Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
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.
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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.
Similar Questions
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.
What is vasodilation?
A. Compression of a vein because of muscle contraction.
Compression of a vein because of muscle contraction: That’s mechanical venous compression (skeletal muscle pump), not vasodilation.
B. An increase in the diameter of a blood vessel.
An increase in the diameter of a blood vessel: Definition of vasodilation.
C. Contraction of the ventricles which increases ventricular pressure.
Contraction of the ventricles which increases ventricular pressure: That describes ventricular systole, not vasodilation.
D. A decrease in the diameter of a blood vessel.
A decrease in the diameter of a blood vessel: That is vasoconstriction, the opposite of vasodilation.
Full Explanation
A. Compression of a vein because of muscle contraction: That’s mechanical venous compression (skeletal muscle pump), not vasodilation.
B. An increase in the diameter of a blood vessel: Definition of vasodilation.
C. Contraction of the ventricles which increases ventricular pressure: That describes ventricular systole, not vasodilation.
D. A decrease in the diameter of a blood vessel: That is vasoconstriction, the opposite of vasodilation.
In the highlighted area, what pulse could be measured?
A. Radial
Radial: The radial pulse is palpated at the lateral (thumb) side of the wrist between the tendons of the flexor carpi radialis and the abductor pollicis longus -it is superficial and commonly used clinically, so this is the correct pulse for a wrist/forearm highlighted area.
B. Ulnar
Ulnar: The ulnar pulse lies on the medial (pinky) side of the wrist and is deeper and often harder to palpate than the radial; it would not be the best choice if the highlighted area is lateral at the thumb side.
C. Brachial
Brachial: The brachial pulse is felt on the medial aspect of the arm (at the antecubital fossa or just medial to the biceps tendon) and is used for infants or blood pressure -it is not located at the distal wrist.
D. Dorsalis pedis
Dorsalis pedis: The dorsalis pedis pulse is on the dorsum of the foot (between the tendons over the instep) and is unrelated to a wrist/forearm highlighting.
Full Explanation
A. Radial: The radial pulse is palpated at the lateral (thumb) side of the wrist between the tendons of the flexor carpi radialis and the abductor pollicis longus -it is superficial and commonly used clinically, so this is the correct pulse for a wrist/forearm highlighted area.
B. Ulnar: The ulnar pulse lies on the medial (pinky) side of the wrist and is deeper and often harder to palpate than the radial; it would not be the best choice if the highlighted area is lateral at the thumb side.
C. Brachial: The brachial pulse is felt on the medial aspect of the arm (at the antecubital fossa or just medial to the biceps tendon) and is used for infants or blood pressure -it is not located at the distal wrist.
D. Dorsalis pedis: The dorsalis pedis pulse is on the dorsum of the foot (between the tendons over the instep) and is unrelated to a wrist/forearm highlighting.