Chapter 9: The Cardiovascular System

Chapter 9: The Cardiovascular System

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

Multiple Choice

1. You are performing a thorough cardiac examination. Which of the following chambers of the heart can you assess by palpation?
2. A) Left atrium
3. B) Right atrium
4. C) Right ventricle
5. D) Sinus node

Ans:  C

Chapter:  09

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Feedback:  The right ventricle occupies most of the anterior cardiac surface and is easily accessible to palpation.  The other structures are less likely to have findings on palpation and the sinus node is an intracardiac structure.  You may be able to diagnose abnormal rhythms caused by the sinus node indirectly by palpation, but this is less obvious.

2. What is responsible for the inspiratory splitting of S₂?
3. A) Closure of aortic, then pulmonic valves
4. B) Closure of mitral, then tricuspid valves
5. C) Closure of aortic, then tricuspid valves
6. D) Closure of mitral, then pulmonic valves

Ans:  A

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Feedback:  During inspiration, the closure of the aortic valve and the closure of the pulmonic valve separate slightly, and this may be heard as two audible components, instead of a single sound. Current explanations of inspiratory splitting include increased capacitance in the pulmonary vascular bed during inspiration, which prolongs ejection of blood from the right ventricle, delaying closure of the pulmonic valve.  Because the pulmonic component is soft, you may not hear it away from the left second intercostal space.  Because it is a low-pitched sound, you may not hear it unless you use the bell of your stethoscope.  It is generally easy to hear in school-aged children, and it is easy to notice the respiratory variation of the splitting.

3. A 25-year-old optical technician comes to your clinic for evaluation of fatigue. As part of your physical examination, you listen to her heart and hear a murmur only at the cardiac apex. Which valve is most likely to be involved, based on the location of the murmur?
4. A) Mitral
5. B) Tricuspid
6. C) Aortic
7. D) Pulmonic

Ans:  A

Chapter:  09

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Feedback:  Mitral valve sounds are usually heard best at and around the cardiac apex.

4. A 58-year-old teacher presents to your clinic with a complaint of breathlessness with activity. The patient has no chronic conditions and does not take any medications, herbs, or supplements. Which of the following symptoms is appropriate to ask about in the cardiovascular review of systems?
5. A) Abdominal pain
6. B) Orthopnea
7. C) Hematochezia
8. D) Tenesmus

Ans:  B

Chapter:  09

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Feedback:  Orthopnea, which is dyspnea that occurs when the patient is lying down and improves when the patient sits up, is part of the cardiovascular review of systems and, if positive, may indicate congestive heart failure