes the QRS wave on an electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing
is:
a. atrial depolarization.
b. atrial repolarization.
c. ventricular depolarization.
d. ventricular repolarization.
Rationale: QRS complex represents rapid ventricular depolarization via
Purkinje system.
10. The cardiac reserve is:
a. afterload.
b. the difference between the apical and radial pulses.
c. the ability of the heart to increase cardiac output when needed.
d. the extra blood remaining in the heart after it contracts.
Rationale: Cardiac reserve is the capacity to increase cardiac output 4-5x
above resting for exercise/stress.
Disorders Testbank – 2026/2027 Edition – Actual
Questions & Correct Answers
(Maryville University)
105 Questions with Step-by-Step Answers | 100% Verified | A+ Graded Review
OVERVIEW:
NURS611 CH 12 Cardiovascular System Disorders Testbank – 2026/2027 Edition
covers comprehensive cardiovascular pathophysiology including cardiac
anatomy, conduction system, ECG interpretation, cardiac output, preload,
afterload, and cardiac reserve. It details coronary circulation, arteriosclerosis,
atherosclerosis, LDL role, angina vs MI, biomarkers, arrhythmias, heart blocks,
left/right heart failure, compensation mechanisms, valvular stenosis/regurgitation,
congenital defects like VSD and Tetralogy of Fallot, rheumatic fever, endocarditis,
pericarditis, hypertension, aneurysms, varicose veins, and all shock types with
pharmacology and clinical manifestations for exam preparation success
guaranteed.
Answers are in bold Green, with rationales after.
1. Which of the following actions causes the atrioventricular (AV) valves to
close?
a. Increased intraventricular pressure
b. Depolarization at the AV node
c. Ventricular relaxation and backflow of blood
d. Contraction of the atria
,Rationale: Increased intraventricular pressure during systole forces AV valves
(mitral/tricuspid) to close, preventing backflow into atria.
2. When stroke volume decreases, which of the following could maintain
cardiac output?
a. Decreased peripheral resistance
b. Increased heart rate
c. Decreased venous return
d. General vasodilation
Rationale: Cardiac output = HR x SV. If SV falls, increasing HR compensates to
maintain output.
3. Which of the following describes the pericardial cavity?
a. It contains sufficient fluid to provide a protective cushion for the heart.
b. It is a potential space containing a very small amount of serous fluid.
c. It is lined by the endocardium.
d. It is located between the double-walled pericardium and the epicardium.
Rationale: Pericardial cavity is a potential space with only 10-50ml serous
fluid for friction reduction, not a large cushion.
4. Which of the following factors greatly improves venous return to the heart
during strenuous exercise?
a. Rapid emptying of the right side of the heart
b. Forceful action of the valves in the veins
c. Contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscle
d. Peristalsis in the large veins
,Rationale: Skeletal muscle pump during exercise squeezes veins, greatly
enhancing venous return.
5. The function of the baroreceptors is to:
a. stimulate the parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system at the sinoatrial
(SA) node as needed.
b. adjust blood pressure by changing peripheral resistance.
c. sense a change in blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
d. signal the cardiovascular control center of changes in systemic blood
pressure.
Rationale: Baroreceptors in carotid sinus and aortic arch sense pressure
changes and signal medullary cardiovascular center.
6. The normal delay in conduction through the AV node is essential for:
a. preventing an excessively rapid heart rate.
b. limiting the time for a myocardial contraction.
c. allowing the ventricles to contract before the atria.
d. completing ventricular filling.
Rationale: AV nodal delay (~0.1s) allows complete ventricular filling before
ventricular contraction.
7. Which of the following is a result of increased secretion of epinephrine?
a. Increased heart rate and force of contraction
b. Decreased stimulation of the SA node and ventricles
c. Vasoconstriction in skeletal muscles and kidneys
d. Vasodilation of cutaneous blood vessels
, Rationale: Epinephrine increases SA node automaticity, conduction velocity,
and myocardial contractility via beta-1 receptors.
8. Which of the following causes increased heart rate?
a. Stimulation of the vagus nerve
b. Increased renin secretion
c. Administration of beta-blocking drugs
d. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system
Rationale: Sympathetic stimulation releases norepinephrine, increasing SA
node rate; vagal stimulation slows it.
9. The event that causes the QRS wave on an electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing
is:
a. atrial depolarization.
b. atrial repolarization.
c. ventricular depolarization.
d. ventricular repolarization.
Rationale: QRS complex represents rapid ventricular depolarization via
Purkinje system.
10. The cardiac reserve is:
a. afterload.
b. the difference between the apical and radial pulses.
c. the ability of the heart to increase cardiac output when needed.
d. the extra blood remaining in the heart after it contracts.
Rationale: Cardiac reserve is the capacity to increase cardiac output 4-5x
above resting for exercise/stress.
