NURS 4322 3RD EXAM – TAMUCC DR. ADDISON STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & REVIEW 2026/2027
A client says that the mitral valve is diseased and wants to know where this valve is located. Which
information by the nurse is the best response?
Between the left ventricle and the aorta
Between the left atrium and the left ventricle
Between the right atrium and the right ventricle
Between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery - ✔✔Between the left atrium and the left
ventricle
The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The valve between the right
atrium and the right ventricle is the tricuspid valve, not the mitral valve. The aortic valve is between the
left ventricle and the aorta. The pulmonic valve is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
The aortic valve is between the?
left atrium and left ventricle
right atrium and right ventricle
right ventricle and pulmonary artery
left ventricle and the aorta. - ✔✔left ventricle and the aorta.
The valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle is the?
aortic
tricuspid
pulmonic
mitral - ✔✔tricuspid
While teaching about arteries the nurse mentions the endothelium. A staff member asks what this is.
What is the nurse's best response?
It forms the inner lining of the blood vessels.
It forms the tunica media of the blood vessels.
It forms the muscular lining of the blood vessels.
It forms the connective tissue of the blood vessels. - ✔✔It forms the inner lining of the blood vessels.
The blood vessels and heart are lined with highly specialized cells called endothelial cells, which
compose a layer of tissue called the endothelium. The internal lining of blood vessels is not connective
tissue, which is the outer lining. The muscular lining of blood vessels is the tunica media, which is the
middle layer.
What should the nurse monitor to determine a client's afterload?
Temperature
,Electrolyte levels
Arterial blood gases
Aortic systolic pressure - ✔✔Aortic systolic pressure
Aortic systolic pressure is a good index of afterload. Temperature can help determine infectious
processes, not afterload. Electrolyte tests can help determine fluid and electrolyte levels, not afterload.
Arterial blood gases help determine pH of the blood.
A nurse is discussing pressure receptors located in the aortic arch and carotid arteries that affect a
client's heart rate and blood pressure. Which reflex is the nurse describing?
Poiseuille reflex
Bainbridge reflex
Baroreceptor reflex
Frank-Starling reflex - ✔✔Baroreceptor reflex
The baroreceptor reflex facilitates both blood pressure changes and heart rate changes. It is mediated by
tissue pressure receptors (called pressoreceptors or baroreceptors) in the aortic arch and carotid
arteries. Distention of the atria causes stimulation of atrial receptors (for example, when intravascular
volume is increased by intravenous infusions). This causes activation of the Bainbridge reflex, which
increases heart rate. The Frank-Starling and Poiseuille eponyms refer to various concepts, including laws,
curves, and spaces, but not to reflexes. The Frank-Starling law of the heart describes the length-tension
relationship of preload to myocardial contractility (as measured by stroke volume). The Poiseuille law
shows the relationship among blood flow, pressure, and resistance. Resistance in a vessel is inversely
related to blood flow—that is, increased resistance leads to decreased blood flow.
A nurse teaches the staff about the metabolic hypothesis of autoregulation. Which information from the
staff indicates teaching was effective about the location of where autoregulation originates?
Myocardium
Endocardium
Visceral pericardium
Parietal pericardium - ✔✔Myocardium
The metabolic hypothesis of autoregulation proposes that the autoregulation of coronary vessels
originates in the myocardium, not the endocardium or the visceral or parietal pericardium.
Which condition will cause the client's body to activate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
(RAAS)?
Decreased perfusion to the liver
Decreased perfusion to the brain
Decreased perfusion to the lungs
Decreased perfusion to the kidney - ✔✔Decreased perfusion to the kidney
The primary factor that stimulates renin release is a drop in renal perfusion as detected by the
juxtaglomerular cells. The RAAS is not activated by decreased perfusion to the brain, liver, or lungs.
, A client's heart valve that is located between the right atrium and right ventricle is stenosed. The nurse
will be caring for which client?
A client with a stenosed mitral valve
A client with a stenosed bicuspid valve
A client with a stenosed tricuspid valve
A client with a stenosed semilunar valve - ✔✔A client with a stenosed tricuspid valve
The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and right ventricle, and it prevents blood in the
right ventricle from returning to the right atrium during systole. The mitral valve, also known as the
bicuspid valve, is not located between the right atrium and right ventricle but rather between the left
atrium and left ventricle. The semilunar valves are the pulmonary and aortic valves, so they are not
located between the right atrium and right ventricle.
A nurse is teaching the client about the respiratory pump. Which information should the nurse include in
the teaching session?
Occurs during expiration
Occurs during skeletal muscle contractions
Downward movement of the diaphragm occurs
Downward movement of the heart valves occurs - ✔✔Downward movement of the heart valves occurs
The respiratory pump acts during inspiration (not expiration), when the veins of the abdomen are
partially compressed by the downward movement of the diaphragm. The skeletal muscle pump occurs
during skeletal muscle contractions. The heart valves are not affected by the respiratory pump; it is
venous return and venous pressure that are affected.
p 592
A nurse is describing blood flow through the heart and describes the valve that directs blood flow from
the left atrium to the left ventricle. Which term, if used by the client, will indicate to the nurse that the
teaching about the valve was successful?
Mitral
Aortic
Pulmonic
Tricuspid - ✔✔Mitral
The mitral valve directs blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle. The aortic valve lies between the
left ventricle and the aorta. The pulmonic valve lies between the right ventricle and the pulmonary
arteries. The tricuspid valve directs blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
A nurse hears in report that the team will be caring for a client with a low ejection fraction. The nurse
will be caring for which client?
