-
Question 1
Correct
-
The direct determinants of cardiac output are
Your Answer: Stroke volume and heart rate
Explanation:Cardiac output is classically defined alongside stroke volume (SV) and the heart rate (HR) as:Cardiac Output [L/min] = Stroke Volume [L/beat] x Heart Rate [beats/min]
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 2
Correct
-
Which of the following affects the magnitude of the action potential?
Your Answer: Changes in the external Na+ concentration
Explanation:The magnitude of the action potential is determined by the sodium current. Increase in external sodium will result in increased influx of sodium and hence generation of a stronger action potential.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 3
Incorrect
-
What is the function of the BK channel on the vascular smooth muscle membrane?
Your Answer: Massive K+ influx, increasing membrane potential, and shutting off the voltage gated Ca2+ channel
Correct Answer: Massive K+ efflux, increasing membrane potential, and shutting off the voltage gated Ca2+ channel
Explanation:BK channels, also known as large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels, play a critical role in regulating vascular smooth muscle tone. When BK channels open, they allow a large efflux of potassium ions (K+) out of the cell. This efflux of K+ causes the membrane potential to become more negative (hyperpolarization), which in turn leads to the closure of voltage-gated calcium channels. The closure of these calcium channels reduces the influx of calcium ions (Ca2+) into the smooth muscle cells, resulting in decreased intracellular calcium levels and subsequent relaxation of the smooth muscle.
Thus, BK channels promote smooth muscle relaxation by hyperpolarizing the membrane and reducing the activity of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 4
Correct
-
A 55 year old cardiac patient is comfortable at rest but heavy housework results in fatigue, palpitations or dyspnoea. What New York Heart Association class best describes the severity of their disease?
Your Answer: NYHA Class II
Explanation:New York Heart Association functional classification:
Class I: no limitation is experienced in any activities; there are no symptoms from ordinary activities.
Class II: slight, mild limitation of activity; the patient is comfortable at rest or with mild exertion.
Class III: marked limitation of any activity; the patient is comfortable only at rest.
Class IV: any physical activity brings on discomfort and symptoms occur at rest.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 5
Incorrect
-
Which structure forms the major part of the sternocostal surface of the heart?
Your Answer: The aortic arch
Correct Answer: Right ventricle
Explanation:The anterior (sternocostal) surface is formed mainly by the right ventricle.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 6
Correct
-
The branche(s) of the left coronary artery include:
Your Answer: Left circumflex artery & anterior interventricular artery
Explanation:The left main coronary divides into branches:
1. The left anterior descending artery branches off the left coronary artery and supplies blood to the front of the left side of the heart.
2. The circumflex artery branches off the left coronary artery and encircles the heart muscle.
The anterior interventricular artery is otherwise known as the anterior descending branch. The posterior descending artery comes from Right coronary artery.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 7
Correct
-
Most of the venous blood returns to the heart through the:
Your Answer: Coronary sinus and anterior cardiac veins
Explanation:Most of the venous blood returns to the heart via the coronary sinus and the anterior cardiac veins which drain into the right atrium.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 8
Incorrect
-
Preload:
Your Answer: Is inversely proportional to the end-diastolic volume
Correct Answer: Is the degree to which the myocardium is stretched before is contracts
Explanation:Preload is end diastolic volume. It is the degree to which the heart muscle fiber is stretched when it fills up completely just before the heart contracts.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 9
Correct
-
Excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle involves all of the following except:
Your Answer: Binding of Ca2+ to calmodulin
Explanation:In the excitation contraction coupling model, an action potential is transmitted to the fibrils of a fiber through the T tubule system. It triggers the release of Ca 2+ from the terminal cisterns. Depolarization of the T tubules activates the sarcoplasmic reticulum through the dihydropyridine receptors. These are voltage gates calcium channels. Calcium binds to calmodulin during contraction of the smooth muscle and not the cardiac muscles.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 10
Correct
-
The following are examples of the functions of the vascular endothelium except:
Your Answer: Tumour suppression
Explanation:Vascular endothelium has many important functions including regulation of vascular tone, molecular exchange between blood and tissue compartments, hemostasis and signaling for the immune regulation and inflammation. Depending on specific tissue needs and local stresses, endothelial cells are capable of evoking either antithrombotic or prothrombotic events. Tumor suppression is related to genes, or anti-oncogenes, that regulate a cell during cell division and replication.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 11
Correct
-
Which of the following would be a contraindication to thrombolysis?
