Practice quiz · by a Quizcard user

Anatomy and Physiology: Cardiovascular System — quiz

19 multiple-choice questions covering Heart layers & pericardium, Heart chambers, Heart valves, Blood flow through the heart, Coronary circulation. One answer each; you get a score at the end and the explanation for every question. No account needed.

Updated 2026-11-03. Keys 1–4 pick an answer, Enter moves on. Redo it any time, in order or shuffled.

The questions

Answers and explanations are shown after you finish.

1. Heart layers & pericardium

   Pericardial fluid that lubricates heart movement is located between which two layers?

   • Epicardium and myocardium
   • Fibrous pericardium and parietal serous pericardium
   • Parietal serous pericardium and visceral serous pericardium (epicardium)
   • Myocardium and endocardium
2. Heart chambers

   A patient's echocardiogram shows the left ventricular wall is roughly three times thicker than the right ventricular wall. What explains this normal anatomical difference?

   • The left ventricle receives blood directly from the coronary arteries while the right does not
   • The left ventricle holds a larger blood volume than the right ventricle
   • The left ventricle must generate enough pressure to perfuse the entire systemic circulation
   • The left ventricle contracts more frequently than the right ventricle
3. Heart valves

   Which valve lies between the left atrium and left ventricle, and what is another name for it?

   • Mitral valve, also called the bicuspid valve
   • Pulmonary valve, also called the right AV valve
   • Tricuspid valve, also called the pulmonary valve
   • Aortic valve, also called the semilunar valve
4. Heart valves

   During ventricular systole, what structure keeps the mitral and tricuspid valve leaflets from flipping backward into the atria?

   • The interventricular septum
   • Papillary muscles and chordae tendineae
   • The fossa ovalis
   • Increased atrial pressure pushing the leaflets shut
5. Blood flow through the heart

   Blood entering the right atrium from the venae cavae will next pass through which valve before reaching the lungs?

   • Pulmonary valve then tricuspid valve
   • Tricuspid valve then pulmonary valve
   • Tricuspid valve then aortic valve
   • Mitral valve then pulmonary valve
6. Coronary circulation

   Coronary artery blood flow to the myocardium is greatest during which part of the cardiac cycle, and why?

   • Diastole, because the myocardium is relaxed and the aortic cusps uncover the coronary ostia
   • Diastole, because venous return increases coronary venous pressure
   • Systole, because ventricular contraction squeezes blood into the coronary vessels
   • Systole, because aortic pressure is highest then, driving flow into the coronary ostia
7. Coronary circulation

   A patient presents with an inferior wall myocardial infarction and new bradycardia with AV block. Occlusion of which vessel most likely explains both findings?

   • Circumflex artery
   • Pulmonary artery
   • Right coronary artery
   • Left anterior descending artery
8. Conduction system

   If the SA node fails but the AV node takes over pacing the heart, what change would you expect in heart rate?

   • Heart rate would decrease to roughly 20-40 bpm
   • Heart rate would increase above normal sinus rate
   • Heart rate would stay the same since the AV node fires at the same intrinsic rate
   • Heart rate would decrease to roughly 40-60 bpm
9. ECG

   On an ECG, the QRS complex primarily represents which electrical event, and why isn't atrial repolarization usually visible as its own wave?

   • Ventricular depolarization; atrial repolarization does not normally occur
   • Atrial depolarization; it occurs before the QRS and is too small to see
   • Ventricular repolarization; it is masked by the larger T wave
   • Ventricular depolarization; atrial repolarization is hidden within the larger QRS complex
10. Heart sounds

    The heart sound 'lub' (S1) marks the onset of which event?

    • Ventricular diastole, due to closure of the semilunar valves
    • Ventricular diastole, due to opening of the AV valves
    • Ventricular systole, due to closure of the AV valves
    • Ventricular systole, due to closure of the semilunar valves
11. Heart sounds

    An elderly patient with heart failure is found to have an extra heart sound occurring right after S2, corresponding to rapid ventricular filling. Which sound is this, and what does it suggest in this age group?

    • S4; suggests a stiff, hypertrophied ventricle
    • S4; a normal finding in young athletes
    • S3; suggests volume overload/heart failure
    • S3; a normal finding in all adults
12. Cardiac output & stroke volume

    A ventricle fills to 130 mL before contraction and ejects down to 55 mL remaining. What is the stroke volume?

    • 185 mL
    • 55 mL
    • 75 mL
    • 130 mL
13. Preload, afterload & contractility

    A patient receives a rapid IV fluid bolus, increasing venous return to the heart. Which cardiac parameter is most directly increased by this change?

    • Preload
    • Ejection fraction only, with no change in volumes
    • Contractility
    • Afterload
14. Preload, afterload & contractility

    A patient starts a beta-blocker for hypertension. How would this medication be expected to affect ventricular contractility?

    • No effect, since beta-blockers act only on heart rate
    • Increase it, by mimicking sympathetic stimulation
    • Increase it, by raising intracellular calcium
    • Decrease it, since beta-blockers are negative inotropes
15. Blood pressure regulation

    A patient has a blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg. What is the approximate mean arterial pressure?

    • 90 mmHg
    • 110 mmHg
    • 130 mmHg
    • 120 mmHg
16. Blood pressure regulation (RAAS)

    A drop in renal blood flow triggers release of renin. What is the correct next step in the RAAS cascade?

    • Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I
    • Renin directly causes vasoconstriction of arterioles
    • Renin stimulates the adrenal cortex to release aldosterone directly
    • Renin converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II
17. Vessel structure

    Which layer of a blood vessel wall is composed mainly of smooth muscle and elastic fibers, and is responsible for vasoconstriction and vasodilation?

    • Tunica intima
    • Tunica media
    • Tunica externa/adventitia
    • Endothelium only
18. Capillary exchange

    Why are capillaries, rather than arteries or veins, the primary site of gas and nutrient exchange with tissues?

    • They have valves that control one-way exchange
    • They have the largest diameter of any vessel type, slowing flow for exchange
    • They have a thick tunica media that regulates exchange
    • They consist of a single layer of endothelial cells with no media or externa, minimizing diffusion distance
19. Capillary exchange

    At the arterial end of a capillary, fluid tends to move out into the interstitial space. Which force dominates to cause this?

    • Interstitial oncotic pressure
    • Capillary hydrostatic pressure
    • Capillary oncotic pressure
    • Interstitial hydrostatic pressure