UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL
SURGICAL NURSING CHAPTER 23
QUESTIONS & A+ GRADED ANSWERS
ALL PASSED
Chordae tendineae - Correct Answer ✔✔ Are muscles that attach to the mitral and
tricuspid valve to ensure they close tightly
Stenosis - Correct Answer ✔✔ Is a narrowed valve that does not close completely; it
interferes with forward blood flow
Regurgitation/Insufficiency - Correct Answer ✔✔ Is when a valve does not close
completely and blood gets backed up (causing increased workload of the heart and
increase pressure in the affected chambers)
Valvular (valve) damage may result from what 3 things? - Correct Answer ✔✔
Congenital defects, rheumatic fever or infections
What is rheumatic fever? - Correct Answer ✔✔ An autoimmune disease that occurs 2-3
weeks after an infection from Group A beta hemolytic streptococci
What is Mitral Valve Prolapse? - Correct Answer ✔✔ When one or more flaps budge
backwards causing blood to leak back into the left atrium. This can happen if one flap is
to large or if there is a defect in the chordae tendineae. This results in increased
pressure in the papillary muscles leading to ischemia (inadequate blood supply) within
the muscle, causing further dysfunction of the mitral valve
What are the signs and symptoms of Mitral Valve Prolapse? - Correct Answer ✔✔ Often
none, murmur, chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea
What is Mitral Stenosis? - Correct Answer ✔✔ Thickening of the mitral valve flaps and
shortening of the chordae tendineae, causing narrowing of the mitral valve opening. The
narrowed opening obstructs blood flow form the left atrium into the left ventricle. The left
atrium enlarges to hold the extra blood volume cause by the obstruction. As a result of
the increased blood volume, pressure rises in the left atrium. Pressures then rise in the
pulmonary circulation and the right ventricle as blood backs up from the left atrium. The
right ventricle dilates to handle the increased volume. Eventually the right ventricle fails
from this excessive workload, reducing blood volume delivered to the left ventricle and
subsequently decreasing cardiac output.
SURGICAL NURSING CHAPTER 23
QUESTIONS & A+ GRADED ANSWERS
ALL PASSED
Chordae tendineae - Correct Answer ✔✔ Are muscles that attach to the mitral and
tricuspid valve to ensure they close tightly
Stenosis - Correct Answer ✔✔ Is a narrowed valve that does not close completely; it
interferes with forward blood flow
Regurgitation/Insufficiency - Correct Answer ✔✔ Is when a valve does not close
completely and blood gets backed up (causing increased workload of the heart and
increase pressure in the affected chambers)
Valvular (valve) damage may result from what 3 things? - Correct Answer ✔✔
Congenital defects, rheumatic fever or infections
What is rheumatic fever? - Correct Answer ✔✔ An autoimmune disease that occurs 2-3
weeks after an infection from Group A beta hemolytic streptococci
What is Mitral Valve Prolapse? - Correct Answer ✔✔ When one or more flaps budge
backwards causing blood to leak back into the left atrium. This can happen if one flap is
to large or if there is a defect in the chordae tendineae. This results in increased
pressure in the papillary muscles leading to ischemia (inadequate blood supply) within
the muscle, causing further dysfunction of the mitral valve
What are the signs and symptoms of Mitral Valve Prolapse? - Correct Answer ✔✔ Often
none, murmur, chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea
What is Mitral Stenosis? - Correct Answer ✔✔ Thickening of the mitral valve flaps and
shortening of the chordae tendineae, causing narrowing of the mitral valve opening. The
narrowed opening obstructs blood flow form the left atrium into the left ventricle. The left
atrium enlarges to hold the extra blood volume cause by the obstruction. As a result of
the increased blood volume, pressure rises in the left atrium. Pressures then rise in the
pulmonary circulation and the right ventricle as blood backs up from the left atrium. The
right ventricle dilates to handle the increased volume. Eventually the right ventricle fails
from this excessive workload, reducing blood volume delivered to the left ventricle and
subsequently decreasing cardiac output.
