1) The primary function of the heart is to:
A) Store blood
B) Oxygenate blood
C) Circulate blood
D) Produce blood
Ans: C) Circulate blood
2) The tricuspid valve prevents blood from:
A) Regurgitating between the right and left ventricles
B) Flowing from the right ventricle into the right atrium
C) Bypassing the pulmonary vessels and entering the left heart
D) Flowing backward through the left atrium
,Ans: B) Flowing from the right ventricle into the right atrium
3) A patient has pulmonary hypertension, which has increased the resistance in the pulmonary blood
vessels. In response, what will most likely occur over a long period of time?
A) The right side of the heart will weaken
B) The heart muscle will become stronger
C) The left side of the heart will weaken and fail
D) The aorta will weaken and potentially rupture
Ans: A) The right side of the heart will weaken
4) Which portion of the heart, when weakened by a heart attack, is responsible for causing fluid to back
up into the alveoli?
A) Right atrium
B) Left ventricle
C) Right ventricle
D) Pulmonary vein
Ans: B) Left ventricle
5) If a clot occludes the blood flow through the coronary artery, what will be the detrimental effect?
A) The flow of oxygen-rich blood through the peripheral arteries will cease
B) Blood will not be able to flow between the left atrium and the left ventricle
C) The flow of oxygen-rich blood to the muscle of the ventricle will be decreased
D) Blood and fluid will back up into the lung tissue, causing pulmonary edema
,Ans: C) The flow of oxygen-rich blood to the muscle of the ventricle will be decreased
6) In the blood, which component is largely responsible for the formation of blood clots?
A) Red blood cells
B) White blood cells
C) Plasma
D) Platelets
Ans: D) Platelets
7) A patient has a low platelet count. Based on this finding, which complication is he most at risk for?
A) Clot formation
B) Bleeding
C) Hypotension
D) Angina
Ans: B) Bleeding
8) A patient has been diagnosed with high blood pressure. A medication that can effectively serve to
lower this patient's blood pressure is one that:
A) Increases the heart rate
B) Dilates the coronary arteries
C) Dilates the arteries
D) Constricts the veins
Ans: C) Dilates the arteries
, 9) When treating a patient with chest discomfort, the EMT's primary goal is to:
A) Determine whether chest discomfort is originating from the heart
B) Recognize the possibility of cardiac compromise and provide proper emergency care
C) Provide immediate care to eliminate the chest discomfort, and then transport the patient to the
hospital
D) Administer fibrinolytic drugs with the permission of medical direction
Ans: B) Recognize the possibility of cardiac compromise and provide proper emergency care
10) A TV reporter has been assigned to your ambulance for a ride-along. He is doing a segment on the
local EMS system for EMS Week. In your down time, the reporter tells you that his wife was diagnosed
with atherosclerosis. He is unsure what this condition is and asks you to explain it to him. Your response
would be:
A) "Atherosclerosis affects the arteries of the heart and is caused by a heart attack."
B) "The walls of the coronary arteries lose elasticity, which can lead to a heart attack."
C) "The coronary arteries become damaged and narrowed by fat deposits."
D) "Atherosclerosis affects the veins in the body and is caused by untreated high blood pressure."
Ans: C) "The coronary arteries become damaged and narrowed by fat deposits."
11) You are interviewing a patient whom you suspect has an acute coronary syndrome. Which question
is most appropriate initially?
A) "Are you having any pain in your chest?"
B) "Are you having any chest discomfort?"
C) "Does it hurt when I press on your chest?"
D) "Does your chest hurt when you breathe?"
A) Store blood
B) Oxygenate blood
C) Circulate blood
D) Produce blood
Ans: C) Circulate blood
2) The tricuspid valve prevents blood from:
A) Regurgitating between the right and left ventricles
B) Flowing from the right ventricle into the right atrium
C) Bypassing the pulmonary vessels and entering the left heart
D) Flowing backward through the left atrium
,Ans: B) Flowing from the right ventricle into the right atrium
3) A patient has pulmonary hypertension, which has increased the resistance in the pulmonary blood
vessels. In response, what will most likely occur over a long period of time?
A) The right side of the heart will weaken
B) The heart muscle will become stronger
C) The left side of the heart will weaken and fail
D) The aorta will weaken and potentially rupture
Ans: A) The right side of the heart will weaken
4) Which portion of the heart, when weakened by a heart attack, is responsible for causing fluid to back
up into the alveoli?
A) Right atrium
B) Left ventricle
C) Right ventricle
D) Pulmonary vein
Ans: B) Left ventricle
5) If a clot occludes the blood flow through the coronary artery, what will be the detrimental effect?
A) The flow of oxygen-rich blood through the peripheral arteries will cease
B) Blood will not be able to flow between the left atrium and the left ventricle
C) The flow of oxygen-rich blood to the muscle of the ventricle will be decreased
D) Blood and fluid will back up into the lung tissue, causing pulmonary edema
,Ans: C) The flow of oxygen-rich blood to the muscle of the ventricle will be decreased
6) In the blood, which component is largely responsible for the formation of blood clots?
A) Red blood cells
B) White blood cells
C) Plasma
D) Platelets
Ans: D) Platelets
7) A patient has a low platelet count. Based on this finding, which complication is he most at risk for?
A) Clot formation
B) Bleeding
C) Hypotension
D) Angina
Ans: B) Bleeding
8) A patient has been diagnosed with high blood pressure. A medication that can effectively serve to
lower this patient's blood pressure is one that:
A) Increases the heart rate
B) Dilates the coronary arteries
C) Dilates the arteries
D) Constricts the veins
Ans: C) Dilates the arteries
, 9) When treating a patient with chest discomfort, the EMT's primary goal is to:
A) Determine whether chest discomfort is originating from the heart
B) Recognize the possibility of cardiac compromise and provide proper emergency care
C) Provide immediate care to eliminate the chest discomfort, and then transport the patient to the
hospital
D) Administer fibrinolytic drugs with the permission of medical direction
Ans: B) Recognize the possibility of cardiac compromise and provide proper emergency care
10) A TV reporter has been assigned to your ambulance for a ride-along. He is doing a segment on the
local EMS system for EMS Week. In your down time, the reporter tells you that his wife was diagnosed
with atherosclerosis. He is unsure what this condition is and asks you to explain it to him. Your response
would be:
A) "Atherosclerosis affects the arteries of the heart and is caused by a heart attack."
B) "The walls of the coronary arteries lose elasticity, which can lead to a heart attack."
C) "The coronary arteries become damaged and narrowed by fat deposits."
D) "Atherosclerosis affects the veins in the body and is caused by untreated high blood pressure."
Ans: C) "The coronary arteries become damaged and narrowed by fat deposits."
11) You are interviewing a patient whom you suspect has an acute coronary syndrome. Which question
is most appropriate initially?
A) "Are you having any pain in your chest?"
B) "Are you having any chest discomfort?"
C) "Does it hurt when I press on your chest?"
D) "Does your chest hurt when you breathe?"