Your Answer: Intracranial neoplasm
Explanation:Absolute contraindications to thrombolysis include:
- Previous intracranial bleeding at any time
- Stroke in less than 6 months
- Closed head or facial trauma within 3 months
- Suspected aortic dissection
- Ischemic stroke within 3 months (except in ischemic stroke within 3 hours time)
- Active bleeding diathesis
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure (>180 systolic or >100 diastolic)
- Known structural cerebral vascular lesion
- Arterio-venous malformations
- Thrombocytopenia
- Known coagulation disorders
- Aneurysm
- Brain tumours
- Pericardial effusion
- Septic embolus
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 12
Correct
-
Question 13
Incorrect
-
With regards to the cardiac cycle which of the following is true
Your Answer: Left ventricular contraction begins after right ventricular contraction
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.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 14
Correct
-
Activation of nitric oxide synthesis by endothelial cells is triggered by:
Your Answer: All of the above
Explanation:Acetylcholine, histamine, bradykinin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and shear stress on the endothelial cells causing the release of NO. NO is formed from arginine and causes vasodilatation of the blood vessels.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 15
Correct
-
A 27-year-old man presents with a regular tachycardia of 190 bpm. He is healthy and has no past medical history. Blood pressure and blood tests are all within normal parameters however the ECG confirms a narrow complex tachycardia. The tachycardia persists after giving IV adenosine 6mg. What should be the next step in management of this patient?
Your Answer: IV 12mg adenosine
Explanation:For narrow complex tachycardias with no compromise then vagal manoeuvres should be trialled first. The Valsalva manoeuvre should be the first vagal manoeuvre tried and works by increasing intra-thoracic pressure and affecting baroreceptors (pressure sensors) within the arch of the aorta. It is carried out by asking the patient to hold his/her breath while trying to exhale forcibly as if straining during a bowel movement. Adenosine, an ultra-short-acting AV nodal blocking agent, is indicated if vagal manoeuvres are not effective. Adenosine may be safely used during pregnancy. In adults the recommended first dose of intravenous adenosine is 6 mg. The dose is administered rapidly and then followed by a saline flush. Adenosine is only present in the circulation for about 5 seconds, so it is an excellent drug for diagnosis and treatment. If there was a response to adenosine but it was not long lasting, an additional dose of 12 mg of adenosine intravenously can be attempted. Doses greater than 12 mg are not recommended. If adenosine fails then Verapamil or a beta blocker can be used as alternatives. If the patient is hemodynamically unstable or other treatments have not been effective, synchronized electrical cardioversion may be used.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 16
Correct
-
Question 17
Correct
-
The celiac trunk consists of which arteries?
Your Answer: Left gastric, common hepatic, splenic
Explanation:The celiac trunk is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta. It is 1.25 cm in length. Branching from the aorta at thoracic vertebra 12 (T12). There are three main divisions of the celiac artery:- left gastric artery- common hepatic artery- splenic artery
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 18
Correct
-
Which of the following corresponds to an oblique line drawn from the sternal end of the left 3rd costal cartilage to the sternal end of the right 6th costal cartilage?
Your Answer: Atrio-ventricular (coronary) groove
Explanation:The AV groove corresponds to the right border of the heart. The right border corresponds to a line drawn from the 3rd right costal cartilage to the 6th right costal cartilage; this border is slightly convex to the right.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 19
Correct
-
A sarcomere is the area between:
Your Answer: Two adjacent z lines
Explanation:The area that lies between the two adjacent Z lines is known as a sarcomere and is the contractile unit of the muscle. The line passing in the middle of the myosin filaments is the M line. It also passes through the middle of the sarcomere.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 20
Correct
-
Where would one find pericytes around endothelial cells?
Your Answer: Post-capillary venules
Explanation:Pericytes release a wide variety of vasoactive agents which regulate the flow through the junction between endothelial cells.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 21
Correct
-
Which of the following structures of the cardiac conduction system is located in the right posterior portion of the interatrial septum?
