Understanding EKGs Chapter 1-12 questions

C

1. How many chambers are located in the heart?

a. Five

b. Three

c. Four

d. Six

B

2. The two upper chambers of the heart are called the:

a. Ventricles

b. Atria

c. Aorta

d. Vena cava

A

3. What happens to the blood as it passes through the pulmonary capillaries?

a Oxygen is added and carbon dioxide is removed.

b. Carbon dioxide is added and oxygen is removed.

c. Oxygen is added and carbon dioxide is added.

d. Oxygen is removed and carbon dioxide is removed.

D

4. The right ventricle pumps oxygen-poor blood to the

lungs through the:

a. Pulmonary veins

b. Aorta

c. Vena cava

d. Pulmonary arteries

D

5. What is the normal order of the electrical conduction pattern of the heart?

a. AV node, SA node, ventricles

b. Ventricles, AV node, SA node

c. SA node, ventricles, AV node

d. SA node, AV node, ventricles

A

6. An abnormal rhythm of the heart is called a:

a. Dysrhythmia

b. Paranormal rhythm

c. Rhythmia

d. Pararhythm

B

7. Bradycardia usually refers to a heart rate of

a. less than 70BPM.

b. less than 60

c. greater than 60

d. less than 100

A

8. Tachycardia usually refers to a heart rate of ____

BPM.

a. greater than 100

c. less than 100

b. greater than 80

d. less than 60

B

9. The largest artery in the body is the:

a. Femoral

b. Aorta

c. Carotid

d. Pulmonary

D

10. Normal sinus rhythm usually refers to a heart rate of

a. greater than 100

b. greater than 110

c. less than 100

d. between 60 and 100

A

11. In sinus dysrhythmia, waveforms vary with

respirations.

a. True

b. False

A

12. Bradycardia describes a heart rate of less than 70 BPM. a. False

b. True

A

13. If your patient is asymptomatic (medically stable), and episodes of sinus arrest are occurring only occasionally, continued observation may be all that is required.

a. True

b. False

A

14. As a general rule, there should be a difference of at least 0.08 seconds between the shortest and longest R-R intervals in order to distinguish that a rhythm is not a normal sinus rhythm.

a. True

b. False

A

15. Rhythms that originate in the SA node are called either sinus rhythms or sinus dysrhythmias.

a. True

b. False

C

The fibrous sac covering the heart, which is in contact with the pleura, is the:

A. Epicardium

B. Myocardium

C. Pericardium

D. Endocardium

B

The lower chamber of the heart, with the thickest myocardium, is the:

A. Right

B. Left

A

The pulmonic and aortic valves are open during:

A. Systole

B. Diastole

C

The large blood vessel that returns unoxygenated blood from the head and neck to the right atrium is called the:

A. Jugular Vein

B. Carotid Artery

C. Superior Vena Cava

D. Inferior Vena Cava

A

The right coronary artery branches supply oxygen-rich blood to a portion of the:

A. Electrical conduction system

B. Left circumflex arteries

C. Sympathetic nervous system

D. Coronary sinus

B

The most numerous blood vessels in the body are the:

A. Arteries

B. Capillaries

C. Venules

D. Veins

D

Blood flow between the heart and lungs is ________:

A. Systemic

B. Venous

C. Myocardial

D. Pulmonary

C

These blood vessels function under high pressure in order to convey blood from the heart out to the rest of the body:

A. Venules

B. Veins

C. Arteries

D. Capillaries

B

An inflammation of the serous pericardium is called:

A. Myocarditis

B. Pericarditis

C. Pulmonitis

D. Tendonitis

C

The smooth outer surface of the heart is called the:

A. Pericardium

B. Endocardium

C. Epicardium

D. Myocardium

B

The _______ valve is named for its three cusps and is located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.

