Anatomy & Physiology for Emergency Care
— Systems Review & Hands-On Learning
Guide
Section 1: Foundational Concepts & Emergency Response Physiology
1. What is the most immediate priority for cellular survival in a shock state?
A. Maintenance of blood glucose
B. Preservation of acid-base balance
C. Adequate oxygen delivery for ATP production
D. Stable core temperature
2. In a trauma patient with significant blood loss, which physiological response occurs first?
A. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
B. Release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
C. Increased cardiac contractility and tachycardia
D. Sympathetic nervous system activation with vasoconstriction
3. Which anatomical landmark is most reliable for confirming endotracheal tube placement in
emergency intubation?
A. Visualization of vocal cords
B. Bilateral breath sounds on auscultation
C. Presence of end-tidal CO2 (capnography)
D. Chest rise symmetry
4. The "golden hour" in trauma care primarily relates to:
A. Time from injury to surgical intervention
B. Critical window for minimizing preventable death
C. Time for complete diagnostic imaging
D. Duration of initial resuscitation efforts
5. Which reflex helps maintain cerebral blood flow during hypotension?
A. Hering-Breuer reflex
B. Baroreceptor reflex
C. Chemoreceptor reflex
D. Cerebral autoregulation
,Section 2: Cardiopulmonary Systems & Emergencies
6. During a tension pneumothorax, the tracheal deviation is typically:
A. Toward the affected side
B. Away from the affected side
C. Not deviated
D. Deviated superiorly
7. The coronary artery most commonly involved in myocardial infarction is the:
A. Left main coronary artery
B. Right coronary artery
C. Left anterior descending artery
D. Circumflex artery
8. In a patient with suspected cardiac tamponade, Beck's triad includes all EXCEPT:
A. Distant heart sounds
B. Hypotension
C. JVD (jugular venous distension)
D. Tachycardia
9. The primary muscle of inspiration is the:
A. External intercostals
B. Diaphragm
C. Sternocleidomastoid
D. Scalene muscles
10. Which ECG finding is most specific for hyperkalemia?
A. Prolonged PR interval
B. Peaked T waves
C. ST segment elevation
D. U waves
11. In a pulmonary embolism, dead space ventilation increases because:
A. Alveoli are collapsed
B. Ventilation exceeds perfusion
C. Perfusion exceeds ventilation
D. Airway resistance increases
,12. The point of maximal impulse (PMI) is normally located at:
A. 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
B. 4th intercostal space, midclavicular line
C. 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
D. 5th intercostal space, parasternal line
13. Which heart valve closure produces the S1 sound?
A. Aortic and pulmonic
B. Mitral and tricuspid
C. Aortic and mitral
D. All four valves simultaneously
14. In an asthma exacerbation, the primary pathological process is:
A. Destruction of alveolar walls
B. Reversible bronchoconstriction and inflammation
C. Irreversible airway fibrosis
D. Pulmonary vascular constriction
15. The appropriate needle decompression site for tension pneumothorax is:
A. 1st intercostal space, midclavicular line
B. 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
C. 4th intercostal space, anterior axillary line
D. 5th intercostal space, midaxillary line
Section 3: Neurological System & Trauma
16. The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses which three components?
A. Orientation, speech, movement
B. Eye opening, verbal response, motor response
C. Pupillary response, reflexes, consciousness
D. Cognition, sensation, coordination
17. A patient presents with ipsilateral pupillary dilation and contralateral hemiparesis. This
suggests:
A. Subdural hematoma
B. Epidural hematoma
C. Uncal herniation
D. Cerebellar tonsillar herniation
, 18. The primary neurotransmitter deficient in Parkinson's disease is:
A. Acetylcholine
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
19. Which spinal cord tract carries pain and temperature sensations?
A. Dorsal columns
B. Corticospinal tract
C. Spinothalamic tract
D. Spinocerebellar tract
20. The most common site for a berry aneurysm is:
A. Middle cerebral artery
B. Circle of Willis
C. Basilar artery
D. Vertebral artery
21. A patient with injury to the median nerve would have difficulty with:
A. Finger abduction
B. Thumb opposition
C. Wrist extension
D. Elbow flexion
22. Which cranial nerve is responsible for pupillary constriction?
A. CN II (Optic)
B. CN III (Oculomotor)
C. CN V (Trigeminal)
D. CN VII (Facial)
23. Decerebrate posturing indicates damage to:
A. Cerebral cortex
B. Midbrain or pons
C. Medulla
D. Spinal cord
24. The blood-brain barrier is primarily formed by:
A. Astrocytes
B. Microglia
— Systems Review & Hands-On Learning
Guide
Section 1: Foundational Concepts & Emergency Response Physiology
1. What is the most immediate priority for cellular survival in a shock state?
A. Maintenance of blood glucose
B. Preservation of acid-base balance
C. Adequate oxygen delivery for ATP production
D. Stable core temperature
2. In a trauma patient with significant blood loss, which physiological response occurs first?
A. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
B. Release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
C. Increased cardiac contractility and tachycardia
D. Sympathetic nervous system activation with vasoconstriction
3. Which anatomical landmark is most reliable for confirming endotracheal tube placement in
emergency intubation?
