©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NPTE: Cardiovascular Exam Questions
With Correct Answers A+
4 layers of heart tissue - Answer✔- pericardium
- epicardium
- myocardium (muscle)
- endocardium: smooth lining of inner surface
atrial contraction contributes ___% of end diastolic volume - Answer✔20-30%
right coronary artery: supplies what? - Answer✔AV node, bundle of His, (SA node 60% of
time), R atrium, most of R ventricle, inf. wall of L ventricle (in most people)
2 branches of left coronary artery, what do they supply? - Answer✔- left anterior descending: L
ventricle, interventricular septum
- circumflex: part of L ventricle & atrium, (SA node 40% of time)
coronary sinus empties into which chamber? - Answer✔R atrium
what is intrinsic firing rate of AV node? - Answer✔40-60 bpm
intrinsic firing rate of Purkinje fibers - Answer✔20-40 bpm
the amount of blood ejected with each heart contract is called... - Answer✔stroke volume
explain Frank-Starling law - Answer✔the greater the end diastolic volume (or preload), the
greater the stroke volume; greater volume stretches heart mm. and causes them to contract more
forcefully
explain afterload - Answer✔the force the left ventricle must generate to overcome aortic pressure
to open the aortic valve
equation for cardiac output - Answer✔CO = SV x HR (CO - amount of blood pumped/minute)
equation for ejection fraction - Answer✔EF = SV/EDV (stroke volume / end diastolic volume of
L ventricle)
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ejection fraction is used to evaluate function of what? - Answer✔L ventricle function
what is avg ejection fraction? - Answer✔>55%
venous circulation is influenced by what factors? - Answer✔- muscle contraction
- gravity
- respiration (inspiration increases return)
- compliancy of R heart
lymphatic system empties into... - Answer✔L subclavian vein
where in brain stem is parasympathetic cardio control center? - Answer✔medulla oblongata,
cardioinhibitory center
what neurotransmitter does vagus nerve release to slow heart? - Answer✔ACh
where in brain stem is sympathetic cardio control center - Answer✔medulla oblongata,
cardioacceleratory center
in what levels of spinal cord do sympathetic nerves go to heart? - Answer✔T1-T4
vagus nerve stimulation causes coronary artery (vasodilation/vasoconstriction), while
sympathetic stimulation causes (vasodilation/vasoconstriction) - Answer✔vagus:
vasoconstriction / sympathetic: vasodilation
where are baroreceptors located? - Answer✔aortic arch & carotid sinus
where are chemoreceptors located? - Answer✔carotid body
hyperkalemia: affect on heart - Answer✔decreases rate/force of contraction
hyperkalemia: ECG changes - Answer✔wider PR & QRS, tall T waves
hypokalemia: affect on heart - Answer✔arrythmias, may progress to ventricular fibrillation
hypokalemia: ECG changes - Answer✔flattened T waves, prolonged PR & QT
hypercalcemia: affect on heart - Answer✔increases heart actions
hypocalcemia: affect on heart - Answer✔depresses heart actions
hypermagnesemia: affect on heart - Answer✔blocks calcium, can lead to arrythmias or cardiac
arrest
hypomagnesemia: affect on heart - Answer✔ventricular arrhythmias, coronary artery vasospasm,
sudden death
2
NPTE: Cardiovascular Exam Questions
With Correct Answers A+
4 layers of heart tissue - Answer✔- pericardium
- epicardium
- myocardium (muscle)
- endocardium: smooth lining of inner surface
atrial contraction contributes ___% of end diastolic volume - Answer✔20-30%
right coronary artery: supplies what? - Answer✔AV node, bundle of His, (SA node 60% of
time), R atrium, most of R ventricle, inf. wall of L ventricle (in most people)
2 branches of left coronary artery, what do they supply? - Answer✔- left anterior descending: L
ventricle, interventricular septum
- circumflex: part of L ventricle & atrium, (SA node 40% of time)
coronary sinus empties into which chamber? - Answer✔R atrium
what is intrinsic firing rate of AV node? - Answer✔40-60 bpm
intrinsic firing rate of Purkinje fibers - Answer✔20-40 bpm
the amount of blood ejected with each heart contract is called... - Answer✔stroke volume
explain Frank-Starling law - Answer✔the greater the end diastolic volume (or preload), the
greater the stroke volume; greater volume stretches heart mm. and causes them to contract more
forcefully
explain afterload - Answer✔the force the left ventricle must generate to overcome aortic pressure
to open the aortic valve
equation for cardiac output - Answer✔CO = SV x HR (CO - amount of blood pumped/minute)
equation for ejection fraction - Answer✔EF = SV/EDV (stroke volume / end diastolic volume of
L ventricle)
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ejection fraction is used to evaluate function of what? - Answer✔L ventricle function
what is avg ejection fraction? - Answer✔>55%
venous circulation is influenced by what factors? - Answer✔- muscle contraction
- gravity
- respiration (inspiration increases return)
- compliancy of R heart
lymphatic system empties into... - Answer✔L subclavian vein
where in brain stem is parasympathetic cardio control center? - Answer✔medulla oblongata,
cardioinhibitory center
what neurotransmitter does vagus nerve release to slow heart? - Answer✔ACh
where in brain stem is sympathetic cardio control center - Answer✔medulla oblongata,
cardioacceleratory center
in what levels of spinal cord do sympathetic nerves go to heart? - Answer✔T1-T4
vagus nerve stimulation causes coronary artery (vasodilation/vasoconstriction), while
sympathetic stimulation causes (vasodilation/vasoconstriction) - Answer✔vagus:
vasoconstriction / sympathetic: vasodilation
where are baroreceptors located? - Answer✔aortic arch & carotid sinus
where are chemoreceptors located? - Answer✔carotid body
hyperkalemia: affect on heart - Answer✔decreases rate/force of contraction
hyperkalemia: ECG changes - Answer✔wider PR & QRS, tall T waves
hypokalemia: affect on heart - Answer✔arrythmias, may progress to ventricular fibrillation
hypokalemia: ECG changes - Answer✔flattened T waves, prolonged PR & QT
hypercalcemia: affect on heart - Answer✔increases heart actions
hypocalcemia: affect on heart - Answer✔depresses heart actions
hypermagnesemia: affect on heart - Answer✔blocks calcium, can lead to arrythmias or cardiac
arrest
hypomagnesemia: affect on heart - Answer✔ventricular arrhythmias, coronary artery vasospasm,
sudden death
2