A. Bicuspid

B. Tricuspid

C. Aortic

D. Pulmonic

A

Chordae tendineae and papillary muscles work in convert to prevent the cusps from fluttering back into the:

A. Atrium

B. Ventricle

C. Aorta

D. Vena cava

D

The right and left coronary arteries arise from the:

A. Left Ventricle

B. Right atrium

C. Coronary sinus

D. Trunk of the aorta

B

The central section of the thorax is called the:

A. Costal margin

B. Mediastinum

C. Diaphragm

D. Xiphoid

C

The apex of the heart lies just above the:

A. Intercostal Space

B. Mediastinum

C. Diaphragm

D. Xiphoid

B

The left side of the heart is a low-pressure pump.

A. True

B. False

B

The major blood vessel that receives blood from the head and upper extremities and transports it to the heart is the:

A. Trunk of the aorta

B. Superior Vena Cava

C. Inferior Vena cava

D. Pulmonary Artery

B

The course of blood flow through the heart and lungs is referred to as _________ circulation.

A. Aortic

B. Pulmonary

C. Systemic

D. Collateral

D

Cardiac output is a factor of which of the following elements?

A. Cardiac Rate

B. Stroke Volume and Patrial Vascular Resistance

C. Partial Vascular resistance And Cardiac Rate

D. Cardiac Rate and Stroke Volume

A

The chief chemical neurotransmitter for the para-sympathetic nervous system is:

A. Acetylcholine

B. Norepinephrine

C. Epinephrine

D. Atropine

C

Is is important to note that blood vessels are innervated only by the ______ nervous system.

A. Adrenergic

B. Parasympathetic

C. Sympathetic

D. Cholinergic

B

The chief chemical neurotransmitter for the sympathetic nervous system is:

A. Acetylcholine

B. Norepinephrine

C. Ephedrine

D. Atropine

D

Unoxygenated blood flows from the inferior and superior vena cava into the:

A. Left Atrium

B. Left Ventricle

C. Right Ventricle

D. Right Atrium

A

One cardiac cycle occurs every _____ seconds.

A. 0.8

B. 0.5

C. 0.52

D. 1.2

B

With the exception of ________. All the body's blood vessels have alpha-adrenergic receptors whereas the heart and lungs have beta-adrenergic receptors.

A. Arterioles

B. Capillaries

C. Venules

D. Aorta

C

Blood travels from the left atrium through the _______ valve and into the left ventricle

A. Aortic

B. Pulmonic

C. Bicuspid

D. Tricuspid

D

Blood travels from the right atrium through the ______ valve and intro the right ventricle

A. Aortic

B. Pulmonic

C. Bicuspid

D. Tricuspid

C

Starling's Law of the heart is also referred to as:

A. Cushing's theory

B. Beck's Triad

C. The Rubber Band Theory

D. The Hering-Breuer reflex

D

Stroke volume is estimated at approximately _______ ml per beat.

A. 40ml

B. 50ml

C. 60ml

D. 70ml

A

The ________ nervous system is responsible for preparation of the body for physical activity (fight or flight)

A. Sympathetic

B. Parasympathetic

C. Peripheral

D. Adrenergic

C

The primary functions of the myocardial working cells include:

A. Automaticity

B. Regeneration

C. Contraction and relaxation

D. Impulse propagation

A

Repolarization is a slower process than depolarization:

A. True

B. False

A

The ability of cardiac pacemaker cells to generate their own electrical impulses spontaneously without external, or nervous, stimulation, is known as:

A. Automaticity

B. Contractility

C. Conductivity

D. Action potential

A

The period when repolarization is almost complete and the cardiac cells can be stimulated to contract prematurely if the stimulus is stronger than normal is known as:

A. The relative refractory period

B. The absolute refractory period

C. The action potential phase

D. Absolute depolarization

A

Which characteristic is specific to the pacemaker sites of the electrical conduction system (i.e., the SA node, the AV junction, and the Purkinje network fibers)

A. Automaticity

B. Contractility

C. Conductivity

D. Excitability

C

Cardiac depolarization may be thought of as the period during which _________ ions rush into the cell.