A. Visualization of vocal cords
B. Bilateral breath sounds on auscultation
C. Presence of end-tidal CO2 (capnography)
D. Chest rise symmetry
4. The "golden hour" in trauma care primarily relates to:
A. Time from injury to surgical intervention
B. Critical window for minimizing preventable death
C. Time for complete diagnostic imaging
D. Duration of initial resuscitation efforts
5. Which reflex helps maintain cerebral blood flow during hypotension?
A. Hering-Breuer reflex
B. Baroreceptor reflex
C. Chemoreceptor reflex
D. Cerebral autoregulation
,Section 2: Cardiopulmonary Systems & Emergencies
6. During a tension pneumothorax, the tracheal deviation is typically:
A. Toward the affected side
B. Away from the affected side
C. Not deviated
D. Deviated superiorly
7. The coronary artery most commonly involved in myocardial infarction is the:
A. Left main coronary artery
B. Right coronary artery
C. Left anterior descending artery
D. Circumflex artery
8. In a patient with suspected cardiac tamponade, Beck's triad includes all EXCEPT:
A. Distant heart sounds
B. Hypotension
C. JVD (jugular venous distension)
D. Tachycardia
9. The primary muscle of inspiration is the:
A. External intercostals
B. Diaphragm
C. Sternocleidomastoid
D. Scalene muscles
10. Which ECG finding is most specific for hyperkalemia?
A. Prolonged PR interval
B. Peaked T waves
C. ST segment elevation
D. U waves
11. In a pulmonary embolism, dead space ventilation increases because:
A. Alveoli are collapsed
B. Ventilation exceeds perfusion
C. Perfusion exceeds ventilation
D. Airway resistance increases
,12. The point of maximal impulse (PMI) is normally located at:
A. 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
B. 4th intercostal space, midclavicular line
C. 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
D. 5th intercostal space, parasternal line
13. Which heart valve closure produces the S1 sound?
A. Aortic and pulmonic
B. Mitral and tricuspid
C. Aortic and mitral
D. All four valves simultaneously
14. In an asthma exacerbation, the primary pathological process is:
A. Destruction of alveolar walls
B. Reversible bronchoconstriction and inflammation
C. Irreversible airway fibrosis
D. Pulmonary vascular constriction
15. The appropriate needle decompression site for tension pneumothorax is:
A. 1st intercostal space, midclavicular line
B. 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
C. 4th intercostal space, anterior axillary line
D. 5th intercostal space, midaxillary line
Section 3: Neurological System & Trauma
16. The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses which three components?
A. Orientation, speech, movement
B. Eye opening, verbal response, motor response
C. Pupillary response, reflexes, consciousness
D. Cognition, sensation, coordination
17. A patient presents with ipsilateral pupillary dilation and contralateral hemiparesis. This
suggests:
A. Subdural hematoma
B. Epidural hematoma
C. Uncal herniation
D. Cerebellar tonsillar herniation
, 18. The primary neurotransmitter deficient in Parkinson's disease is:
A. Acetylcholine
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
19. Which spinal cord tract carries pain and temperature sensations?
A. Dorsal columns
B. Corticospinal tract
C. Spinothalamic tract
D. Spinocerebellar tract
20. The most common site for a berry aneurysm is:
A. Middle cerebral artery
B. Circle of Willis
C. Basilar artery
D. Vertebral artery
21. A patient with injury to the median nerve would have difficulty with:
A. Finger abduction
B. Thumb opposition
C. Wrist extension
D. Elbow flexion
22. Which cranial nerve is responsible for pupillary constriction?
A. CN II (Optic)
B. CN III (Oculomotor)
C. CN V (Trigeminal)
D. CN VII (Facial)
23. Decerebrate posturing indicates damage to:
A. Cerebral cortex
B. Midbrain or pons
C. Medulla
D. Spinal cord
24. The blood-brain barrier is primarily formed by:
A. Astrocytes
B. Microglia
