Comprehensive RCIS Glowacki and
Sommers HEMO Exam Study Guide.
Latest Updated 2026/2027 with
Correct Answers.
What is the pressure as blood enters the right atrium? - ans5mmHg
What organ system in the body acts on the blood in the vessels to make a pressure of
5mmHg? - ansDeep skeletal muscle pump system
What pressure is the blood under as it goes from the RA through the tricuspid valve? -
ans5mmHg
The bigger the diameter of the valve the __________ pressure is needed to move blood
across it. - ansLess
The smaller the diameter of the valve the _________ pressure is needed to move blood across
it. - ansmore
What is the largest valve in the heart? - anstricuspid valve
What is the normal right ventricular systolic pressure? - ans25mmHg
How much smaller is the pulmonic valve than the tricuspid valve? - ans5x smaller. It takes
5mmHg to get across the tricuspid valve and 25mmHg to get across the pulmonic valve.
Which valve has a bigger diameter, the tricuspid or pulmonic valve? - ansTricuspid
Which valve requires more pressure to move across it, the tricuspid or the pulmonic? -
anspulmonic
Valve A requires 5mmHg to move blood and valve B requires 30mmHg. Which valve has a
smaller diameter? - ansValve B
What is the right ventricular diastolic pressure? - ans5mmHg
What is the RV EDP? - ans5mmHg
Why is the RV EDP not zero? - ansBecause some blood is not ejected out. The heart is not a
perfectly efficient pump.
What is a normal RV ejection fraction? - ans55-60%
What is EDP? - ansEnd Diastolic Pressure. An efficient heart has an ejection fraction of 55-
60%, this leftover blood in the ventricle is under a resting (diastolic) pressure.
What is a normal diastolic pressure in the pulmonary artery? - ans7-12mmHg
What is the normal left atrial pressure? - ans7-12mmHg
What is the normal O2 concentration of a RBC leaving the lungs? - ans98%
What is the normal O2 concentration of a RBC when it returns to the RA? - ans70%
How much O2 is a RBC able to give up to the organs? - ans30% of its O2
True/False: If someone has a higher EDP there is less damage to the heart. - ansFalse, the
higher the EDP the more damage. More blood is being left and not pumped out.
What is a normal wedge pressure? - ans7-12mmHg
If the RBCs go through the lungs faster than 7-12mmHg what happens? - ansThe RBCs have
less time to get the O2 needed to fill them up fully.
True or False: The higher the wedge pressure the faster the RBCs go through the lungs and
the less O2 they are able to acquire. - ansTrue.
COPD is elevated wedge pressure. True or False - ansTrue. 30-40mmHg is not unusual.
RBCs move so fast that they come out of the lungs with much less than 98% O2.
COPD O2 sats can be in the low to mid 80's. True or false - ansTrue.
,Comprehensive RCIS Glowacki and
Sommers HEMO Exam Study Guide.
Latest Updated 2026/2027 with
Correct Answers.
Why is the wedge pressure indicative of the LA pressure? - ansBecause there are no valves in
between, just the lung system. Since no valves the pressure in the LA should be the same.
When the leaflets open up on the mitral valve it is possible to see into the left ventricle.
When the mitral valve leaflets open up and the wedge catheter is able to see into the LV what
is the pressure that it sees? - ansLV EDP
What is a normal LV EDP? - ans7-12mmHg
If the LV EDP goes up and the LA pressure goes up, what other pressure would you expect to
rise? - ansThe wedge pressure
What would increase your right atrial pressure? - anstricuspid stenosis
Where would you see a high RA pressure demonstrated on a patient? - ansJugular vein
distention
If a person has an RV MI will the RV systolic pressure be affected? - ansNo matter how big
the MI the systolic pressure will not change. The RV EDP will increase as the RV is not as
able to push the blood out as effectively as before the MI.
Would an RV MI affect the diameter of the pulmonic valve or the diameter of the pulmonic
arteries? - ansNo
If a person has an RV MI would the RV EDP be affected? - ansYes. If the muscle fibers are
dead the heart's ability to squeeze is impacted so more blood is left behind.
What would cause the LV systolic pressure to increase? - ansAortic stenosis. (What would
prevent a RBC from moving forward from the RV?)
