Cardiovascular System Practice Questions

Q: The plateau phase of the cardiac muscle action potential begins with which event?

Entry of Ca2+. **Explanation** The cardiac action potential (specifically in ventricular myocytes) is characterized by a prolonged **Phase 2**, known as the **Plateau Phase**. **Why the correct answer is right:** The plateau phase begins when the membrane potential reaches approximately -40 mV, triggering the opening of **L-type (Long-lasting) Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels**. The inward movement of **Ca²⁺ ions** into the cell balances the outward movement of K⁺ ions (via delayed rectifier channels). This electrical equilibrium maintains the membrane in a depolarized state for a prolonged period (approx. 200ms), which is essential for allowing the heart enough time to contract and empty its chambers (Excitation-Contraction Coupling). **Why the incorrect options are wrong:** * **A. Inactivation of the Na+ channel:** This occurs at the end of Phase 0 and marks the beginning of Phase 1 (Initial Rapid Repolarization), not the plateau. * **C. Opening of the K+ channel:** While K⁺ channels are open during the plateau, their initial opening (transient outward K⁺ current) defines Phase 1. The plateau is specifically defined by the *entry of Ca²⁺* counteracting this K⁺ exit. * **D. Closure of the K+ channel:** K⁺ channels do not close to start the plateau; in fact, K⁺ conductance remains significant to eventually initiate Phase 3 (Rapid Repolarization) once Ca²⁺ channels close. **High-Yield NEET-PG Pearls:** * **Phase 0:** Rapid Depolarization (Inward Na⁺ current). * **Phase 1:** Initial Repolarization (Inactivation of Na⁺, activation of transient outward K⁺). * **Phase 2:** Plateau (Inward Ca²⁺ via L-type channels). * **Phase 3:** Rapid Repolarization (Outward K⁺). * **Phase 4:** Resting Membrane Potential (-90 mV). * **Clinical Note:** Calcium channel blockers (like Verapamil) primarily affect Phase 2, shortening the plateau and decreasing myocardial contractility (negative inotropy).

Q: Pulmonary wedge pressure is indirectly measured as which of the following?

Left atrial pressure. **Explanation:** **Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP)** is measured by inserting a Swan-Ganz catheter through the right heart into a small branch of the pulmonary artery. When the balloon at the tip is inflated, it "wedges" and occludes blood flow from the right heart. This creates a static column of blood between the catheter tip and the left atrium. 1. **Why Left Atrial Pressure (LAP) is correct:** Because there are no valves between the pulmonary capillaries and the left atrium, the pressure distal to the wedged catheter equilibrates with the **Left Atrial Pressure**. Therefore, PCWP serves as a reliable indirect surrogate for LAP and, by extension, Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure (LVEDP) in the absence of mitral valve disease. 2. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **Right Atrial Pressure (RAP):** This is measured as Central Venous Pressure (CVP), reflecting right-sided heart function, not pulmonary wedge dynamics. * **Right Ventricular Pressure (RVP):** This is measured as the catheter passes through the ventricle; it shows high systolic peaks, unlike the low-pressure wedge tracing. * **Left Ventricular Pressure (LVP):** While PCWP estimates LVEDP, it does not measure the high systolic pressures of the left ventricle. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Normal PCWP:** 6–12 mmHg. * **Clinical Utility:** PCWP is the gold standard for differentiating **Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema** (PCWP >18 mmHg) from **Non-cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema/ARDS** (PCWP <18 mmHg). * **Mitral Stenosis:** In this condition, PCWP will be elevated, but it will *overestimate* the LVEDP because of the pressure gradient across the stenotic valve.

Q: Why does the blood within the vessels not clot under normal conditions?

Vascular endothelium is smooth and coated with glycocalyx.. **Explanation:** The prevention of intravascular clotting (hemostasis) under normal physiological conditions is primarily due to the **thromboresistant properties of the vascular endothelium**. **1. Why Option D is Correct:** The vascular endothelium is not just a physical barrier but an active metabolic layer. Its **smoothness** prevents the physical activation of the intrinsic pathway (Factor XII) and platelet adhesion. Furthermore, it is coated with the **glycocalyx**, a thin layer of adsorbed plasma proteins and mucopolysaccharides. This layer is **negatively charged**, which electrostatically repels negatively charged platelets and clotting factors, preventing their aggregation and activation. **2. Why Other Options are Incorrect:** * **Option A:** Vitamin K antagonists (like Warfarin) are pharmacological agents used to treat or prevent thrombosis; they are not naturally occurring constituents of normal plasma. * **Option B:** Thrombin actually converts fibrinogen to fibrin. While it can activate Plasminogen Activator (tPA) to initiate fibrinolysis, its primary role in the "clotting cascade" is pro-coagulant. It does not prevent the *initiation* of a clot. * **Option C:** Sodium citrate is an **ex-vivo anticoagulant** used in blood banks and laboratories. It is not present in the human body naturally, as it would disrupt calcium-dependent signaling and muscle contraction. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Thrombomodulin:** An endothelial protein that binds Thrombin, converting it from a pro-coagulant to an anticoagulant that activates **Protein C**. * **Prostacyclin (PGI2) & Nitric Oxide (NO):** Secreted by healthy endothelium to inhibit platelet aggregation and cause vasodilation. * **Antithrombin III:** A circulating plasma protein that inactivates Thrombin and Factor Xa; its action is enhanced by **Heparin**, which is naturally present on the endothelial surface.

