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Question 1
Incorrect
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Regarding the surface anatomy of the orifices of the heart, where is the aortic valve located?
Your Answer: Opposite the left upper sternal border in the 2nd intercostal space
Correct Answer: Opposite the left 3rd intercostal space to the left of the sternum
Explanation:The aortic valve is situated in the left 3rd intercostal space just beneath the sternum.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 2
Correct
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The coronary sinus, which empties into the right atrium, serves to?
Your Answer: Drain the venous supply of the myocardium
Explanation:The coronary sinus is a collection of veins joined together to form a large vessel that collects blood from the heart muscle (myocardium). It delivers deoxygenated blood to the right atrium, as do the superior and inferior vena cava.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 3
Incorrect
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Catecholamines…
Your Answer: Are both positive ionotropic and negative chronotropic
Correct Answer: Activate adenylyl cyclase
Explanation:Norepinephrine and epinephrine activate or deactivate adenylyl cyclase resulting in a decrease or an increase in the production of cAMP.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 4
Correct
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The effects of β1 stimulation include the following
Your Answer: Increased strength of contraction
Explanation:β1 stimulation include the phosphorylation of L type Ca++ channels and phospholamban and increased Ca++ influx from myocytes.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 5
Correct
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Which of the following results in the resting membrane potential of a myocyte?
Your Answer: Activation of outward K+ channels
Explanation:Phase 0 is caused by the sodium current. Voltage gated sodium channels open leading to the influx of sodium into the cardiac muscle cell. Phase 1 is the rapid transient repolarization phase which is caused by the inactivation of the voltage gated sodium channels and opening of the voltage gated potassium channels along with opening of the slow calcium channels. Phase 2 which is the plateau is caused by opening of the slow calcium channels. Phase 4 is caused by closing of the slow calcium channels and opening of the potassium channels leading to efflux of potassium leading to the establishment of the resting membrane potential.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 6
Incorrect
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The V wave in the jugular pulse is caused by:
Your Answer: Ventricular contraction
Correct Answer: Atrial filling
Explanation:The v wave reflects the passive increase in pressure and volume of the right atrium as it fills in late systole and early diastole.
The jugular vein pulsations usually have two elevations and two troughs. The first elevation (a wave) corresponds to the slight rise in atrial pressure resulting from atrial contraction. The first descent (x descent) reflects a fall in atrial pressure that starts with atrial relaxation. The second elevation (v wave) corresponds to ventricular systole when blood is entering the right atrium from the vena cavae while the tricuspid valve is closed. Finally, the second descent (y descent) reflects falling right atrial pressure as the tricuspid valve opens and blood drains from the atrium into the ventricle.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 7
Incorrect
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Cross-bridges between actin and myosin filaments contain:
Your Answer: Tropomyosin
Correct Answer: Calcium ions
Explanation:At rest troponin I is bound to actin and tropomyosin and covers the site where the myosin head interacts with actin. When calcium enters into the muscle, it binds with troponin C and causes a structural change in troponin I which moves out of the myosin binding site and causes the cross bridges between the actin and myosin filaments to occur.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 8
Correct
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The initial rapid depolarization in the action potential of cardiac muscle cells is due to:
Your Answer: Opening of voltage-gated Na+ channels
Explanation:The initial depolarization of the action potential in a cardiac muscle cell is due to the sodium current generated by opening of the voltage gated sodium channels leading to an influx of sodium ions into the cell and raising the membrane potential towards threshold.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 9
Correct
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In cardiac muscle, which of the following is directly responsible for the release of Ca2+ stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (calcium-induced calcium release)?
Your Answer: Ryanodine receptor (RyR)
Explanation:Ryanodine receptor (RyR) is a ligand-gated Ca2+ channel with Ca2+ as its natural ligand. In skeletal muscle, Ca2+ entry from ECF by this route is not required for Ca2+ release. Instead, the DHPR that serves as the voltage sensor unlocks release of Ca2+ from the nearby SR via physical interaction with the RyR. The release is amplified through ca-induced ca release. However, in cardiac muscle, it is the influx of extracellular Ca2+ through the voltage-sensitive DHPR in the T system that triggers ca-induced ca release trough the RyR at the SR.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 10
Incorrect
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The Plateau phase in myocyte action potentials does all of the following except:
Your Answer: It results from an Ca2+ influx
Correct Answer: It allows early reactivation of the myocytes
Explanation:The presence of the plateau in the action potential causes ventricular contraction to last as much as 15 times longer in cardiac muscle as in skeletal muscle. The plateau phase which follows is unique to myocytes and results from a small, but sustained inward calcium current through L-type calcium channels lasting 200-400 ms. This calcium influx is caused by a combined increase in permeability of the cell and especially the sarcolemmal membranes to calcium. This plateau (refractory) phase prevents early reactivation of the myocytes and directly determines the strength of contraction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 11
Incorrect
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Concerning surface anatomy, where is the aortic valve found?
