BIOL 252 Anatomy & Physiology II Module 4 Exam | Latest
Update 2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified Answers |
Portage Learning Complete Q&A Guide | A+ Graded
SECTION A: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM – HEART AND CIRCULATION (Questions 1–60)
1. Which body system supplies cells with oxygen and nutrients and carries away waste?
A) Nervous system
B) Respiratory system
C) Urinary system
D) Circulatory system
Answer: D
Rationale: The circulatory system transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products
throughout the body. Other systems perform individual functions, but only the circulatory system
carries out all functions listed above.
2. The pericardial cavity contains the:
A) Lungs
B) Heart
C) Descending aorta
D) Circle of Willis
Answer: B
Rationale: The pericardial cavity is the space within the pericardium that contains the heart. It provides a
lubricated environment for the heart to beat without friction.
,3. A patient has a heart rate of 50 bpm, blood pressure 90/60 mm Hg, and complains of
lightheadedness. Which component of the cardiac conduction system is most likely dysfunctional?
A) Sinoatrial (SA) node
B) Atrioventricular (AV) node
C) Bundle of His
D) Purkinje fibers
Answer: A
Rationale: The SA node is the normal pacemaker of the heart. Dysfunction causes bradycardia (sinus
bradycardia) with a junctional or ventricular escape rhythm.
4. Which of the following is the correct order of blood flow through the heart and lungs?
A) Right atrium → tricuspid valve → right ventricle → pulmonary valve → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary veins → left atrium → mitral valve → left ventricle → aortic valve → aorta
B) Right atrium → mitral valve → right ventricle → aortic valve → aorta → lungs → pulmonary veins →
left atrium → tricuspid valve → left ventricle → pulmonary artery
C) Left atrium → tricuspid valve → left ventricle → pulmonary valve → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary veins → right atrium → mitral valve → right ventricle → aorta
D) Right atrium → pulmonary valve → right ventricle → tricuspid valve → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary veins → left atrium → aortic valve → left ventricle → mitral valve → aorta
Answer: A
Rationale: This is the standard pathway of pulmonary and systemic circulation. The right side pumps
deoxygenated blood to the lungs; the left side pumps oxygenated blood to the body.
,5. The P wave on an electrocardiogram (ECG) represents:
A) Ventricular depolarization
B) Atrial depolarization
C) Ventricular repolarization
D) Atrial repolarization
Answer: B
Rationale: The P wave represents atrial depolarization, which precedes atrial contraction. The QRS
complex represents ventricular depolarization, and the T wave represents ventricular repolarization.
6. The QRS complex on an ECG represents:
A) Atrial depolarization
B) Ventricular depolarization
C) Atrial repolarization
D) Ventricular repolarization
Answer: B
Rationale: The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, which triggers ventricular
contraction. It is the largest waveform on the ECG due to the large muscle mass of the ventricles.
7. True or False: Arteries have high amounts of stretch with little recoil.
A) True
B) False
Answer: B
, Rationale: Arteries have high amounts of elastic tissue that allow them to stretch and recoil. This elastic
recoil helps maintain blood pressure during diastole. Veins have less elastic tissue.
8. Which vessel would you expect to be the best place to feel a strong pulse?
A) Subclavian vein
B) Inferior vena cava
C) Common carotid artery
D) Brachiocephalic vein
Answer: C
Rationale: The common carotid artery is a large artery close to the skin surface, making it an ideal
location to palpate a strong pulse. Veins do not have palpable pulses.
9. What is the correct order of blood flow starting from the heart?
A) Artery → arteriole → capillary → venule → vein
B) Arteriole → artery → capillary → vein → venule
C) Artery → capillary → arteriole → venule → vein
D) Vein → venule → capillary → arteriole → artery
Answer: A
Rationale: Blood flows from the heart through arteries, which branch into smaller arterioles, then into
capillaries where exchange occurs. Blood then returns through venules and veins back to the heart.