A client with ventricular failure
A client with deep vein thrombosis
A client with increased heart contractility
A client with an overactive sympathetic nervous system - ✔✔A client with ventricular failure
QUESTIONS & REVIEW 2026/2027
A client says that the mitral valve is diseased and wants to know where this valve is located. Which
information by the nurse is the best response?
Between the left ventricle and the aorta
Between the left atrium and the left ventricle
Between the right atrium and the right ventricle
Between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery - ✔✔Between the left atrium and the left
ventricle
The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The valve between the right
atrium and the right ventricle is the tricuspid valve, not the mitral valve. The aortic valve is between the
left ventricle and the aorta. The pulmonic valve is between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
The aortic valve is between the?
left atrium and left ventricle
right atrium and right ventricle
right ventricle and pulmonary artery
left ventricle and the aorta. - ✔✔left ventricle and the aorta.
The valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle is the?
aortic
tricuspid
pulmonic
mitral - ✔✔tricuspid
While teaching about arteries the nurse mentions the endothelium. A staff member asks what this is.
What is the nurse's best response?
It forms the inner lining of the blood vessels.
It forms the tunica media of the blood vessels.
It forms the muscular lining of the blood vessels.
It forms the connective tissue of the blood vessels. - ✔✔It forms the inner lining of the blood vessels.
The blood vessels and heart are lined with highly specialized cells called endothelial cells, which
compose a layer of tissue called the endothelium. The internal lining of blood vessels is not connective
tissue, which is the outer lining. The muscular lining of blood vessels is the tunica media, which is the
middle layer.
What should the nurse monitor to determine a client's afterload?
Temperature
,Electrolyte levels
Arterial blood gases
Aortic systolic pressure - ✔✔Aortic systolic pressure
Aortic systolic pressure is a good index of afterload. Temperature can help determine infectious
processes, not afterload. Electrolyte tests can help determine fluid and electrolyte levels, not afterload.
Arterial blood gases help determine pH of the blood.
A nurse is discussing pressure receptors located in the aortic arch and carotid arteries that affect a
client's heart rate and blood pressure. Which reflex is the nurse describing?
Poiseuille reflex
Bainbridge reflex
Baroreceptor reflex
Frank-Starling reflex - ✔✔Baroreceptor reflex
The baroreceptor reflex facilitates both blood pressure changes and heart rate changes. It is mediated by
tissue pressure receptors (called pressoreceptors or baroreceptors) in the aortic arch and carotid
arteries. Distention of the atria causes stimulation of atrial receptors (for example, when intravascular
volume is increased by intravenous infusions). This causes activation of the Bainbridge reflex, which
increases heart rate. The Frank-Starling and Poiseuille eponyms refer to various concepts, including laws,
curves, and spaces, but not to reflexes. The Frank-Starling law of the heart describes the length-tension
relationship of preload to myocardial contractility (as measured by stroke volume). The Poiseuille law
shows the relationship among blood flow, pressure, and resistance. Resistance in a vessel is inversely
related to blood flow—that is, increased resistance leads to decreased blood flow.
A nurse teaches the staff about the metabolic hypothesis of autoregulation. Which information from the
staff indicates teaching was effective about the location of where autoregulation originates?
Myocardium
Endocardium
Visceral pericardium
Parietal pericardium - ✔✔Myocardium
The metabolic hypothesis of autoregulation proposes that the autoregulation of coronary vessels
originates in the myocardium, not the endocardium or the visceral or parietal pericardium.
Which condition will cause the client's body to activate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
(RAAS)?
Decreased perfusion to the liver
Decreased perfusion to the brain
Decreased perfusion to the lungs
Decreased perfusion to the kidney - ✔✔Decreased perfusion to the kidney
The primary factor that stimulates renin release is a drop in renal perfusion as detected by the
juxtaglomerular cells. The RAAS is not activated by decreased perfusion to the brain, liver, or lungs.
, A client's heart valve that is located between the right atrium and right ventricle is stenosed. The nurse
will be caring for which client?
A client with a stenosed mitral valve
A client with a stenosed bicuspid valve
A client with a stenosed tricuspid valve
A client with a stenosed semilunar valve - ✔✔A client with a stenosed tricuspid valve
The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and right ventricle, and it prevents blood in the
right ventricle from returning to the right atrium during systole. The mitral valve, also known as the
bicuspid valve, is not located between the right atrium and right ventricle but rather between the left
atrium and left ventricle. The semilunar valves are the pulmonary and aortic valves, so they are not
located between the right atrium and right ventricle.
A nurse is teaching the client about the respiratory pump. Which information should the nurse include in
the teaching session?
Occurs during expiration
Occurs during skeletal muscle contractions
Downward movement of the diaphragm occurs
Downward movement of the heart valves occurs - ✔✔Downward movement of the heart valves occurs
The respiratory pump acts during inspiration (not expiration), when the veins of the abdomen are
partially compressed by the downward movement of the diaphragm. The skeletal muscle pump occurs
during skeletal muscle contractions. The heart valves are not affected by the respiratory pump; it is
venous return and venous pressure that are affected.
p 592
A nurse is describing blood flow through the heart and describes the valve that directs blood flow from
the left atrium to the left ventricle. Which term, if used by the client, will indicate to the nurse that the
teaching about the valve was successful?
Mitral
Aortic
Pulmonic
Tricuspid - ✔✔Mitral
The mitral valve directs blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle. The aortic valve lies between the
left ventricle and the aorta. The pulmonic valve lies between the right ventricle and the pulmonary
arteries. The tricuspid valve directs blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
A nurse hears in report that the team will be caring for a client with a low ejection fraction. The nurse
will be caring for which client?
A client with ventricular failure
A client with deep vein thrombosis
A client with increased heart contractility
A client with an overactive sympathetic nervous system - ✔✔A client with ventricular failure