Your Answer: Situated in the right third intercostal space underneath the sternum
Correct Answer: Situated in the left third intercostal space underneath the sternum
Explanation:The aortic valve is situated in the left 3rd intercostal space just beneath the sternum.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 12
Incorrect
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Which factors increase the end-diastolic volume?
Your Answer: Myocardial infarction
Correct Answer: Constriction of veins
Explanation:End diastolic volume is also known as preload. It is the amount of blood the heart contracts against. Constriction of veins will decrease venous pooling and increase venous return, hence increasing the end diastolic volume. Standing will increase venous pooling hence decreasing venous return and end diastolic volume. Raised intrapericardial pressure will also decrease venous return and hence end diastolic volume.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 13
Incorrect
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Factors influencing cardiac output include which of the following?
Your Answer: Stroke volume
Correct Answer: All of the above
Explanation:There is a correlation between resting CO and body surface area. The output per min per square meter of body surface (the cardiac index) averages 3.2l.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 14
Incorrect
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What is the main reason for checking the urea and electrolytes prior to commencing a patient on amiodarone?
Your Answer: To detect hyperkalaemia
Correct Answer: To detect hypokalaemia
Explanation:All antiarrhythmic drugs have the potential to cause arrhythmias. Coexistent hypokalaemia significantly increases this risk.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 15
Incorrect
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Which one of the following have not been shown to improve mortality in patients with chronic heart failure?
Your Answer: Beta-blockers
Correct Answer: Furosemide
Explanation:A number of drugs have been shown to improve mortality in patients with chronic heart failure:
- ACE inhibitors (SAVE, SOLVD, CONSENSUS)
- spironolactone (RALES)
- beta-blockers (CIBIS)
- hydralazine with nitrates (VHEFT-1)
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 16
Correct
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Which of the following components regulate cardiac output?
Your Answer: All of the above
Explanation:Cardiac output is regulated by the autonomic nervous system with sympathetic nerves having a positive chronotropic and inotropic effect and parasympathetic nerves having the opposite effect. An increase in preload will increase cardiac output likewise an afterload increase will also increase cardiac output.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 17
Incorrect
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What type of intercellular connection found between cardiac muscle fibers allow for the spread of excitation from one cell to another?
Your Answer: Tight junctions
Correct Answer: Gap junctions
Explanation:The cardiac muscles have gap junctions in-between the cells. They form low resistance passages, which allow ions to diffuse through every muscle fiber rapidly and result in the cardiac muscles functioning as a syncytium, without any protoplasmic bridges involved.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 18
Incorrect
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The SA and AV nodes are usually supplied by which artery?
Your Answer: Left main coronary artery
Correct Answer: Right coronary artery
Explanation:The right coronary artery supplies the right atrium, right ventricle, SA and AV nodes.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 19
Incorrect
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Blood flow to the subendocardial portions of the left ventricular muscle occurs mainly during:
Your Answer: Systole
Correct Answer: Diastole
Explanation:The sub endocardium receives the least amount of blood from the coronary arteries. During systole the coronary arteries collapse as a result of the pressure from contraction that is exerted on them. During diastole the heart muscle relaxes and the pressure on the coronary vessels is relieved allowing blood to flow through them to the sub endocardium.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 20
Incorrect
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With regards to the cardiac cycle which of the following is true
Your Answer: Left ventricular ejection begins before right ventricular ejection
Correct Answer: Right atrial systole occurs before left atrial systole: as below
Explanation:Cardiac cycle: The first event in the cycle is atrial depolarization (a P wave on the surface ECG) follows by RIGHT ATRIAL and then LEFT ATRIAL contraction. Ventricular activation (QRS) follows after a short interval (the PR interval). LEFT VENTRICULAR contraction starts shortly thereafter RIGHT VENTRICULAR contraction begins. At the end, the aortic valve closure is followed by pulmonary valve closure.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 21
Correct
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Initial depolarization of cardiac muscle is due to influx of:
Your Answer: Na+
Explanation:Initial depolarization of the cardiac muscle results from opening of the sodium voltage gated channels. This results in the influx of sodium and an increase in the membrane potential towards threshold. Potassium efflux results in repolarization.
The cardiac action potential has 5 phases:
- Phase 0—depolarization because of the opening of fast sodium channels. Potassium flux also decreases.
- Phase 1—partial repolarization because of a rapid decrease in sodium ion passage as fast sodium channels close.
- Phase 2—plateau phase in which the movement of calcium ions out of the cell, maintains depolarization.
- Phase 3—repolarization, sodium, and calcium channels all close and membrane potential returns to baseline.