10. A patient had a stroke in their pons portion of the brainstem. What vessel was most likely blocked?
Update 2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified Answers |
Portage Learning Complete Q&A Guide | A+ Graded
SECTION A: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM – HEART AND CIRCULATION (Questions 1–60)
1. Which body system supplies cells with oxygen and nutrients and carries away waste?
A) Nervous system
B) Respiratory system
C) Urinary system
D) Circulatory system
Answer: D
Rationale: The circulatory system transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products
throughout the body. Other systems perform individual functions, but only the circulatory system
carries out all functions listed above.
2. The pericardial cavity contains the:
A) Lungs
B) Heart
C) Descending aorta
D) Circle of Willis
Answer: B
Rationale: The pericardial cavity is the space within the pericardium that contains the heart. It provides a
lubricated environment for the heart to beat without friction.
,3. A patient has a heart rate of 50 bpm, blood pressure 90/60 mm Hg, and complains of
lightheadedness. Which component of the cardiac conduction system is most likely dysfunctional?
A) Sinoatrial (SA) node
B) Atrioventricular (AV) node
C) Bundle of His
D) Purkinje fibers
Answer: A
Rationale: The SA node is the normal pacemaker of the heart. Dysfunction causes bradycardia (sinus
bradycardia) with a junctional or ventricular escape rhythm.
4. Which of the following is the correct order of blood flow through the heart and lungs?
A) Right atrium → tricuspid valve → right ventricle → pulmonary valve → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary veins → left atrium → mitral valve → left ventricle → aortic valve → aorta
B) Right atrium → mitral valve → right ventricle → aortic valve → aorta → lungs → pulmonary veins →
left atrium → tricuspid valve → left ventricle → pulmonary artery
C) Left atrium → tricuspid valve → left ventricle → pulmonary valve → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary veins → right atrium → mitral valve → right ventricle → aorta
D) Right atrium → pulmonary valve → right ventricle → tricuspid valve → pulmonary artery → lungs →
pulmonary veins → left atrium → aortic valve → left ventricle → mitral valve → aorta
Answer: A
Rationale: This is the standard pathway of pulmonary and systemic circulation. The right side pumps
deoxygenated blood to the lungs; the left side pumps oxygenated blood to the body.
,5. The P wave on an electrocardiogram (ECG) represents:
A) Ventricular depolarization
B) Atrial depolarization
C) Ventricular repolarization
D) Atrial repolarization
Answer: B
Rationale: The P wave represents atrial depolarization, which precedes atrial contraction. The QRS
complex represents ventricular depolarization, and the T wave represents ventricular repolarization.
6. The QRS complex on an ECG represents:
A) Atrial depolarization
B) Ventricular depolarization
C) Atrial repolarization
D) Ventricular repolarization
Answer: B
Rationale: The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, which triggers ventricular
contraction. It is the largest waveform on the ECG due to the large muscle mass of the ventricles.
7. True or False: Arteries have high amounts of stretch with little recoil.
A) True
B) False
Answer: B
, Rationale: Arteries have high amounts of elastic tissue that allow them to stretch and recoil. This elastic
recoil helps maintain blood pressure during diastole. Veins have less elastic tissue.
8. Which vessel would you expect to be the best place to feel a strong pulse?
A) Subclavian vein
B) Inferior vena cava
C) Common carotid artery
D) Brachiocephalic vein
Answer: C
Rationale: The common carotid artery is a large artery close to the skin surface, making it an ideal
location to palpate a strong pulse. Veins do not have palpable pulses.
9. What is the correct order of blood flow starting from the heart?
A) Artery → arteriole → capillary → venule → vein
B) Arteriole → artery → capillary → vein → venule
C) Artery → capillary → arteriole → venule → vein
D) Vein → venule → capillary → arteriole → artery
Answer: A
Rationale: Blood flows from the heart through arteries, which branch into smaller arterioles, then into
capillaries where exchange occurs. Blood then returns through venules and veins back to the heart.
10. A patient had a stroke in their pons portion of the brainstem. What vessel was most likely blocked?
