ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Exam
1. What is a condition where the right side of the heart fails due to increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries, often caused by chronic lung disease?
- A. Cor pulmonale
- B. Heart failure
- C. Pulmonary embolism
- D. Myocarditis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Cor pulmonale is the correct answer. It is a condition where the right side of the heart fails due to increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries, often caused by chronic lung disease such as COPD. Pulmonary embolism (choice C) is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in your lungs. Myocarditis (choice D) is inflammation of the heart muscle. While heart failure (choice B) is a broad term that can involve the failure of either the right or left side of the heart.
2. Which artery supplies the anterior wall of the left ventricle, the anterior interventricular septum, the anterior papillary muscles, and apex of the heart?
- A. Left anterior descending artery
- B. Left circumflex artery
- C. Posterior descending artery
- D. Aortic artery
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is the Left anterior descending artery. This artery supplies the anterior wall of the left ventricle, the anterior interventricular septum, the anterior papillary muscles, and apex of the heart. The Left circumflex artery (choice B) supplies the lateral and posterior walls of the left ventricle, the posterior descending artery (choice C) supplies the inferior part of the heart, and the aortic artery (choice D) is not a specific coronary artery.
3. What is the ability of cardiac cells to generate an electrical impulse without being stimulated by an external source?
- A. Automaticity
- B. Contractility
- C. Conductivity
- D. Refractoriness
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Automaticity is the correct answer because it refers to the inherent ability of cardiac cells to generate electrical impulses without the need for external stimulation. Contractility (Choice B) is the ability of the heart muscle to contract and generate force, not related to electrical impulse generation. Conductivity (Choice C) refers to the ability of cardiac cells to transmit electrical impulses from cell to cell, not the spontaneous generation of impulses. Refractoriness (Choice D) is the period during which the cardiac cells are recovering and not able to respond to a new stimulus, not the spontaneous generation of impulses.
4. The nurse is giving the client digoxin for heart failure and recognizes that the drug has what type of effect on the heart?
- A. Negative inotropic, negative chronotropic effect
- B. Positive inotropic, negative chronotropic effect
- C. Negative inotropic, positive chronotropic effect
- D. Positive inotropic, positive chronotropic effect
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Positive inotropic, negative chronotropic effect. Digoxin strengthens the heart muscle, providing a positive inotropic effect, which increases the force of contraction. It also decreases the heart rate, having a negative chronotropic effect. Choice A is incorrect because digoxin has a positive inotropic effect, not a negative inotropic effect. Choice C is incorrect as digoxin does not have a positive chronotropic effect but a negative one. Choice D is incorrect because while digoxin has a positive inotropic effect, it does not have a positive chronotropic effect.
5. What is the term for a condition where the lung collapses due to air leaking into the space between the lung and the chest wall?
- A. Pneumothorax
- B. Pleural effusion
- C. Atelectasis
- D. Pulmonary fibrosis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Pneumothorax is the correct answer for this question. Pneumothorax is the collapse of a lung caused by the presence of air in the pleural space between the lung and chest wall. This condition can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and may require emergency treatment such as chest tube insertion to remove the air. Pleural effusion is the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, not air. Atelectasis is the collapse or closure of a lung resulting in reduced or absent gas exchange. Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition characterized by scarring and thickening of lung tissue, not related to air leaking into the pleural space.
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