CCRN Practice Questions –
Cardiovascular Exam 2025 with Answers
A patient is in cardiac and respiratory arrest. The selection of medications to
reestablish cardiac function would stimulate the sympathetic nervous system beta1
receptors. This stimulation would result in increased automaticity and which of the
following?
a. Increased myocardial contractility
b. Decreased left ventricular stroke work
c. Decreased myocardial oxygen consumption
d. Increased left ventricular afterload - ANSWER-Correct answer: a
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system contains alpha, beta, and dopaminergic
receptors that produce various responses when stimulated. Stimulation of beta1
receptors increases heart rate, conductivity, and myocardial contractility.
Stimulation of beta2 receptors produces vasodilation and bronchodilation. Alpha
receptors, when stimulated,
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,produce vasoconstriction. Stimulation of dopaminergic receptors produces a
vasodilating
effect on renal, mesenteric, coronary, and cerebral vessels.
Test-Taking Strategy: Note the helpful clue in the stem: stimulate the sympathetic
system and recall that this results in a fight-or-flight response—the body is
responding to survive. Stroke volume would increase, so eliminate option b.
Afterload would increase, but this is due to alpha stimulation, not beta1
stimulation, so eliminate option d. Because the heart is working faster and harder,
the myocardial oxygen consumption does increase, so eliminate option c.
Remember that the primary effects of beta1 receptors are to increase heart rate,
contractility, and rate of conduction. Choose option a. A memory aid that also may
help is this: beta 1 beta 2, 1 heart 2 lungs: beta1 affects the heart, and beta2 affects
the lungs.
A patient arrived in the emergency department with complaints of chest pain. The
12-lead electrocardiogram shows ST segment elevation in leads V3 and V4.
Occlusion of the affected coronary artery most likely would affect perfusion to
which portion of the
conduction system?
a. Sinoatrial (SA) node
b. Bachmann's bundle
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,c. Atrioventricular (AV) node
d. Bundle of His - ANSWER-Correct answer: d
Rationale: ST segment elevation in leads V3 and V4 indicates injury to the anterior
wall, which would occur with occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD)
artery. In most persons, the SA node, Bachmann's bundle, and AV node are
supplied by the right coronary artery. The bundle of His is supplied by the left
anterior descending artery. This is why an
anterior myocardial infarction may cause type II second-degree AV block or third-
degree AV heart block at the level of the bundle of His.
Test-Taking Strategy: Note that options a, b, and c are part of the supraventricular
conduction system. They usually are supplied by the right coronary artery. The
LAD artery supplies most of the interventricular conduction system, including the
bundle of His and
the bundle branches.
Oxygen delivery (DO2) is the product of which of the following?
a. PaO2, hemoglobin, mean arterial pressure
b. SaO2, hemoglobin, cardiac output
c. SvO2, cardiac index, SaO2
d. PaO2, mean arterial pressure, SvO2 - ANSWER-Correct answer: b
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, Rationale: Ninety-seven percent of oxygen is attached to the hemoglobin molecule,
so the SaO2 (arterial oxygen saturation) is a more accurate reflection of the amount
of oxygen in blood. The PaO2 represents only the 3% that is dissolved in the
plasma. The lungs must put the oxygen in the blood, the hemoglobin must carry
the oxygen, and the cardiac output is a reflection of how well the heart is moving
the blood with its hemoglobin with attached
oxygen. SvO2 (venous oxygen saturation) is a reflection of the oxygen reserve.
SvO2 is what is left over after the tissues have extracted what they need. The mean
arterial pressure is a reflection of organ tissue perfusion pressure but does not
indicate anything about the amount of oxygen in that blood.
Test-Taking Strategy: Oxygen is delivered from the arterial end, so choose an
option that has SaO2 instead of SvO2. Also remember that most oxygen is carried
on hemoglobin. Look for SaO2 (not PaO2) and hemoglobin. The only option with
both of these is option b.
