Anatomy and Blood Flow of the Heart

A complete heart block disrupts the normal conduction pathway. Which of the following would still enable ventricles to contract, albeit at a slower rate?

During a cardiac catheterization, a physician notices an obstruction in a vessel along the anterior interventricular sulcus. Which vessel is MOST likely affected?

In the context of heart valve function, what is the MOST immediate consequence if the chordae tendineae associated with the tricuspid valve rupture?

If the vagus nerve's influence on the heart were completely blocked, what would be the MOST likely immediate effect on heart rate?

A patient is diagnosed with a condition causing significant fibrosis (thickening and scarring) of the tunica media in their arterial walls. What is MOST likely to result from this condition?

A researcher is studying the effects of a drug on blood vessel structure. After administering the drug, they observe a significant reduction in the number of fenestrations in capillary walls. Which physiological process is MOST likely to be directly affected by this change?

A surgeon is planning a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure. Which vessel is the LEAST likely choice for harvesting and using as a bypass conduit?

A physician is treating a patient with severe atherosclerosis in the arteries of the lower limb. Which vessel is LEAST likely to be directly affected and cause significant ischemia (reduced blood flow) in the foot?

Considering the venous drainage patterns of the head and neck, a blockage of the superior sagittal sinus would MOST directly impair drainage from which area?

A hematologist is examining a patient with a rare congenital condition where the foramen ovale fails to close after birth. What physiological consequence would be MOST expected in this individual?

A researcher discovers a new compound that selectively inhibits the function of venous valves in the lower limbs. What is the MOST likely direct consequence of this compound's action?

An anatomist is dissecting a cadaver and identifies the celiac trunk. Which organ receives its blood supply DIRECTLY from a branch of the celiac trunk?

In a patient experiencing hypovolemic shock (severe blood loss), the body attempts to compensate by altering blood vessel diameter. Which vascular change would the body MOST likely employ to maintain blood pressure?

During a fetal echocardiogram, a cardiologist observes blood flowing directly from the pulmonary artery to the aorta. Which structure is facilitating this blood flow?

A previously healthy individual experiences a sudden occlusion (blockage) of the left circumflex artery. Which of the following is a likely region of the heart that will be MOST immediately affected by this occlusion?

A researcher is studying the histological differences between arteries and veins. Which feature would allow them to MOST reliably distinguish an artery from a vein under a microscope?

A cardiologist detects an abnormally high level of pressure in the right atrium. This finding would MOST likely directly impede venous return from which vessel?

What is the MOST likely compensation that maintains cerebral blood flow during moderate physical exercise despite an increase in overall cardiac output?

A patient presents with lymphedema (swelling due to lymphatic obstruction) in the right lower limb. Which anatomical structure, if blocked, could MOST directly contribute to this condition?

During coronary angiography, a cardiologist injects dye to visualize the coronary arteries. If the dye is seen to fill the posterior interventricular artery, what other arterial structure is MOST likely also filled with that dye?

A patient with chronic liver disease develops ascites (fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity) due to increased pressure in the hepatic portal system. This increase in pressure would MOST directly result from impaired blood flow through which vessel?

A person undergoes a procedure where the connection between the left subclavian artery and the vertebral artery is damaged. This would MOST directly affect blood supply to what?

What would be the MOST immediate impact of a thrombus (blood clot) forming in the left gastric artery?

Which of the following is the MOST likely consequence of damage to the baroreceptors in the carotid sinus?

An individual has a mutation that impairs the formation of the internal elastic lamina in their arteries. What is the likely MOST direct result of this mutation?

A drug that increases the concentration of albumin in the blood plasma is administered to a patient. What is the MOST likely effect of this drug on capillary exchange?

What is the MOST likely outcome of a congenital defect resulting in the absence of the moderator band in the right ventricle?

If a drug caused selective vasoconstriction of the efferent arterioles of the kidneys, what would MOST likely happen?

In a scenario where the sinoatrial (SA) node fails, but the atrioventricular (AV) node takes over as the heart's pacemaker, what change in clinical observations is MOST expected?

What is the purpose of specialized muscle fibers in the heart, such as the SA node, AV node, AV bundle, bundle branches, and purkinje fibers.

Considering the properties of arteries vs. veins, damage to which vessel presents higher risk of significant blood loss due to higher blood pressure?

The ductus arteriosus in a fetus shunts blood away from pulmonary circulation into systemic circulation. Which of the following statements describes the path of blood as it shunts from pulmonary to systemic?

A laceration on what side of the heart is more likely to fill with deoxygenated blood?

During ventricular diastole, the AV valves are open. How would this affect blood pressure?

What is the direct function and location of the medulla oblongata?

If the sinoatrial (SA) node is delayed by 100 msecs, what can be said of the atrial and ventricular contractions?

How would increased blood volume impact blood pressure?