What would cause your LVEDP to increase but not increase your LV systolic pressure? -
ansLV MI would increase the LV EDP because the heart is less effective as a pump. As the
LV is able to eject less blood, the end diastolic pressure gets higher.
The systolic pressure does not need to increase because that is the pressure to get the blood
past the aortic valve.
As the EF (ejection fraction) goes down the EDP (end diastolic pressure) _________
___________. - ansGoes up
What is the RV systolic pressure of pulmonic stenosis? - ansAny pressure higher than
25mmHg is pulmonic stenosis. The narrower the valve the ore pressure is needed to move
across it. The muscle fibers need to generate more pressure to get RBCs past the stenotic
valve.
What happens to the pressure in the RA in the case of tricuspid regurgitation? - ansThe RA
pressure increases.
Blood likes the path of less pressure. It will go back across the tricuspid valve when there is
less pressure due to regurgitation. This causes the RA to carry more blood because it
continues to fill with blood from the IVC and SVC in addition to the blood flowing back
from the RV through tricuspid regurgitation.
What is the PA pressure in COPD? - ansWedge pressure is elevated in COPD and this causes
a backflow of pressure to the PA.
, Comprehensive RCIS Glowacki and
Sommers HEMO Exam Study Guide.
Latest Updated 2026/2027 with
Correct Answers.
What is the special protective factor of the LA? - ansThe LA has a protein that senses
volume. If the volume increases because of MS or MR then the LA will sense that and allow
the muscle fibers to get longer in the LA. The LA gets bigger to hold the volume and to
prevent the pressure from rising in the lungs.
What is the PA pressure in someone with mitral stenosis? - ansThe pulmonary artery pressure
will eventually increase because the pressure in the LA will increase, which will cause the
wedge pressure to increase, which will ultimately lead to an increas in the pulmonary arteries
What is the pulmonary artery pressure in someone with mitral regurgitation? - ansThis
increases the volume of blood in the LA which increases the pressure there. The LA is unique
and protective, but eventually this will lead to an increase in pulmonary artery pressure.
Which chamber of the heart is larger LV or RV? - ansThe chamber of the RV is larger
because the LV has more muscle to push past the aortic valve to the body.
Can your PA pressure ever be greater than your RV systolic pressure? - ansNo. The
pulmonary artery pressure cannot be greater because the RV would have to increase to allow
the blood to flow to the PA. Blood cannot flow up a gradient.
What is the PCWP of mitral regurgitation? - ansIn a chronic situation, because the LA is
protective, the PCWP will be elevated above the normal.
What is the PCWP of mitral stenosis? - ansIn a chronic situation, because the LA is
protective, the PCWP will elevate.
What is the PCWP of an LV MI? - ansThe EDP goes up, the LA pressure will go up. This
will cause the PCWP to increase.
What is a normal RVEDP? - ans5mmHg
What is a normal LVEDP? - ans7-12mmHg
EDP represents ________? - ansThe amount of blood left after systole
When we measure CO in a patient, which ventricle are we measuring it out of? - ansThe
Right Ventricle. It is assumed to be the same as the LV.
True or False: The RV and LV have the same number of muscle fibers, but the LV works
harder and therefore gets bigger in diameter. - ansTrue
What is a normal RV systolic pressure? - ans25mmHg
What is the normal systolic LV pressure? - ans120mmHg
Is the LVEF the same as the RVEF? - ansYes. The LVEF and the RVEF are the same
Is the stroke volume in the RV the same as the LV? - ansyes. They are the same.
Is the CO the same in the LV and RV? - ansYes. They are the same.
Why is the RVEDP different from the LVEDP? - ansAs the LV muscle fibers get bigger there
is less room in the left chamber for blood. The EDP is different in the LV and the RV because
the RV has much more room for the blood left than the LV because it is full of dilated muscle
fibers. This is the increase in pressure.
The muscle fibers of the coronary arteries run circular to the artery. True or False - ansFalse.
They run longitudinal (the length) of the artery. If they wrapped around the coronary artery
then the blood would be squeezed/compressed but not move. The contraction of arteries is
done is a systematic way.
The intima of an artery is covered in what kind of cells? - ansEndothelium.