A. Potassium

B. Calcium

C. Sodium

D. Chloride

D

The ability of cardiac cells to respond to an electrical stimulus is referred to as:

A. Automaticity

B. Contractility

C. Conductivity

D. Excitability

A

Excitability is referred to as:

A. Irritability

B. Automaticity

C. Contractility

D. Conductivity

D

The ability of cardiac cells to receive an electrical stimulus and then transmit the stimulus to other cardiac cells is known as:

A. Irritability

B. Automaticity

C. Contractility

D. Conductivity

A

Conductivity is a characteristic shared by all cardiac cells:

A. True

B. False

A

Cardiac muscle cell groups that function collectively as a unit are known as:

A. Syncytia

B. Refractory

C. Electrical

D. Bundles

A

At the end of cardiac depolarization, _________ ions return to the inside of the cell.

A. Potassium

B. Calcium

C. Sodium

D. Magnesium

B

The resting state of a cardiac cell, wherein the inside of the cell is electrically negative relative to the outside of the cell, is called:

A. Active State

B. Polarized State

C. Depolarization

D. Repolarization

A

The point at which a stimulus will produce a cell response is called the:

A. Threshold

B. All-or-none phase

C. All-for-one phase

D. One-for-all-phase

D

An increase in potassium blood levels is known as:

A. Hypernatremia

B. Hyponatremia

C. Hypercalcemia

D. Hyperkalemia

A

The sinoatrial node is located in the:

A. Right Atrium

B. Right Ventricle

C. Purkinje fiber tract

D. Atrioventricular septum

A

Purkinje's network fibers can be identified only with the aid of a microscope:

A. True

B. False

A

The AV node is located in the:

A. Right Atrium

B. Right Ventricle

C. Purkinje fiber tract

D. Atrioventricular septum

D

The intrinsic firing rate of the AV junction is _______ BPM.

A. 20-40

B. 25-35

C. 30-50

D. 40-60

C

The intrinsic firing rate of the SA node is _______ BPM.

A. 20-60

B. 40-80

C. 60-100

D. 80-100

C

The electrocardiogram is used to:

A. Determine pulse rate

B. Detect valvular dysfunction

C. Evaluate electrical activity in the heart

D. Determine if the heart is beating

B

Purkinje's network fibers are smaller in diameter than ordinary cardiac muscle fibers:

A. True

B. False

C

The primary functions of the myocardial working cells include:

A. Automaticity

B. Regeneration

C. Contraction and relaxation

D. Impulse propagation

C

The major blood vessel that receives blood from the systemic circulation is the:

A. Superior vena cava

B. Great cardiac vein

C. Inferior vena cava

D. Pulmonary artery

B. SA node -> Internodal Pathways -> AV node -> Bundle of His -> Bundle branches -> Purkinje fibers

Place his sequence in order of the normal conduction pattern of the heart:

1. SA Node

2. Purkinje fibers

3. Bundle of His

4. AV node

5. Bundle branches

6. Internodal pathways

A. 1, 6, 3, 5, 2, 4

B. 1, 6, 4, 3, 5, 2

C. 1, 6, 4, 5, 3, 2

D. 6, 1, 5, 4, 3, 2

C

The intrinsic firing rate of the Purkinje network is:

A. 60-80

B. 40-60

C. 20-40

D. 10-20

C

The SA node receives its blood supply primarily from the:

A. Left coronary artery

B. Great Cardiac vein

C. Right coronary artery

D. Aorta

B

____________ internodal tracts or pathways receive the electrical impulse as it leaves the SA node. These tracts distribute the electrical impulse throughout the atria and transmit the impulse from the SA node to the AV node.

A. two

B. three

C. four

D. five

C

What is the specialized group of cardiac fibers conducting electrical activity from the SA node to the left atrium.