- Phase 4—resting membrane potential (−90 mV), resulting from the activity of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump which creates a negative intracellular potential because of the exchange of three sodium ions for only two potassium ions.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 22
Correct
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Which of the following antiarrhythmic drugs may be used in the treatment of long QT syndrome?
Your Answer: Atenolol
Explanation:Beta-blockers are the mainstay of treatment in long QT syndrome. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are the most effective treatment in genotypes with a high risk of recurrence.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 23
Incorrect
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Absolute refractory period in a cardiac action potential graph occurs during.
Your Answer: Plateau phase
Correct Answer: All of the above
Explanation:Absolute refractory period (ARP): the cell is completely unexcitable to a new stimulus and occurs from phase 0 – 2 i.e. depolarisation, early repolarisation and plateau phase.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 24
Correct
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Direct conduction from the atrium to the ventricles is prevented by:
Your Answer: Annulus fibrosus
Explanation:The annulus fibrosus disconnects the syncytium complex. The atria are rapidly activated however the activation peters out when the insulating layer-the annulus fibrosus-is reached.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 25
Incorrect
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Relaxation of the cardiac muscle at the actin-myosin cross bridges is initiated by binding of which molecule to the exposed site on the myosin.
Your Answer: Calcium ATPase
Correct Answer: ATP
Explanation:A crossbridge is a myosin projection, consisting of two myosin heads, that extends from the thick filaments. Each myosin head has two binding sites: one for ATP and another for actin. The binding of ATP to a myosin head detaches myosin from actin, thereby allowing myosin to bind to another actin molecule. Once attached, the ATP is hydrolysed by myosin, which uses the released energy to move into the cocked position whereby it binds weakly to a part of the actin binding site.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 26
Incorrect
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All of the following are consistent with the indicator dilution method except---
Your Answer: The indicator must have no haemodynamic effects
Correct Answer: In thermodilution, the indicator used is warm saline
Explanation:In thermodilution, the indicator used is cold saline.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 27
Correct
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The process by which depolarization of the muscle fiber initiates contraction is called?
Your Answer: Action potential
Explanation:This process is known as an action potential. Upon generation of an action potential when depolarization reaches threshold, it spreads throughout the muscle fiber, resulting in generation of an excitation-contraction coupling leading to contraction of the muscle.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 28
Incorrect
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Adrenergic stimulation will lead to myocyte relaxation via the following mechanisms
Your Answer: Dephosphorylation of troponin l
Correct Answer: Increased phosphorylation of phosholamban
Explanation:Phosphorylation of phospholamban, which increases calcium ATPase activity and sequestration of calcium in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. An increased rate of relaxation is explained because cAMP also activates the protein phospholamban, situated on the membrane of the SR, that controls the rate of uptake of calcium into the SR. The latter effect explains enhanced relaxation (lusitropic effect).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 29
Correct
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Regarding cardiac muscle contractility, the afterload refers to:
Your Answer: The resistance against which blood is expected
Explanation:The afterload for the left ventricle is the aortic pressure. Hence it is this pressure that offers resistance against which the blood is to be expelled from the heart.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 30
Incorrect
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Which of the following occurs during a Valsalva manoeuvre?
Your Answer: Disruption of autonomic function
Correct Answer: An initial rise in blood pressure
Explanation:The Valsalva maneuver involves forced expiration against a closed glottis. It has several phases, each affecting the cardiovascular system differently:
- Phase I: During the initial forced expiration against the closed glottis, there is a transient rise in intrathoracic pressure, which compresses the thoracic aorta and causes a brief increase in blood pressure.
- Phase II: Continued straining leads to decreased venous return to the heart, reducing cardiac output and causing a drop in blood pressure. This phase is characterized by a compensatory increase in heart rate.
- Phase III: Upon releasing the strain, there is a sudden drop in intrathoracic pressure, which momentarily decreases blood pressure.
- Phase IV: Blood pressure then rises rapidly as venous return to the heart is restored, leading to increased cardiac output. This is often followed by a reflex bradycardia (slow heart rate).
Given these phases, the most accurate statement about what occurs during the Valsalva maneuver is the initial rise in blood pressure (Phase I).
Other options explained:
- Forced inspiration against a closed glottis: Incorrect. The Valsalva maneuver involves forced expiration, not inspiration, against a closed glottis.
- Low intrathoracic pressures throughout: Incorrect. The Valsalva maneuver involves high intrathoracic pressures due to forced expiration.
- Disruption of autonomic function: Incorrect. The Valsalva maneuver affects autonomic function but does not disrupt it. Instead, it triggers autonomic responses to changes in blood pressure and heart rate.
- No change: Incorrect. The Valsalva maneuver causes significant changes in blood pressure and heart rate.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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