Your Answer: AV node
Explanation:AV node is located at the right posterior portion of the interatrial septum.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 22
Correct
-
The major factor in controlling coronary artery blood flow is considered to be?
Your Answer: Metabolites of oxygen consumption
Explanation:There is a strong relationship between myocardial blood flow and oxygen consumption. This indicates that products of metabolism may cause vasodilation of the coronary artery.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 23
Correct
-
Which of the following structures is not part of the conducting system of the heart?
Your Answer: Ventricular wall
Explanation:The conduction system of the heart consists of the SA node, AV node, internodal pathway between these two nodes, Bundle of His and the purkinje fibers
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 24
Correct
-
Which heart sounds are matched correctly?
Your Answer: All of the above
Explanation:In healthy adults, there are two normal heart sounds often described as a lub and a dub (or dup), that occur in sequence with each heartbeat. These are the first heart sound (S1) and second heart sound (S2), produced by the closing of the atrioventricular valves and semilunar valves, respectively. In addition to these normal sounds, a variety of other sounds may be present including heart murmurs, adventitious sounds, and gallop rhythms S3 and S4. S3 is thought to be caused by the oscillation of blood back and forth between the walls of the ventricles initiated by blood rushing in from the atria. The reason the third heart sound does not occur until the middle third of diastole is probably that during the early part of diastole, the ventricles are not filled sufficiently to create enough tension for reverberation. S4 when audible in an adult is called a presystolic gallop or atrial gallop. This gallop is produced by the sound of blood being forced into a stiff or hypertrophic ventricle.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 25
Incorrect
-
Pacemaker cells in the SA node and the AV node are connected by?
Your Answer: P cells
Correct Answer: Gap junctions
Explanation:Gap junctions allows for rapid propagation of the action potential from one cell to the other. The cells of the heart are connected by gap junctions.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 26
Correct
-
The function of ATP in cardiac muscle contraction includes:
Your Answer: Binding to myosin after the power stroke to allow uncoupling of actin and myosin
Explanation:After calcium binds to the troponin C, there is a conformational change in the structure of troponin I and tropomyosin, which moves out of the way and frees the site where myosin can bind to actin. This results in the formation of the cross linkage of the actin and myosin giving rise to the power stroke in the contraction phase. This occurs with the release of ADP. When ATP combines to this complex it breaks and the cycle repeats itself.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 27
Correct
-
Question 28
Correct
-
The hyperpolarization phase of pacemaker cells is dominated by ____ current.
Your Answer: K+
Explanation:The hyperpolarization phase is a continuation of the repolarization phase but the membrane potential dips below the resting membrane potential. This results due to the fact that the K+ channels take a longer time to close than the Na+ channels. Hence efflux of the K+ will result in hyperpolarization.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 29
Incorrect
-
The predominant receptors in the hearts conduction system are?
Your Answer: Α1
Correct Answer: Β1
Explanation:All of the components of the intrinsic conduction system contain autorhythmic cells that spontaneously depolarize. In the absence of extrinsic neural or hormonal influences, the SA node pacing rate would be about 100 beats per minute (bpm). The heart rate and cardiac output, however, must vary in response to the needs of the body’s cells for oxygen and nutrients under varying conditions. In order to respond rapidly to changing requirements of the body’s tissues, the heart rate and contractility are regulated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), hormones, and other factors. The ANS has two interacting systems: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
Sympathetic receptors: There are two types of adrenergic receptors: β and α. In the cardiovascular system there are β1, β2, α1, and α2 adrenergic receptors. β1 adrenergic receptors are expressed in the heart conduction system (in the SA node, AV node, and on atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes). The activation of β1 receptors increases heart rate (via the SA node), and contractility.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 30
Correct
-
The areas of extensive series of sarcoplasmic folds known as intercalated discs always occur at what portion of the muscle fiber?
Your Answer: Z lines
Explanation:The muscle fibers of the heart branch and interdigitate, but one complete unit is surrounded by a cell membrane. The place where one muscle fiber abuts the other, the cell membrane of both the fibers run parallel to each other through a series of extensive folds. These areas always occur on the Z lines and are known as intercalated discs.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