A. Purkinje network

B. Bundle of His

C. Bachmann's bundle

D. Intercalated disks

B

The interventricular septum is the wall between the:

A. Right and Left Atrium

B. Right and Left Ventricle

C. Top and Bottom chambers

D. Right Ventricle and Right Atrium

B

Ventricular diastole refers to ventricular:

A. Contraction

B. Relaxation

C. Filling time

D. Pressure ratio

C

The electrocardiogram is used to:

A. Determine Cardiac Output

B. Detect valvular dysfunction

C. Evaluate electrical activity of the heart

D. Detect left-to-right conduction disorders

A

While EKG analysis serves as a useful diagnostic tool, the health care professional must be cognizant of the fact that the EKG is a graphic tracing of the electrical activity of the heart but not the mechanical activity.

A. True

B. False

D

The PR interval should normally be _________ seconds or smaller

A. 0.10

B. 0.12

C. 0.08

D. 0.20

B

The QRS interval should normally be ________ seconds or smaller.

A. 0.20

B. 0.12

C. 0.18

D. 0.36

A

The ground lead serves to minimize outside electrical interference.

A. True

B. False

C

The exact portion of the heart being visualized depends, in large part, on the placement of the:

A. Patient

B. Pads

C. Electrodes

D. Leads

A

Lead II is most commonly used for cardiac monitoring because of it ability to visualize _ waves.

A. P

B. Q

C. R

D. T

C

The QRS complex is produced when:

A. The ventricles repolarize and depolarize

B. The ventricles repolarize and relax

C. The ventricles depolarize and contract

D. The ventricles depolarize and relax

B

The normal conduction pattern of the heart follows which sequence?

1. SA node

2. Purkinje fibers

3. Bundle of His

4. AV node

5. Bundle branches

6. Internodal pathways

A. 1, 5, 2, 4, 6, 3

B. 1, 6, 4, 3, 5, 2

C. 1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 2

D. 1, 2, 3, 6, 5, 2

A

The T wave on the EKG strip represents:

A. Rest period / Ventricular repolarization

B. Bundle of His / Ventricular depolarization

C. Atrial contraction / Ventricular depolarization

D. Ventricular contraction / Ventricular repolarization

A

The coronary circulation has how many main arteries?

A. Two

B. Six

C. Four

D. Eight

D

When interpreting dysrhythmias, the health care provider should remember that the most important key is the:

A. PR interval

B. Rate and rhythm

C. Presence of dysrhythmias

D. Patient's clinical appearance

B

A graphic record of electrical activity of the heart is an:

A. Echocardiogram

B. Electrocardiogram

C. EKG Machine

D. Electrograph

A

_______ leads are those that have one positive electrode and one negative electrode.

A. Bipolar

B. Unipolar

C. Multipolar

D. Tripolar

d

2. The intrinsic firing rate of the AV node is _________ BPM.

a. 15-25

b. 25-35

c. 35-45

d. 40-60

a

3. You must master the accepted parameters for each dysrhythmia and then apply those parameters to each of the five steps when analyzing an EKG strip. a. True

b. False

c

4. The electrocardiogram is used to:

a. Determine pulse rate

b. Detect valvular dysfunction

c. Evaluate electrical activity in the heart

d. Determine whether the heart is beating

d

5. The PR interval should normally be _____

seconds or smaller.

a. 0.10

b. 0.12

c. 0.08

d. 0.20

b

6. The QRS interval should normally be _______

seconds or smaller.

a. 0.20

b. 0.12

c. 0.18

d. 0.36

a

7. Artifact is defined as EKG waveforms from sources outside the heart.

a. True

b. False

b

9. The point at which the QRS complex meets the ST

segment is commonly referred to as the:

a. T point

b. J point

c. U point

d. S point

d

8. Causes of artifact include:

a. patient movement

b. loose electrodes

c. improper grounding

d. All the above

a

10. The term supraventricular refers to a stimulus arising above the ventricles.

a. True

b. False

a

11. The T wave on the EKG strip represents:

a. Rest period

b. Bundle of His

c. Atrial contraction

d. Ventricular contraction