CARDIOVASCULAR NCLEX STUDY GUIDE EXAM
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔26) Prolonged occlusion of the right coronary artery produces an infarction in which
of the following areas of the heart?
1.Anterior
2.Apical
3.Inferior
4.Lateral - ✔✔3. Inferior
The right coronary artery supplies the right ventricle, or the inferior portion of the heart.
Therefore, prolonged occlusion could produce an infarction in that area. The right
coronary artery doesn't supply the anterior portion (left ventricle), lateral portion (some
of the left ventricle and the left atrium), or the apical portion (left ventricle) of the heart.
✔✔27) A murmur is heard at the second left intercostal space along the left sternal
border. Which valve is this?
1.Aortic
2.Mitral
3.Pulmonic
4.Tricupsid - ✔✔3. Pulmonic
Abnormalities of the pulmonic valve are auscultated at the second left intercostal space
along the left sternal border. Aortic valve abnormalities are heard at the second
intercostal space, to the right of the sternum. Mitral valve abnormalities are heard at the
fifth intercostal space in the midclavicular line. Tricupsid valve abnormalities are heard
at the 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces along the sternal border.
✔✔28) Which of the following blood tests is most indicative of cardiac damage?
1.Lactate dehydrogenase
2.Complete blood count (CBC)
3.Troponin I
4.Creatine kinase (CK) - ✔✔3. Troponin I
Troponin I levels rise rapidly and are detectable within 1 hour of myocardial injury.
Troponin levels aren't detectable in people without cardiac injury.
✔✔29) Which of the following diagnostic tools is most commonly used to determine the
location of myocardial damage?
1.Cardiac catherization
2.Cardiac enzymes
3.Echocardiogram
4.Electrocardiogram (ECG) - ✔✔4. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
, The ECG is the quickest, most accurate, and most widely used tool to determine the
location of myocardial infarction. Cardiac enzymes are used to diagnose MI but can't
determine the location. An echocardiogram is used most widely to view myocardial wall
function after an MI has been diagnosed. Cardiac catherization is an invasive study for
determining coronary artery disease and may also indicate the location of myocardial
damage, but the study may not be performed immediately.
✔✔Which of the following types of pain is most characteristic of angina?
1.Knifelike
2.Sharp
3.Shooting
4.Tightness - ✔✔.4 Tightness
The pain of angina usually ranges from a vague feeling of tightness to heavy, intense
pain. Pain impulses originate in the most visceral muscles and may move to such areas
as the chest, neck, and arms.
✔✔31) Which of the following parameters is the major determinate of diastolic blood
pressure?
1.Baroreceptors
2.Cardiac output
3.Renal function
4.Vascular resistance - ✔✔4.Vascular resistance
Vascular resistance is the impedance of blood flow by the arterioles that most
predominantly affects the diastolic pressure. Cardiac output determines systolic blood
pressure.
✔✔32) Which of the following factors can cause blood pressure to drop to normal
levels?
1.Kidneys' excretion of sodium only
2.Kidneys' retention of sodium and water
3.Kidneys' excretion of sodium and water
4.Kidneys' retention of sodium and excretion of water - ✔✔3. Kidneys' excretion of
sodium and water
The kidneys respond to a rise in blood pressure by excreting sodium and excess water.
This response ultimately affects systolic pressure by regulating blood volume.
✔✔33) Baroreceptors in the carotid artery walls and aorta respond to which of the
following conditions?
1.Changes in blood pressure
2.Changes in arterial oxygen tension
3.Changes in arterial carbon dioxide tension
4.Changes in heart rate - ✔✔1.Changes in blood pressure
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔26) Prolonged occlusion of the right coronary artery produces an infarction in which
of the following areas of the heart?
1.Anterior
2.Apical
3.Inferior
4.Lateral - ✔✔3. Inferior
The right coronary artery supplies the right ventricle, or the inferior portion of the heart.
Therefore, prolonged occlusion could produce an infarction in that area. The right
coronary artery doesn't supply the anterior portion (left ventricle), lateral portion (some
of the left ventricle and the left atrium), or the apical portion (left ventricle) of the heart.
✔✔27) A murmur is heard at the second left intercostal space along the left sternal
border. Which valve is this?
1.Aortic
2.Mitral
3.Pulmonic
4.Tricupsid - ✔✔3. Pulmonic
Abnormalities of the pulmonic valve are auscultated at the second left intercostal space
along the left sternal border. Aortic valve abnormalities are heard at the second
intercostal space, to the right of the sternum. Mitral valve abnormalities are heard at the
fifth intercostal space in the midclavicular line. Tricupsid valve abnormalities are heard
at the 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces along the sternal border.
✔✔28) Which of the following blood tests is most indicative of cardiac damage?
1.Lactate dehydrogenase
2.Complete blood count (CBC)
3.Troponin I
4.Creatine kinase (CK) - ✔✔3. Troponin I
Troponin I levels rise rapidly and are detectable within 1 hour of myocardial injury.
Troponin levels aren't detectable in people without cardiac injury.
✔✔29) Which of the following diagnostic tools is most commonly used to determine the
location of myocardial damage?
1.Cardiac catherization
2.Cardiac enzymes
3.Echocardiogram
4.Electrocardiogram (ECG) - ✔✔4. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
, The ECG is the quickest, most accurate, and most widely used tool to determine the
location of myocardial infarction. Cardiac enzymes are used to diagnose MI but can't
determine the location. An echocardiogram is used most widely to view myocardial wall
function after an MI has been diagnosed. Cardiac catherization is an invasive study for
determining coronary artery disease and may also indicate the location of myocardial
damage, but the study may not be performed immediately.
✔✔Which of the following types of pain is most characteristic of angina?
1.Knifelike
2.Sharp
3.Shooting
4.Tightness - ✔✔.4 Tightness
The pain of angina usually ranges from a vague feeling of tightness to heavy, intense
pain. Pain impulses originate in the most visceral muscles and may move to such areas
as the chest, neck, and arms.
✔✔31) Which of the following parameters is the major determinate of diastolic blood
pressure?
1.Baroreceptors
2.Cardiac output
3.Renal function
4.Vascular resistance - ✔✔4.Vascular resistance
Vascular resistance is the impedance of blood flow by the arterioles that most
predominantly affects the diastolic pressure. Cardiac output determines systolic blood
pressure.
✔✔32) Which of the following factors can cause blood pressure to drop to normal
levels?
1.Kidneys' excretion of sodium only
2.Kidneys' retention of sodium and water
3.Kidneys' excretion of sodium and water
4.Kidneys' retention of sodium and excretion of water - ✔✔3. Kidneys' excretion of
sodium and water
The kidneys respond to a rise in blood pressure by excreting sodium and excess water.
This response ultimately affects systolic pressure by regulating blood volume.
✔✔33) Baroreceptors in the carotid artery walls and aorta respond to which of the
following conditions?
1.Changes in blood pressure
2.Changes in arterial oxygen tension
3.Changes in arterial carbon dioxide tension
4.Changes in heart rate - ✔✔1.Changes in blood pressure
