WCU PHYS 261 FINAL EXAM STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
2026 EDITION
What is the function of transverse tubules? - ANS To rapidly conduct action potentials to the
interior of the muscle fiber.
Which is greater: blood pressure when the peripheral vessels constrict or dilate? - ANS Blood
pressure when the peripheral vessels constrict.
What does the P wave of an ECG correspond to? - ANS Depolarization of the atria.
What reflex complements a withdrawal reflex? - ANS Crossed extensor reflex.
What happens when your instructor announces a pop quiz? - ANS Increased sympathetic
signaling and increased cardiac output.
What protein is activated by the Ca2+-calmodulin complex? - ANS Myosin light chain kinase.
When is end-systolic volume (ESV) greatest? - ANS When parasympathetic stimulation of the
heart is increased.
1
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,What is one repeating unit of the striated muscle banding pattern called? - ANS Sarcomere.
What initiates the contraction cycle in muscle fibers? - ANS The rise in Ca2+ released from
the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR).
What is stroke volume (SV)? - ANS The volume of blood pumped out of the heart from one
ventricle during one contraction.
What causes the rapid depolarization phase of myocardial contractile cells? - ANS Na+ only.
What is end-diastolic volume (EDV)? - ANS The volume of blood in the ventricle available to
be pumped out during one contraction.
What is end-systolic volume (ESV)? - ANS The volume of blood left in the ventricle after it
contracts.
What happens when calcium binds to troponin? - ANS Tropomyosin is pulled away from the
myosin-binding site on actin.
What is the driving force for blood flow? - ANS Pressure gradient.
Which condition would NOT cause an increase in blood pressure? - ANS A decrease in cardiac
output.
What does the QRS complex represent? - ANS Ventricular depolarization.
2
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, How is cardiac output calculated? - ANS The product of heart rate and stroke volume.
What is the importance of the plateau phase of the action potential of myocardial cells? -
ANS Preventing tetanus.
What happens to arterial blood pressure if cardiac output increases and resistance in arterioles
does NOT change? - ANS It increases.
What changes the conformation of the dihydropyridine (DHP) receptor? - ANS The action
potential traveling along the t-tubule.
What system restores lost fluid from the capillaries back to the circulatory system? -
ANS Lymphatic system.
What is hyperkalemia? - ANS An increase in plasma potassium levels.
What do chief cells secrete? - ANS Pepsinogen.
What does vasopressin do? - ANS Stimulates kidneys to retain water.
What does renin produce? - ANS Angiotensin I.
What is a glomerulus? - ANS A 'ball' of capillaries within Bowman's capsule.
What happens to blood volume, blood pressure, and osmolarity during dehydration? -
ANS Decreased blood volume, decreased blood pressure, increased osmolarity.
3
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
2026 EDITION
What is the function of transverse tubules? - ANS To rapidly conduct action potentials to the
interior of the muscle fiber.
Which is greater: blood pressure when the peripheral vessels constrict or dilate? - ANS Blood
pressure when the peripheral vessels constrict.
What does the P wave of an ECG correspond to? - ANS Depolarization of the atria.
What reflex complements a withdrawal reflex? - ANS Crossed extensor reflex.
What happens when your instructor announces a pop quiz? - ANS Increased sympathetic
signaling and increased cardiac output.
What protein is activated by the Ca2+-calmodulin complex? - ANS Myosin light chain kinase.
When is end-systolic volume (ESV) greatest? - ANS When parasympathetic stimulation of the
heart is increased.
1
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,What is one repeating unit of the striated muscle banding pattern called? - ANS Sarcomere.
What initiates the contraction cycle in muscle fibers? - ANS The rise in Ca2+ released from
the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR).
What is stroke volume (SV)? - ANS The volume of blood pumped out of the heart from one
ventricle during one contraction.
What causes the rapid depolarization phase of myocardial contractile cells? - ANS Na+ only.
What is end-diastolic volume (EDV)? - ANS The volume of blood in the ventricle available to
be pumped out during one contraction.
What is end-systolic volume (ESV)? - ANS The volume of blood left in the ventricle after it
contracts.
What happens when calcium binds to troponin? - ANS Tropomyosin is pulled away from the
myosin-binding site on actin.
What is the driving force for blood flow? - ANS Pressure gradient.
Which condition would NOT cause an increase in blood pressure? - ANS A decrease in cardiac
output.
What does the QRS complex represent? - ANS Ventricular depolarization.
2
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, How is cardiac output calculated? - ANS The product of heart rate and stroke volume.
What is the importance of the plateau phase of the action potential of myocardial cells? -
ANS Preventing tetanus.
What happens to arterial blood pressure if cardiac output increases and resistance in arterioles
does NOT change? - ANS It increases.
What changes the conformation of the dihydropyridine (DHP) receptor? - ANS The action
potential traveling along the t-tubule.
What system restores lost fluid from the capillaries back to the circulatory system? -
ANS Lymphatic system.
What is hyperkalemia? - ANS An increase in plasma potassium levels.
What do chief cells secrete? - ANS Pepsinogen.
What does vasopressin do? - ANS Stimulates kidneys to retain water.
What does renin produce? - ANS Angiotensin I.
What is a glomerulus? - ANS A 'ball' of capillaries within Bowman's capsule.
What happens to blood volume, blood pressure, and osmolarity during dehydration? -
ANS Decreased blood volume, decreased blood pressure, increased osmolarity.
3
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
