Echo-A Final Exam Review Questions And
Answers
List the four chambers of the heart. Which receives blood from the body? Which receives blood
from the lungs? - ANS These are the left atrium, the left ventricle, right atrium, and right
ventricle. The right atrium receives blood from the body (IVC CVC CS), while the left atrium
receives blood from the lungs (4 pulmonary veins).
Which chamber sends blood to the body? Which chamber sends blood to the lungs? - ANS
The left ventricle sends blood to the body, and the right ventricle sends blood to the lungs.
Which Chambers receive deoxygenated blood? Which Chambers receive oxygenated blood? -
ANS The right atrium and right ventricle receive deoxygenated blood from the body, and
the left atrium and left ventricle receive oxygenated blood from the lungs.
Define the following terms, and give the normal range including the unit for each: - ANS
Stroke volume: the amount of blood ejected from a chamber of her beat (70 to 100 ml)
Heart-rate: the number of heartbeats per minute (60 to 100 bpm)
Cardiac output: the amount of blood ejected from a chamber per minute (4 to 8 L/min)
Ejection fraction: the percentage of blood ejected from a chamber per beat (55% to 75%)
How can we calculate cardiac output (give the formula) if we know two other values from the
previous question? - ANS CO = SV × HR
Describe the following directional terms used in echocardiography: - ANS Basal: toward
the top of the heart (the Atria).
Apical: toward the bottom of the heart (tips of the ventricles).
Medial: toward the center of the heart (the septum).
Lateral: towards the side of the heart (usually the left). Anterior: toward the front of the chest.
Posterior: farther from the front of the chest.
Superior: toward the patient's head.
Inferior: toward the patient's feet.
Which valves are called semilunar and which are called atrioventricular? Tell where in the heart
each of these valves are located. - ANS The aortic and pulmonic valves are called
semilunar, and the mitral (bicuspid) and tricuspid valves are called atrioventricular. The aortic
valve allows blood to leave the left ventricle and enter the aorta, while the pulmonic valve allows
blood to leave the right ventricle and enter the main pulmonary artery. The mitral valve allows
, blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, and the tricuspid valve allows blood flow from
the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Describe the valve apparatus of the atrioventricular valves, and tell what each part does. How
are the semilunar valves different? - ANS The valve apparatus of the atrioventricular
valves include papillary muscles, chordae tendineae, leaflets, and the annulus. The papillary
muscles hold the chordae, which help the valve shut. The annulus is where the leaflets attach to
the walls of the heart. The semilunar valves have cusps and an annulus, but no chordae or
papillary muscles.
What makes a heart valve open or close? - ANS Valves only open or close due to
changes in pressure on one side or the other.
MV opens when the pressure in the LA>LV
TV opens when the pressure in the RA>RV
AoV opens when the pressure in the LV>AO
PV opens when the pressure in the RV>PA
PV closes when the pressure in the PA>RV
AoV closes when the pressure in the AO>LV
MV closes when the pressure in the LV>LA
TV closes when the pressure in the RV>RA
What are the names of the 3 layers of the ventricular wall (in order from innermost to
outermost)? What are the names of the 3 layers of the pericardium (in order from innermost to
outermost)? - ANS For ventricular walls, it's endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium.
For the pericardium, it is visceral pericardium, parietal pericardium (these two are separated by
the pericardial cavity), and fibrous pericardium.
Which valves open during diastole? How does the blood flow at this time? Which valves open
during systole? How does the blood flow at this time? - ANS During diastole, the
atrioventricular valves open to allow blood to flow from the Atria to the ventricles. During systole,
the semilunar valves open to allow blood flow to from the ventricles to the aorta and pulmonary
arteries.
What are the oxygenation levels of the blood in the following vessels or chambers? - ANS
SVC: 72%
IVC: 78%
CS: 60%
RA,RV,PA: 75%
LA,LV,AO: 98%
Define "normal variant". What are some normal variants we sometimes see, and in which
Chambers do they appear? - ANS Normal variants are things in the anatomy which may
be unusual (not typical), but which are not considered pathology. In the right ventricle, we may
see prominent moderator band. In the left ventricle we may see ectopic chordae (false tendon).
