,UTA NURS 3320 Exam 2 | Holistic Health Assessment
(2026) Q&A
1. Which statement accurately describes the pericardium?
A) The inner thin layer that lines the heart chambers
B) The outer double-walled sac that contains fluid
C) The middle muscle layer responsible for contraction
D) The fibrous structure that anchors the heart to the diaphragm
Correct Answer: The outer double-walled sac that contains fluid
Rationale: The pericardium is the outer, double-walled sac that surrounds the heart
and contains a small amount of lubricating fluid. It protects the heart and reduces
friction during contraction. The myocardium is the middle muscle layer, and the
endocardium is the inner thin layer.
2. What is the primary function of the myocardium?
A) To prevent backflow of blood through the valves
B) To contract and pump blood throughout the body
C) To line the heart chambers and valves
D) To conduct electrical impulses through the heart
Correct Answer: To contract and pump blood throughout the body
Rationale: The myocardium is the middle muscular layer of the heart wall. Its
contraction generates the force that pumps blood out of the ventricles into the
systemic and pulmonary circulations. The endocardium lines the chambers, and the
conduction system initiates impulses.
,3. Which valves are classified as atrioventricular valves?
A) Aortic and pulmonic
B) Tricuspid and mitral
C) Aortic and mitral
D) Pulmonic and tricuspid
Correct Answer: Tricuspid and mitral
Rationale: The atrioventricular (AV) valves are the tricuspid valve on the right side
and the mitral (bicuspid) valve on the left side. They separate the atria from the
ventricles and prevent backflow during systole. The aortic and pulmonic valves are
semilunar valves.
4. During which phase of the cardiac cycle do the ventricles contract and eject blood?
A) Diastole
B) Systole
C) Isovolumetric relaxation
D) Atrial filling
Correct Answer: Systole
Rationale: Systole is the phase of the cardiac cycle during which the ventricles
contract, generating pressure that opens the semilunar valves and ejects blood into
the aorta and pulmonary artery. Diastole is the relaxation and filling phase.
5. What does the P wave on an electrocardiogram represent?
A) Ventricular depolarization
, B) Atrial depolarization
C) Ventricular repolarization
D) Atrial repolarization
Correct Answer: Atrial depolarization
Rationale: The P wave represents atrial depolarization, which initiates atrial
contraction. The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, and the T wave
represents ventricular repolarization. Atrial repolarization is typically hidden within
the QRS complex.
6. Which heart sound is produced by the closure of the atrioventricular valves?
A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Correct Answer: S1
Rationale: The S1 heart sound ("lub") is produced by the closure of the mitral and
tricuspid (atrioventricular) valves at the beginning of ventricular systole. S2 ("dub") is
caused by closure of the semilunar valves at the end of systole.
7. A patient has an S3 heart sound. What does this finding most likely indicate in an
adult?
A) Normal finding in young athletes only
B) Heart failure or volume overload
C) Atrial fibrillation
(2026) Q&A
1. Which statement accurately describes the pericardium?
A) The inner thin layer that lines the heart chambers
B) The outer double-walled sac that contains fluid
C) The middle muscle layer responsible for contraction
D) The fibrous structure that anchors the heart to the diaphragm
Correct Answer: The outer double-walled sac that contains fluid
Rationale: The pericardium is the outer, double-walled sac that surrounds the heart
and contains a small amount of lubricating fluid. It protects the heart and reduces
friction during contraction. The myocardium is the middle muscle layer, and the
endocardium is the inner thin layer.
2. What is the primary function of the myocardium?
A) To prevent backflow of blood through the valves
B) To contract and pump blood throughout the body
C) To line the heart chambers and valves
D) To conduct electrical impulses through the heart
Correct Answer: To contract and pump blood throughout the body
Rationale: The myocardium is the middle muscular layer of the heart wall. Its
contraction generates the force that pumps blood out of the ventricles into the
systemic and pulmonary circulations. The endocardium lines the chambers, and the
conduction system initiates impulses.
,3. Which valves are classified as atrioventricular valves?
A) Aortic and pulmonic
B) Tricuspid and mitral
C) Aortic and mitral
D) Pulmonic and tricuspid
Correct Answer: Tricuspid and mitral
Rationale: The atrioventricular (AV) valves are the tricuspid valve on the right side
and the mitral (bicuspid) valve on the left side. They separate the atria from the
ventricles and prevent backflow during systole. The aortic and pulmonic valves are
semilunar valves.
4. During which phase of the cardiac cycle do the ventricles contract and eject blood?
A) Diastole
B) Systole
C) Isovolumetric relaxation
D) Atrial filling
Correct Answer: Systole
Rationale: Systole is the phase of the cardiac cycle during which the ventricles
contract, generating pressure that opens the semilunar valves and ejects blood into
the aorta and pulmonary artery. Diastole is the relaxation and filling phase.
5. What does the P wave on an electrocardiogram represent?
A) Ventricular depolarization
, B) Atrial depolarization
C) Ventricular repolarization
D) Atrial repolarization
Correct Answer: Atrial depolarization
Rationale: The P wave represents atrial depolarization, which initiates atrial
contraction. The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, and the T wave
represents ventricular repolarization. Atrial repolarization is typically hidden within
the QRS complex.
6. Which heart sound is produced by the closure of the atrioventricular valves?
A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Correct Answer: S1
Rationale: The S1 heart sound ("lub") is produced by the closure of the mitral and
tricuspid (atrioventricular) valves at the beginning of ventricular systole. S2 ("dub") is
caused by closure of the semilunar valves at the end of systole.
7. A patient has an S3 heart sound. What does this finding most likely indicate in an
adult?
A) Normal finding in young athletes only
B) Heart failure or volume overload
C) Atrial fibrillation
