Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
Name the innermost layer of an artery wall.
A. Tunica media
Tunica media: Middle layer made of smooth muscle and elastic fibers; not the innermost layer.
B. Tunica externa
Tunica externa: Outermost connective-tissue layer (adventitia) that contains collagen and sometimes vasa vasorum; not the innermost.
C. Endothelium
Endothelium: The simple squamous cell lining that forms the innermost surface (part of the tunica intima).
D. Vasa vasorum
Vasa vasorum: Small blood vessels that supply the walls of large vessels, located in the outer layers; not the innermost.
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Full Explanation
A. Tunica media: Middle layer made of smooth muscle and elastic fibers; not the innermost layer.
B. Tunica externa: Outermost connective-tissue layer (adventitia) that contains collagen and sometimes vasa vasorum; not the innermost.
C. Endothelium: The simple squamous cell lining that forms the innermost surface (part of the tunica intima).
D. Vasa vasorum: Small blood vessels that supply the walls of large vessels, located in the outer layers; not the innermost.
Similar Questions
When the first heart sound is heard, what is occurring with the heart valves?
A. The AV valves are closing.
The AV valves are closing: This occurs at S₁ (first heart sound) at the start of ventricular systole.
B. The semilunar valves are closing.
The semilunar valves are closing: Semilunar valves close at S₂ (second heart sound), not S₁.
C. The AV valves are opening.
The AV valves are opening: AV valves open during ventricular diastole (filling), not at S₁.
D. The semilunar valves are opening.
The semilunar valves are opening: Semilunar valves open during ventricular ejection (systole) but their opening is not what produces S₁.
Full Explanation
A. The AV valves are closing: This occurs at S₁ (first heart sound) at the start of ventricular systole.
B. The semilunar valves are closing: Semilunar valves close at S₂ (second heart sound), not S₁.
C. The AV valves are opening: AV valves open during ventricular diastole (filling), not at S₁.
D. The semilunar valves are opening: Semilunar valves open during ventricular ejection (systole) but their opening is not what produces S₁.
What factor can increase blood pressure?
A. An increase in parasympathetic stimulation
An increase in parasympathetic stimulation: Parasympathetic activity lowers heart rate and typically reduces BP, so this would not increase BP.
B. A decrease in peripheral resistance
A decrease in peripheral resistance: Lower peripheral resistance reduces BP (BP = CO × PR), so this would decrease BP.
C. An increase in heart rate
An increase in heart rate: Raises cardiac output (if stroke volume is similar), which tends to increase blood pressure.
D. A decrease in stroke volume
A decrease in stroke volume: Lowers cardiac output and therefore tends to decrease BP.
Full Explanation
A. An increase in parasympathetic stimulation: Parasympathetic activity lowers heart rate and typically reduces BP, so this would not increase BP.
B. A decrease in peripheral resistance: Lower peripheral resistance reduces BP (BP = CO × PR), so this would decrease BP.
C. An increase in heart rate: Raises cardiac output (if stroke volume is similar), which tends to increase blood pressure.
D. A decrease in stroke volume: Lowers cardiac output and therefore tends to decrease BP.
What is a function of the pulmonary circuit?
A. It carries oxygen-poor blood to the tissues.
It carries oxygen-poor blood to the tissues: That’s the systemic circuit's function (to deliver oxygen to tissues via arterial blood), so incorrect.
B. It carries oxygen-poor blood to the heart.
It carries oxygen-poor blood to the heart: Venous return from tissues brings oxygen-poor blood back to the heart, but the pulmonary circuit specifically moves blood from the heart to the lungs -so this is misleading/incorrect.
C. It carries oxygen-poor blood from the tissues.
It carries oxygen-poor blood from the tissues: The systemic veins do that; the pulmonary circuit carries blood from the heart to the lungs, not directly from tissues.
D. It carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs.
It carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs: Pulmonary circuit transports deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation.
Full Explanation
A. It carries oxygen-poor blood to the tissues: That’s the systemic circuit's function (to deliver oxygen to tissues via arterial blood), so incorrect.
B. It carries oxygen-poor blood to the heart: Venous return from tissues brings oxygen-poor blood back to the heart, but the pulmonary circuit specifically moves blood from the heart to the lungs -so this is misleading/incorrect.
C. It carries oxygen-poor blood from the tissues: The systemic veins do that; the pulmonary circuit carries blood from the heart to the lungs, not directly from tissues.
D. It carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs: Pulmonary circuit transports deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation.