ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Questions and Answers Questions
Question 1 of 5
In an assessment for intermittent claudication, the cardiac-vascular nurse assesses for leg pain and cramping with exertion, then asks the patient:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Intermittent claudication (arterial insufficiency) is characterized by exertional leg pain relieved by rest, distinguishing it from venous pain (relieved by elevation, D). A and B assess other conditions, not claudication specifically.
Question 2 of 5
The correct sequence for blood entering the heart through the venae cavae and leaving through the aorta is:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Blood enters via the venae cavae into the right atrium, flows to the right ventricle, is pumped to the lungs, returns to the left atrium via pulmonary veins, then enters the left ventricle, and exits through the aorta. This reflects normal adult circulation.
Question 3 of 5
Discontinuous or fenestrated capillaries are found in:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Fenestrated capillaries, with pores in their endothelial walls, are found in the intestines, kidneys, and endocrine glands to facilitate rapid exchange (e.g., nutrient absorption). Muscles and adipose tissue have continuous capillaries, and the CNS has tight junctions (blood-brain barrier).
Question 4 of 5
Substances exchanged at the capillary level move through the capillary walls primarily by:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diffusion is the primary mechanism for exchange in capillaries, driven by concentration gradients (e.g., oxygen, CO2). Filtration and osmosis contribute to fluid movement, but diffusion dominates for most substances.
Question 5 of 5
A client has been prescribed a new medication and was told that it was to reduce the risk of developing fatty plaques in the arteries. The client asks how arteries and veins differ. The nurse should explain that arteries:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Arteries carry blood away from the heart, distinguishing them from veins, which return blood to the heart. Arteries vary in size (some larger than veins, e.g., aorta), and they supply the whole body, not just the heart (coronary arteries are a subset).