-
Question 1
Incorrect
-
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.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 2
Incorrect
-
Myocardial contractility is improved by:
Your Answer: Procainamide
Correct Answer: Caffeine
Explanation:Caffeine and other theophyllines breakdown cAMP and have a positive ionotropic effect on the heart. Drugs like quinidine, procainamide and conditions like hypoxia and hypercapnia decreases the contractility of the heart.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 3
Correct
-
Which one of the following is a cause of a soft second heart sound?
Your Answer: Aortic stenosis
Explanation:Second heart sound (S2) forms the dub of lub-dub and is composed of components A2 and P2. • loud: hypertension• soft: AS• fixed split: physiological split (normally occurs during inhalation), right bundle branch block, pulmonary stenosis, and atrial septal defect.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 4
Incorrect
-
Activation of baroreceptor reflex involves:
Your Answer: None of the above
Correct Answer: Short term regulation of systemic blood pressure
Explanation:Baroreceptors are found in the heart and the blood vessels. They are the carotid sinus and the aortic arch receptors and respond to the minute to minute change in the blood pressure i.e. a change in the pulsatile pressure and not to a change in the mean arterial pressure. If the pulse pressure decreases, the rate of firing of the receptors decreases, stimulating an increase in the heart rate and blood pressure. Mechanisms that regulate the long term blood pressure control include the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone mechanism.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 5
Correct
-
Afferent fibers from the baroreceptors of the great arteries form branches of which cranial nerves?
Your Answer: Glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves
Explanation:The receptors of the carotid sinus are innervated by the carotid sinus nerve, a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve. The aortic arch receptors located in the arch of the aorta are innervated by the aortic depressor nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 6
Correct
-
Why does arterial blood pressure drop during pregnancy?
Your Answer: Progesterone relaxes vascular smooth muscle
Explanation:Progesterone relaxes vascular smooth muscle thus resulting In a decrease in total peripheral resistance. This accounts for the increase in the cardiac output.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 7
Correct
-
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.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 8
Correct
-
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.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 9
Correct
-
Which of the following is NOT true of the parasympathetic control of the heart?
Your Answer: It can be blocked by beta blockers
Explanation:Parasympathetic fibers do not innervate the Beta receptors on the heart. They are innervated by the sympathetic nerve fibers. Then a beta blocker such as propranolol will block the sympathetic outflow and increase the parasympathetic tone of the heart.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 10
Correct
-
Question 11
Correct
-
In which organ will you find extremely porous sinusoidal capillaries, with discontinuous endothelium?
Your Answer: Liver
Explanation:The liver is the organ which contains sinusoidal capillaries with discontinuous endothelium. The brain, lungs and the intestine all contain continuous capillaries, however the kidney contains fenestrated capillaries to aid in filtration.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 12
Correct
-
The coronary arteries fill during?
Your Answer: Diastole
Explanation:During systole the coronary arteries collapse as a result of the pressure due to 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 subendocardium.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 13
Incorrect
-
Question 14
Correct
-
The following is true of the sinus node:
Your Answer: It generates impulses automatically & at a quicker rate than other cardiac cells
Explanation:The SA node exhibits automaticity. It generates the impulses to which the heart beats. It fires at a faster speed than the rest of the nervous components of the heart i.e. the AV nodes, purkinje fibers. This is the reason when the SA node fails the heart beats to the rhythm of the AV node.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 15
Correct
-
Endothelial cells are attached to adjacent cells by adherent junctions via:
Your Answer: Cadherins
Explanation:Cadherins are calcium dependant molecules that mediate cell to cell adhesions in epithelial and endothelial cells among others.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 16
Incorrect
-
Myocyte action potentials – Choose the false statement:
Your Answer: The plateau phase is due to Ca2+ influx
Correct Answer: Repolarisation is due to net k+ influx
Explanation:Final repolarization (phase 3) to the resting membrane potential (phase 4) is due to closure of the Ca2+ channels and a slow, delayed increase of K+ efflux through various types of K+ channels.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 17
Incorrect
-
Which of the following conditions has no effect on cardiac output?
Your Answer: Posture/body position
Correct Answer: Sleep
Explanation:Sleep has no effect on the cardiac output. Anxiety, excitement and pregnancy will increase the cardiac output. Standing from a lying position will decrease the cardiac output transiently.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 18
Correct
-
All valves are closed in which phase of the cardiac cycle?