Answers
List the four chambers of the heart. Which receives blood from the body? Which receives blood
from the lungs? - ANS These are the left atrium, the left ventricle, right atrium, and right
ventricle. The right atrium receives blood from the body (IVC CVC CS), while the left atrium
receives blood from the lungs (4 pulmonary veins).
Which chamber sends blood to the body? Which chamber sends blood to the lungs? - ANS
The left ventricle sends blood to the body, and the right ventricle sends blood to the lungs.
Which Chambers receive deoxygenated blood? Which Chambers receive oxygenated blood? -
ANS The right atrium and right ventricle receive deoxygenated blood from the body, and
the left atrium and left ventricle receive oxygenated blood from the lungs.
Define the following terms, and give the normal range including the unit for each: - ANS
Stroke volume: the amount of blood ejected from a chamber of her beat (70 to 100 ml)
Heart-rate: the number of heartbeats per minute (60 to 100 bpm)
Cardiac output: the amount of blood ejected from a chamber per minute (4 to 8 L/min)
Ejection fraction: the percentage of blood ejected from a chamber per beat (55% to 75%)
How can we calculate cardiac output (give the formula) if we know two other values from the
previous question? - ANS CO = SV × HR
Describe the following directional terms used in echocardiography: - ANS Basal: toward
the top of the heart (the Atria).
Apical: toward the bottom of the heart (tips of the ventricles).
Medial: toward the center of the heart (the septum).
Lateral: towards the side of the heart (usually the left). Anterior: toward the front of the chest.
Posterior: farther from the front of the chest.
Superior: toward the patient's head.
Inferior: toward the patient's feet.
Which valves are called semilunar and which are called atrioventricular? Tell where in the heart
each of these valves are located. - ANS The aortic and pulmonic valves are called
semilunar, and the mitral (bicuspid) and tricuspid valves are called atrioventricular. The aortic
valve allows blood to leave the left ventricle and enter the aorta, while the pulmonic valve allows
blood to leave the right ventricle and enter the main pulmonary artery. The mitral valve allows
, blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, and the tricuspid valve allows blood flow from
the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Describe the valve apparatus of the atrioventricular valves, and tell what each part does. How
are the semilunar valves different? - ANS The valve apparatus of the atrioventricular
valves include papillary muscles, chordae tendineae, leaflets, and the annulus. The papillary
muscles hold the chordae, which help the valve shut. The annulus is where the leaflets attach to
the walls of the heart. The semilunar valves have cusps and an annulus, but no chordae or
papillary muscles.
What makes a heart valve open or close? - ANS Valves only open or close due to
changes in pressure on one side or the other.
MV opens when the pressure in the LA>LV
TV opens when the pressure in the RA>RV
AoV opens when the pressure in the LV>AO
PV opens when the pressure in the RV>PA
PV closes when the pressure in the PA>RV
AoV closes when the pressure in the AO>LV
MV closes when the pressure in the LV>LA
TV closes when the pressure in the RV>RA
What are the names of the 3 layers of the ventricular wall (in order from innermost to
outermost)? What are the names of the 3 layers of the pericardium (in order from innermost to
outermost)? - ANS For ventricular walls, it's endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium.
For the pericardium, it is visceral pericardium, parietal pericardium (these two are separated by
the pericardial cavity), and fibrous pericardium.
Which valves open during diastole? How does the blood flow at this time? Which valves open
during systole? How does the blood flow at this time? - ANS During diastole, the
atrioventricular valves open to allow blood to flow from the Atria to the ventricles. During systole,
the semilunar valves open to allow blood flow to from the ventricles to the aorta and pulmonary
arteries.
What are the oxygenation levels of the blood in the following vessels or chambers? - ANS
SVC: 72%
IVC: 78%
CS: 60%
RA,RV,PA: 75%
LA,LV,AO: 98%
Define "normal variant". What are some normal variants we sometimes see, and in which
Chambers do they appear? - ANS Normal variants are things in the anatomy which may
be unusual (not typical), but which are not considered pathology. In the right ventricle, we may
see prominent moderator band. In the left ventricle we may see ectopic chordae (false tendon).