If the coronary sinus were to become blocked, impeding venous drainage from the heart, which cardiac vein would experience the MOST immediate and significant increase in pressure?

A patient has a condition that selectively impairs the contractility of the tunica media within their arterial walls. What direct physiological change is MOST likely to occur as a result?

A researcher is developing a new drug that aims to selectively enhance the function of venous valves. In which of the following patients would this drug be MOST beneficial?

What is the MOST likely consequence of a congenital defect where the moderator band is significantly weakened or absent?

After a traumatic injury, a patient experiences a tear in the ligamentum arteriosum. What pre-natal structure does this ligament represent?

Why are arteries, compared to veins, less likely to collapse?

A researcher is studying the effects of a drug that selectively inhibits the function of pectinate muscles in the right atrium. What change would they MOST likely observe?

In a patient with a severely stenotic (narrowed) aortic valve, which compensatory mechanism is MOST likely to develop over time?

What pathological change would MOST directly lead to increased resistance in the pulmonary circulation, potentially causing right ventricular hypertrophy?

A patient with chronic kidney disease has severely impaired albumin production by the liver. What effect would this MOST likely have on capillary exchange?

If a patient is diagnosed with a condition causing selective damage to the elastic fibers in the tunica media of large arteries, what is the MOST likely physiological consequence?

A patient has a mutation that impairs the function of the chordae tendineae in the left ventricle. What is the MOST likely direct result of this mutation?

A patient is diagnosed with damage to the baroreceptors in the carotid sinus. What compensatory mechanism will MOST likely occur?

What would be the MOST immediate impact of a newly formed thrombus (blood clot) completely obstructing the anterior interventricular artery?

During a cardiac catheterization, the catheter is advanced into the left ventricle. If the catheter damages the papillary muscles, what is the MOST likely immediate consequence?

A previously healthy individual experiences sudden occlusion (blockage) of the circumflex artery. Which region of the heart would be MOST immediately affected by this occlusion?

If the sinoatrial (SA) node is delayed by 100 msecs, how would this affect atrial and ventricular contractions?

How would increased blood volume MOST directly impact blood pressure?

Considering the unique properties of arteries versus veins, damage to which type of vessel presents a higher risk of significant blood loss due to higher blood pressure?

A laceration on which side of the heart is MOST likely to fill with deoxygenated blood?

What is the primary anatomical distinction between the internal and external carotid arteries?

Which artery is responsible for supplying blood to the majority of the small intestine?

At what vertebral level does the abdominal aorta typically bifurcate into the common iliac arteries?

A blockage in the vertebral artery would MOST directly affect the blood supply to which of the following structures?

The ductus arteriosus in a fetus shunts blood away from pulmonary circulation and into systemic circulation. Which statement accurately describes the path of blood as it shunts from pulmonary to systemic?

Which of the following sequences correctly traces blood flow from the superior vena cava to the aorta?

During ventricular diastole when the AV valves are open, how would this affect blood pressure?

How does the tunica media contribute to maintaining blood pressure in arteries?

Which one of the following represents an accurate description of pulmonary circulation?

What is the MOST likely effect of damage to the sympathetic ganglia (lower cervical and T1-T4) and the cardiac nerve?

The great saphenous vein is a superficial vein that runs along the medial side of the leg and thigh. Where does this vein terminate?

What is the specific role of the cardiac veins?

Which vein is commonly used for venipuncture due to its location connecting the cephalic and basilic veins?

Which blood vessel tunic comes in contact with the blood?

What is the function of smooth muscle within a blood vessel?

What artery supplies the majority of the small intestine?

What is the purpose of fenestrations found in capillaries?

Which tunic is primarily responsible for vasoconstriction and vasodilation?

The left gastric artery originates from what major arterial trunk?

Which vessels drain directly into the coronary sinus, facilitating venous return from the heart muscle itself?

A patient exhibits an exaggerated increase in heart rate during mild exercise, but their blood pressure response is blunted. Which of the following scenarios BEST explains this combination of findings?

A researcher is studying the effect of a novel drug on the cardiac cycle. They observe that the duration of isovolumetric contraction is significantly prolonged, while the duration of ventricular ejection is shortened. Which mechanism of action of the drug is MOST likely responsible for these effects?

A patient with a history of IV drug use develops tricuspid valve endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart valves). Fragments of the infected valve break off and travel through the bloodstream. Where would these fragments MOST likely lodge to cause a pulmonary embolism?

A 60-year-old male with recurring chest pain undergoes an angiogram, revealing significant atherosclerosis in the proximal portion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. To improve blood flow to the heart muscle, the surgeon decides to perform a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using the left internal thoracic artery (LITA). Which vessel will the LITA be anastomosed to, in order to bypass the blockage?

In a patient presenting with symptoms indicative of a thoracic aortic dissection, which physical examination finding would MOST strongly suggest that the dissection involves the great vessels of the aortic arch?