Sommers HEMO Exam Study Guide.
Latest Updated 2026/2027 with
Correct Answers.
What is the pressure as blood enters the right atrium? - ans5mmHg
What organ system in the body acts on the blood in the vessels to make a pressure of
5mmHg? - ansDeep skeletal muscle pump system
What pressure is the blood under as it goes from the RA through the tricuspid valve? -
ans5mmHg
The bigger the diameter of the valve the __________ pressure is needed to move blood
across it. - ansLess
The smaller the diameter of the valve the _________ pressure is needed to move blood across
it. - ansmore
What is the largest valve in the heart? - anstricuspid valve
What is the normal right ventricular systolic pressure? - ans25mmHg
How much smaller is the pulmonic valve than the tricuspid valve? - ans5x smaller. It takes
5mmHg to get across the tricuspid valve and 25mmHg to get across the pulmonic valve.
Which valve has a bigger diameter, the tricuspid or pulmonic valve? - ansTricuspid
Which valve requires more pressure to move across it, the tricuspid or the pulmonic? -
anspulmonic
Valve A requires 5mmHg to move blood and valve B requires 30mmHg. Which valve has a
smaller diameter? - ansValve B
What is the right ventricular diastolic pressure? - ans5mmHg
What is the RV EDP? - ans5mmHg
Why is the RV EDP not zero? - ansBecause some blood is not ejected out. The heart is not a
perfectly efficient pump.
What is a normal RV ejection fraction? - ans55-60%
What is EDP? - ansEnd Diastolic Pressure. An efficient heart has an ejection fraction of 55-
60%, this leftover blood in the ventricle is under a resting (diastolic) pressure.
What is a normal diastolic pressure in the pulmonary artery? - ans7-12mmHg
What is the normal left atrial pressure? - ans7-12mmHg
What is the normal O2 concentration of a RBC leaving the lungs? - ans98%
What is the normal O2 concentration of a RBC when it returns to the RA? - ans70%
How much O2 is a RBC able to give up to the organs? - ans30% of its O2
True/False: If someone has a higher EDP there is less damage to the heart. - ansFalse, the
higher the EDP the more damage. More blood is being left and not pumped out.
What is a normal wedge pressure? - ans7-12mmHg
If the RBCs go through the lungs faster than 7-12mmHg what happens? - ansThe RBCs have
less time to get the O2 needed to fill them up fully.
True or False: The higher the wedge pressure the faster the RBCs go through the lungs and
the less O2 they are able to acquire. - ansTrue.
COPD is elevated wedge pressure. True or False - ansTrue. 30-40mmHg is not unusual.
RBCs move so fast that they come out of the lungs with much less than 98% O2.
COPD O2 sats can be in the low to mid 80's. True or false - ansTrue.
,Comprehensive RCIS Glowacki and
Sommers HEMO Exam Study Guide.
Latest Updated 2026/2027 with
Correct Answers.
Why is the wedge pressure indicative of the LA pressure? - ansBecause there are no valves in
between, just the lung system. Since no valves the pressure in the LA should be the same.
When the leaflets open up on the mitral valve it is possible to see into the left ventricle.
When the mitral valve leaflets open up and the wedge catheter is able to see into the LV what
is the pressure that it sees? - ansLV EDP
What is a normal LV EDP? - ans7-12mmHg
If the LV EDP goes up and the LA pressure goes up, what other pressure would you expect to
rise? - ansThe wedge pressure
What would increase your right atrial pressure? - anstricuspid stenosis
Where would you see a high RA pressure demonstrated on a patient? - ansJugular vein
distention
If a person has an RV MI will the RV systolic pressure be affected? - ansNo matter how big
the MI the systolic pressure will not change. The RV EDP will increase as the RV is not as
able to push the blood out as effectively as before the MI.
Would an RV MI affect the diameter of the pulmonic valve or the diameter of the pulmonic
arteries? - ansNo
If a person has an RV MI would the RV EDP be affected? - ansYes. If the muscle fibers are
dead the heart's ability to squeeze is impacted so more blood is left behind.
What would cause the LV systolic pressure to increase? - ansAortic stenosis. (What would
prevent a RBC from moving forward from the RV?)