Your Answer: Isovolumetric relaxation
Explanation:The cardiac cycle refers to a complete heartbeat from its generation to the beginning of the next beat, and so includes the diastole, the systole, and the intervening pause.The first stage, diastole, is when the semilunar valves (the pulmonary valve and the aortic valve) close, the atrioventricular (AV) valves (the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve) open, and the whole heart is relaxed. The second stage, atrial systole, is when the atrium contracts, and blood flows from atrium to the ventricle.The third stage, isovolumic contraction is when the ventricles begin to contract, the AV and semilunar valves close, and there is no change in volume. The fourth stage, ventricular ejection, is when the ventricles are contracting and emptying, and the semilunar valves are open. During the fifth stage, isovolumic relaxation time, pressure decreases, no blood enters the ventricles, the ventricles stop contracting and begin to relax, and the semilunar valves close due to the pressure of blood in the aorta.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 19
Incorrect
-
Direct conduction from the atrium to the ventricles is prevented by:
Your Answer: Intermodal pathways
Correct 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.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 20
Incorrect
-
B1 adrenergic stimulation produces:
Your Answer: Decrease adenylate cyclase
Correct Answer: Increase in calcium cytosolic concentration
Explanation:Norepinephrine secreted by the sympathetic endings binds to B1 receptors, and the resulting increase in intracellular cAMP facilitates the opening of L channels, increasing Ica and the rapidity of the depolarization phase of the impulse and activates PKA which leads to phosphorylation of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, causing them to spend more time in the open state.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 21
Correct
-
Following an action potential, cytosolic Ca2+ is increased. The binding of free Ca2+ to troponin C results in all of the following except:
Your Answer: Weakening of the troponin i interaction with actin
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 cause 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.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 22
Correct
-
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.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 23
Incorrect
-
Which one of the following is a risk factor for torsade de pointes?
Your Answer: Hypercalcaemia
Correct Answer: Hypothermia
Explanation:The following is a list of factors associated with an increased tendency toward torsades de pointes:- Hypokalaemia (low blood potassium)- Hypomagnesemia (low blood magnesium)- Hypocalcaemia (low blood calcium)- Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)- Heart failure- Left ventricular hypertrophy- Hypothermia- Subarachnoid haemorrhage- Hypothyroidism
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 24
Correct
-
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.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 25
Correct
-
Xanthines (for example Caffeine), exhibit their positive inotropic effect by:
Your Answer: Inhibiting the breakdown cAMP
Explanation:Xanthines exert their positive inotropic effect by inhibiting the breakdown of the cAMP resulting in stronger and sustained contraction.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 26
Incorrect
-
Question 27
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 28
Correct
-
When is the blood pressure at its lowest during pregnancy?
Your Answer: Second trimester
Explanation:It is lowest during the second trimester.
Previous studies have reported changes in blood pressure (BP) throughout pregnancy, and it was generally accepted that in clinically healthy pregnant women, BP falls gradually at first trimester, reaching the lowest around 22–24 weeks, rising again from 28 weeks, and reaching preconception levels by 36 weeks of gestation
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 29
Correct
-
The V wave in the jugular pulse is caused by:
Your 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.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 30
Correct
-
Which statement about the 2nd heart sound is true?
Your Answer: It is caused by closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves.
Explanation:The second heart sound is produced due to closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves. It is a high pitched dub sound.
Normally the aortic closure sound (A2) occurs prior to the pulmonic closure sound (P2), and the interval between the two (splitting) widens on inspiration and narrows on expiration. With quiet respiration, A2 will normally precede P2 by 0.02 to 0.08 second (mean, 0.03 to 0.04 sec) with inspiration. In younger subjects inspiratory splitting averages 0.04 to 0.05 second during quiet respiration. With expiration, A2 and P2 may be superimposed and are rarely split as much as 0.04 second. If the second sound is split by greater than 0.04 second on expiration, it is usually abnormal. Therefore, the presence of audible splitting during expiration (i.e., the ability to hear two distinct sounds during expiration) is of greater significance at the bedside in identifying underlying cardiac pathology than is the absolute inspiratory increase in the A2–P2 interval.
The respiratory variation of the second heart sound can be categorized as follows: (1) normal (physiologic) splitting; (2) persistent (audible expiratory) splitting, with normal respiratory variation; (3) persistent splitting without respiratory variation (fixed splitting); and (4) reversed (paradoxical) splitting.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
