ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Practice Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
What test uses sound waves to create images of the heart and assess its structure and function?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Echocardiogram. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create images of the heart, providing detailed information about its structure and function. It is a non-invasive and safe test commonly used to diagnose various heart conditions. MRI (B) uses magnetic fields and radio waves, CT scan (C) uses X-rays, and X-ray (D) uses electromagnetic radiation, but none of these tests specifically utilize sound waves for imaging the heart.
Question 2 of 5
What is a condition where the heart's ability to pump blood is reduced because the heart muscle is enlarged, thickened, or stiffened?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy refers to a condition where the heart muscle is enlarged, thickened, or stiffened, leading to a reduced ability to pump blood effectively. This condition directly relates to the heart's structural changes, impacting its pumping function. Endocarditis (B) is an infection of the heart's inner lining, not directly related to heart muscle changes. Myocarditis (C) is inflammation of the heart muscle but does not necessarily involve structural changes leading to reduced pumping ability. Aortic stenosis (D) is a condition where the heart's aortic valve is narrowed, impeding blood flow, but it does not specifically refer to the heart muscle changes seen in cardiomyopathy.
Question 3 of 5
What procedure involves using a balloon to open a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, often followed by the placement of a stent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Angioplasty. Angioplasty involves using a balloon to open a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, followed by the placement of a stent to keep the vessel open. This procedure is commonly used to treat conditions like coronary artery disease. Valve replacement (B) involves replacing damaged heart valves, CABG (C) involves bypassing blocked coronary arteries using grafts, and endarterectomy (D) involves removing plaque from arteries, but none of these procedures specifically involve using a balloon and stent to open a narrowed or blocked blood vessel.
Question 4 of 5
What is a condition where a blood clot forms in a vein, often in the legs, which can cause pain and swelling and may lead to serious complications if it travels to the lungs?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, often in the legs. This can cause pain, swelling, and potentially serious complications if the clot dislodges and travels to the lungs, leading to a pulmonary embolism. Varicose veins (C) are enlarged, twisted veins close to the skin's surface, not deep veins. Aneurysm (D) is the ballooning of a blood vessel, not a clot formation. Pulmonary embolism (B) is a complication of DVT, not the initial condition.
Question 5 of 5
What is the condition where the blood vessels that supply blood to the legs and feet become narrowed or blocked, causing pain and difficulty walking?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is characterized by narrowed or blocked blood vessels in the legs, leading to reduced blood flow, causing pain and difficulty walking (claudication). The narrowing is typically due to atherosclerosis. Raynaud's disease (B) involves spasms of small arteries, causing reduced blood flow to fingers and toes, not legs. Varicose veins (C) are enlarged, twisted veins, not arteries. Pulmonary embolism (D) is a blockage in the lungs' arteries, not the legs.