Which of the following types of block are most likely after an anterior wall
myocardial infarction (MI)?
a. Sinus block
b. Second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, type I
c. Second-degree AV block, type II
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Cardiovascular Exam 2025 with Answers
A patient is in cardiac and respiratory arrest. The selection of medications to
reestablish cardiac function would stimulate the sympathetic nervous system beta1
receptors. This stimulation would result in increased automaticity and which of the
following?
a. Increased myocardial contractility
b. Decreased left ventricular stroke work
c. Decreased myocardial oxygen consumption
d. Increased left ventricular afterload - ANSWER-Correct answer: a
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system contains alpha, beta, and dopaminergic
receptors that produce various responses when stimulated. Stimulation of beta1
receptors increases heart rate, conductivity, and myocardial contractility.
Stimulation of beta2 receptors produces vasodilation and bronchodilation. Alpha
receptors, when stimulated,
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 1
,produce vasoconstriction. Stimulation of dopaminergic receptors produces a
vasodilating
effect on renal, mesenteric, coronary, and cerebral vessels.
Test-Taking Strategy: Note the helpful clue in the stem: stimulate the sympathetic
system and recall that this results in a fight-or-flight response—the body is
responding to survive. Stroke volume would increase, so eliminate option b.
Afterload would increase, but this is due to alpha stimulation, not beta1
stimulation, so eliminate option d. Because the heart is working faster and harder,
the myocardial oxygen consumption does increase, so eliminate option c.
Remember that the primary effects of beta1 receptors are to increase heart rate,
contractility, and rate of conduction. Choose option a. A memory aid that also may
help is this: beta 1 beta 2, 1 heart 2 lungs: beta1 affects the heart, and beta2 affects
the lungs.
A patient arrived in the emergency department with complaints of chest pain. The
12-lead electrocardiogram shows ST segment elevation in leads V3 and V4.
Occlusion of the affected coronary artery most likely would affect perfusion to
which portion of the
conduction system?
a. Sinoatrial (SA) node
b. Bachmann's bundle
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 2
,c. Atrioventricular (AV) node
d. Bundle of His - ANSWER-Correct answer: d
Rationale: ST segment elevation in leads V3 and V4 indicates injury to the anterior
wall, which would occur with occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD)
artery. In most persons, the SA node, Bachmann's bundle, and AV node are
supplied by the right coronary artery. The bundle of His is supplied by the left
anterior descending artery. This is why an
anterior myocardial infarction may cause type II second-degree AV block or third-
degree AV heart block at the level of the bundle of His.
Test-Taking Strategy: Note that options a, b, and c are part of the supraventricular
conduction system. They usually are supplied by the right coronary artery. The
LAD artery supplies most of the interventricular conduction system, including the
bundle of His and
the bundle branches.
Oxygen delivery (DO2) is the product of which of the following?
a. PaO2, hemoglobin, mean arterial pressure
b. SaO2, hemoglobin, cardiac output
c. SvO2, cardiac index, SaO2
d. PaO2, mean arterial pressure, SvO2 - ANSWER-Correct answer: b
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 3
, Rationale: Ninety-seven percent of oxygen is attached to the hemoglobin molecule,
so the SaO2 (arterial oxygen saturation) is a more accurate reflection of the amount
of oxygen in blood. The PaO2 represents only the 3% that is dissolved in the
plasma. The lungs must put the oxygen in the blood, the hemoglobin must carry
the oxygen, and the cardiac output is a reflection of how well the heart is moving
the blood with its hemoglobin with attached
oxygen. SvO2 (venous oxygen saturation) is a reflection of the oxygen reserve.
SvO2 is what is left over after the tissues have extracted what they need. The mean
arterial pressure is a reflection of organ tissue perfusion pressure but does not
indicate anything about the amount of oxygen in that blood.
Test-Taking Strategy: Oxygen is delivered from the arterial end, so choose an
option that has SaO2 instead of SvO2. Also remember that most oxygen is carried
on hemoglobin. Look for SaO2 (not PaO2) and hemoglobin. The only option with
both of these is option b.
Which of the following types of block are most likely after an anterior wall
myocardial infarction (MI)?
a. Sinus block
b. Second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, type I
c. Second-degree AV block, type II
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