ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Exam Questions
1. What is a condition where the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm?
- A. Arrhythmia
- B. Hypertension
- C. Tachycardia
- D. Bradycardia
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Arrhythmia is the correct answer because it refers to an irregular or abnormal heart rhythm, which can cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or erratically. Hypertension (choice B) is high blood pressure and not directly related to irregular heart rhythm. Tachycardia (choice C) is a condition where the heart beats too quickly, not necessarily irregularly. Bradycardia (choice D) is a condition where the heart beats too slowly, not necessarily irregularly. Therefore, only arrhythmia (choice A) fits the description provided in the question.
2. What is the procedure where a catheter is used to open a blocked or narrowed coronary artery, often involving the placement of a stent?
- A. Angioplasty
- B. Valve replacement
- C. Stent placement
- D. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is Angioplasty. Angioplasty is a procedure where a catheter is used to open a blocked or narrowed coronary artery, often involving the placement of a stent to keep the artery open and improve blood flow to the heart. Choice B, Valve replacement, is incorrect as it involves replacing a heart valve, not opening a blocked artery. Choice C, Stent placement, is similar to angioplasty but not as specific, as it does not involve the catheter-based procedure. Choice D, Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), is a different procedure where blocked arteries are bypassed using a blood vessel from another part of the body.
3. Which test measures the electrical activity of the heart and can detect arrhythmias and other heart conditions?
- A. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- B. Chest X-ray
- C. MRI
- D. CT scan
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). An electrocardiogram is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart and can detect arrhythmias and other heart conditions by recording the heart's electrical impulses. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because a chest X-ray is used to visualize the structures in the chest, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is used to provide detailed images of organs and tissues, and a CT scan (Computed Tomography) is a type of imaging that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body.
4. What test measures the electrical activity of the heart over a 24- or 48-hour period?
- A. Holter monitor
- B. Electrocardiogram
- C. Stress test
- D. Chest X-ray
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, Holter monitor. A Holter monitor is a portable device that continuously records the heart's electrical activity over 24 to 48 hours, aiding in the diagnosis of arrhythmias and other heart conditions. Choice B, an Electrocardiogram, provides a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity at a specific point in time, not over an extended period like a Holter monitor. Choice C, a Stress test, measures how the heart responds to physical activity and is not used for continuous monitoring of electrical activity. Choice D, a Chest X-ray, is used to visualize the structures of the chest, not to measure the heart's electrical activity.
5. Which term refers to the contraction phase of the heart when blood is ejected from the chambers?
- A. Systole
- B. Diastole
- C. Contractility
- D. Afterload
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, systole. Systole is the phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers. During diastole (choice B), the heart relaxes and fills with blood, contrasting with systole. Contractility (choice C) refers to the ability of the heart to contract effectively. Afterload (choice D) is the pressure the heart must work against to eject blood during systole.
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