PHRM 4300: VITAL SIGNS EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT
What are the 4 vital signs? - ✔✔pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature
What is the suggested 5th vital sign? - ✔✔arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2 by pulse
oximetry)
What are the 3 sites for pulse check? - ✔✔radial, carotid, and brachial arteries
Where is pulse most commonly checked? - ✔✔radial artery
Which site is used for pulse check in an unconscious person? - ✔✔carotid artery
Which site is used for pulse check in an infant? - ✔✔brachial artery
Where is the stethoscope placed when checking blood pressure? - ✔✔on the brachial artery
Which heart chamber is responsible for the pulse in the radial, brachial, and carotid arteries? -
✔✔left ventricle - if abnormal pulse, issue with left ventricle or before
Where does the blood from the right ventricle go? - ✔✔lungs
Where does the blood from the left ventricle go? - ✔✔systemic circulation
Is an abnormal pulse due to the left ventricle? - ✔✔yes, due to left ventricle dysfunction, but
ultimate cause could be from somewhere else (atria, hyperthyroidism, etc.)
, SA node - ✔✔bundle of nerve cells in the right atrium that undergo spontaneous
depolarization and generate action potentials and contraction of the atria
Where are action potentials of the heart generated? - ✔✔SA node
The SA node generates its own action potentials, but may be influenced by the - -
✔✔autonomic nervous system
How does sympathetic activity affect the heart? - ✔✔increases heart rate and contractility
How does parasympathetic activity affect the heart? - ✔✔decreases heart rate
What is the primary pacemaker of the heart? - ✔✔SA node
What is the normal HR for adults? - ✔✔60-100 bpm
How is the autonomic nervous system activity regulated? - ✔✔baroreceptors,
chemoreceptors, hormones, CNS input
Without autonomic nervous stimulation, would the SA node still work? - ✔✔yes, acts as the
primary pacemaker
How is the radial pulse felt? - ✔✔on the wrist, below the thumb
How is the carotid pulse felt? - ✔✔under the angle of the jaw with very light pressure
AV node - ✔✔bundle of conducting tissue at the junction between the atria and ventricles
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% CORRECT
What are the 4 vital signs? - ✔✔pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature
What is the suggested 5th vital sign? - ✔✔arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2 by pulse
oximetry)
What are the 3 sites for pulse check? - ✔✔radial, carotid, and brachial arteries
Where is pulse most commonly checked? - ✔✔radial artery
Which site is used for pulse check in an unconscious person? - ✔✔carotid artery
Which site is used for pulse check in an infant? - ✔✔brachial artery
Where is the stethoscope placed when checking blood pressure? - ✔✔on the brachial artery
Which heart chamber is responsible for the pulse in the radial, brachial, and carotid arteries? -
✔✔left ventricle - if abnormal pulse, issue with left ventricle or before
Where does the blood from the right ventricle go? - ✔✔lungs
Where does the blood from the left ventricle go? - ✔✔systemic circulation
Is an abnormal pulse due to the left ventricle? - ✔✔yes, due to left ventricle dysfunction, but
ultimate cause could be from somewhere else (atria, hyperthyroidism, etc.)
, SA node - ✔✔bundle of nerve cells in the right atrium that undergo spontaneous
depolarization and generate action potentials and contraction of the atria
Where are action potentials of the heart generated? - ✔✔SA node
The SA node generates its own action potentials, but may be influenced by the - -
✔✔autonomic nervous system
How does sympathetic activity affect the heart? - ✔✔increases heart rate and contractility
How does parasympathetic activity affect the heart? - ✔✔decreases heart rate
What is the primary pacemaker of the heart? - ✔✔SA node
What is the normal HR for adults? - ✔✔60-100 bpm
How is the autonomic nervous system activity regulated? - ✔✔baroreceptors,
chemoreceptors, hormones, CNS input
Without autonomic nervous stimulation, would the SA node still work? - ✔✔yes, acts as the
primary pacemaker
How is the radial pulse felt? - ✔✔on the wrist, below the thumb
How is the carotid pulse felt? - ✔✔under the angle of the jaw with very light pressure
AV node - ✔✔bundle of conducting tissue at the junction between the atria and ventricles
