ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Practice Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
What is the condition where the lungs become filled with fluid, often due to heart failure, making it difficult to breathe?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale: 1. Pulmonary edema is the condition where lungs fill with fluid due to heart failure, causing breathing difficulty. 2. Pleural effusion is fluid accumulation in the pleural space, not in the lung tissue. 3. Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, not related to fluid accumulation. 4. Pneumothorax is the presence of air in the pleural space, not fluid. Summary: Pulmonary edema is the correct answer as it specifically describes the condition of fluid accumulation in the lungs due to heart failure, leading to breathing difficulties. Pleural effusion, pulmonary hypertension, and pneumothorax are incorrect as they involve different pathologies not related to lung fluid accumulation.
Question 2 of 5
What is the condition where the lung collapses due to air leaking into the space between the lung and chest wall?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pneumothorax. This condition occurs when air enters the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse. The air disrupts the pressure balance, leading to lung collapse. Pleural effusion (B) is the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, not air. Pulmonary fibrosis (C) is scarring of lung tissue, unrelated to air leakage. Lung cancer (D) is the abnormal growth of cells in the lung, not directly causing air leakage.
Question 3 of 5
Which of the following is a rare but serious condition where the pulmonary arteries become narrowed, increasing the blood pressure in the lungs?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pulmonary hypertension. This condition is characterized by narrowing of the pulmonary arteries, leading to increased blood pressure in the lungs. Pulmonary embolism (B) is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries, not narrowing. Pulmonary fibrosis (C) involves scarring of lung tissue, not artery narrowing. Aortic stenosis (D) is a narrowing of the aortic valve, not the pulmonary arteries. Therefore, the correct choice is A.
Question 4 of 5
What is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the small airways in the lungs, leading to episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Asthma. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the small airways in the lungs, causing symptoms like wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing. The inflammation in the airways leads to narrowing and constriction, resulting in the characteristic symptoms of asthma. Asthma is typically triggered by various factors such as allergens, pollutants, exercise, or infections. Summary of other choices: B: COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a different condition characterized by irreversible airflow limitation due to chronic bronchitis and emphysema. C: Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, often caused by viral infections or smoking, but it does not specifically target the small airways like asthma. D: Lung cancer is a malignancy that arises in the lungs and is not primarily associated with chronic inflammation of the small airways as seen in asthma.
Question 5 of 5
What type of medication is used to reduce inflammation in the airways and prevent asthma attacks?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Corticosteroid. Corticosteroids work by reducing inflammation in the airways, which is a key factor in asthma attacks. They help prevent asthma symptoms by decreasing swelling and mucus production in the airways. Bronchodilators (B) help to relax and widen the airways but do not target inflammation. Antihistamines (C) are used to treat allergies and do not directly address asthma inflammation. Mucolytics (D) help to thin mucus in the airways but do not specifically target airway inflammation in asthma.