What would cause your LVEDP to increase but not increase your LV systolic pressure? -
ansLV MI would increase the LV EDP because the heart is less effective as a pump. As the
LV is able to eject less blood, the end diastolic pressure gets higher.
The systolic pressure does not need to increase because that is the pressure to get the blood
past the aortic valve.
As the EF (ejection fraction) goes down the EDP (end diastolic pressure) _________
___________. - ansGoes up
What is the RV systolic pressure of pulmonic stenosis? - ansAny pressure higher than
25mmHg is pulmonic stenosis. The narrower the valve the ore pressure is needed to move
across it. The muscle fibers need to generate more pressure to get RBCs past the stenotic
valve.
What happens to the pressure in the RA in the case of tricuspid regurgitation? - ansThe RA
pressure increases.
Blood likes the path of less pressure. It will go back across the tricuspid valve when there is
less pressure due to regurgitation. This causes the RA to carry more blood because it
continues to fill with blood from the IVC and SVC in addition to the blood flowing back
from the RV through tricuspid regurgitation.
What is the PA pressure in COPD? - ansWedge pressure is elevated in COPD and this causes
a backflow of pressure to the PA.
, Comprehensive RCIS Glowacki and
Sommers HEMO Exam Study Guide.
Latest Updated 2026/2027 with
Correct Answers.
What is the special protective factor of the LA? - ansThe LA has a protein that senses
volume. If the volume increases because of MS or MR then the LA will sense that and allow
the muscle fibers to get longer in the LA. The LA gets bigger to hold the volume and to
prevent the pressure from rising in the lungs.
What is the PA pressure in someone with mitral stenosis? - ansThe pulmonary artery pressure
will eventually increase because the pressure in the LA will increase, which will cause the
wedge pressure to increase, which will ultimately lead to an increas in the pulmonary arteries
What is the pulmonary artery pressure in someone with mitral regurgitation? - ansThis
increases the volume of blood in the LA which increases the pressure there. The LA is unique
and protective, but eventually this will lead to an increase in pulmonary artery pressure.
Which chamber of the heart is larger LV or RV? - ansThe chamber of the RV is larger
because the LV has more muscle to push past the aortic valve to the body.
Can your PA pressure ever be greater than your RV systolic pressure? - ansNo. The
pulmonary artery pressure cannot be greater because the RV would have to increase to allow
the blood to flow to the PA. Blood cannot flow up a gradient.
What is the PCWP of mitral regurgitation? - ansIn a chronic situation, because the LA is
protective, the PCWP will be elevated above the normal.
What is the PCWP of mitral stenosis? - ansIn a chronic situation, because the LA is
protective, the PCWP will elevate.
What is the PCWP of an LV MI? - ansThe EDP goes up, the LA pressure will go up. This
will cause the PCWP to increase.
What is a normal RVEDP? - ans5mmHg
What is a normal LVEDP? - ans7-12mmHg
EDP represents ________? - ansThe amount of blood left after systole
When we measure CO in a patient, which ventricle are we measuring it out of? - ansThe
Right Ventricle. It is assumed to be the same as the LV.
True or False: The RV and LV have the same number of muscle fibers, but the LV works
harder and therefore gets bigger in diameter. - ansTrue
What is a normal RV systolic pressure? - ans25mmHg
What is the normal systolic LV pressure? - ans120mmHg
Is the LVEF the same as the RVEF? - ansYes. The LVEF and the RVEF are the same
Is the stroke volume in the RV the same as the LV? - ansyes. They are the same.
Is the CO the same in the LV and RV? - ansYes. They are the same.
Why is the RVEDP different from the LVEDP? - ansAs the LV muscle fibers get bigger there
is less room in the left chamber for blood. The EDP is different in the LV and the RV because
the RV has much more room for the blood left than the LV because it is full of dilated muscle
fibers. This is the increase in pressure.
The muscle fibers of the coronary arteries run circular to the artery. True or False - ansFalse.
They run longitudinal (the length) of the artery. If they wrapped around the coronary artery
then the blood would be squeezed/compressed but not move. The contraction of arteries is
done is a systematic way.
The intima of an artery is covered in what kind of cells? - ansEndothelium.