Q: If the Purkinje fibers, situated distal to the A-V junction, become the pacemaker of the heart, what is the expected heart rate?

30/min. ### Explanation The heart’s conduction system possesses a hierarchy of automaticity known as **pacemaker potential**. Under normal physiological conditions, the structure with the highest firing rate (the SA node) overrides all others, a phenomenon called **overdrive suppression**. **1. Why 30/min is correct:** When the SA node and AV node fail to initiate an impulse, or if there is a complete heart block (Third-degree AV block), the **Purkinje fibers** take over as the tertiary pacemaker. This is known as an **Idioventricular Rhythm**. The intrinsic firing rate of the Purkinje system is the slowest in the heart, typically ranging between **15 to 40 beats per minute**. Therefore, 30/min is the most accurate value among the choices. **2. Why the other options are incorrect:** * **70-80/min (Option D):** This is the intrinsic firing rate of the **SA Node**, the primary pacemaker. * **40-60/min (Options B & C):** This range represents the intrinsic firing rate of the **AV Node/AV Junctional tissue**. If the AV junction were the pacemaker, the rate would be approximately 50-60/min (Junctional Rhythm). **3. High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Hierarchy of Pacemakers:** SA Node (70-80) > AV Node (40-60) > Purkinje Fibers (15-40). * **Conduction Velocity:** The Purkinje fibers have the **fastest conduction velocity** (approx. 4 m/s) to ensure near-simultaneous ventricular contraction, despite having the **slowest rhythmic discharge**. * **Stokes-Adams Syndrome:** A sudden transition from SA node pacing to Purkinje pacing can cause a delay (5-20 seconds) where the ventricles do not beat, leading to fainting due to cerebral ischemia. * **ECG Finding:** An idioventricular rhythm (Purkinje pacing) is characterized by a slow rate and **wide, bizarre QRS complexes** because the impulse originates within the ventricular muscle rather than the normal specialized pathway.

Q: Oxygen consumption of the whole human brain is approximately how many ml per minute?

25. **Explanation:** The human brain is one of the most metabolically active organs in the body. While it represents only about 2% of total body weight, it accounts for approximately 20% of the body’s total resting oxygen consumption. **Why Option A is Correct:** The average adult brain weighs approximately 1400 grams. The cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen ($CMRO_2$) is roughly **3.5 ml per 100g of brain tissue per minute**. * **Calculation:** $3.5 \text{ ml/100g/min} \times 14 \text{ (units of 100g)} = \mathbf{49 \text{ ml/min}}$. However, in the context of standard medical examinations like NEET-PG, the physiological "resting" oxygen consumption for the *whole* brain is traditionally taught as **45–50 ml/min**. *Note on the Question:* There appears to be a discrepancy in the provided key (A: 25). In standard physiology (Ganong/Guyton), the value is ~49-50 ml/min. However, if the question refers to oxygen consumption **per 500g** or a specific sub-calculation, 25 might be used. If 50 is not an option, 45 (Option C) is the most scientifically accurate. If the key strictly mandates 25, it may be based on older or specific regional textbook data often cited in MCQ banks. **Why Other Options are Incorrect:** * **Option B (35) & C (45):** 45 ml/min is actually the most accurate physiological value for a whole brain. * **Option D (55):** This exceeds the normal resting metabolic rate of the brain. **High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG:** 1. **Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF):** 750 ml/min (or 50–55 ml/100g/min). This represents 15% of total Cardiac Output. 2. **Glucose Consumption:** The brain consumes about 5 mg/100g/min (approx. 75–100 mg/min total). 3. **Grey vs. White Matter:** Oxygen consumption is significantly higher in grey matter (where synapses are concentrated) compared to white matter. 4. **Irreversible Damage:** Brain cells begin to die within 4–6 minutes of total oxygen deprivation (anoxia).

Q: The ‘v’ wave of the venous waveform represents what?

Ventricular systole. The Jugular Venous Pulse (JVP) waveform is a high-yield topic in NEET-PG Physiology. Understanding the correlation between the cardiac cycle and venous pressure is key to answering this question. ### **Explanation of the Correct Answer** **Option A (Ventricular Systole) is correct.** The **'v' wave** represents the rise in atrial pressure due to **venous return** filling the right atrium while the tricuspid valve is closed. This occurs during the latter part of **ventricular systole**. As the ventricle contracts, the tricuspid valve remains shut to prevent backflow, causing blood returning from the vena cava to "pile up" in the atrium, increasing its pressure and creating the 'v' wave. ### **Analysis of Incorrect Options** * **Option B (Ventricular Diastole):** During early diastole, the tricuspid valve opens, and blood flows rapidly into the ventricle. This causes a sudden drop in atrial pressure, which forms the **'y' descent**, not the 'v' wave. * **Option C (Atrial Systole):** Atrial contraction pushes blood into the ventricle, causing the **'a' wave** (the first positive deflection). This occurs at the end of ventricular diastole. ### **High-Yield NEET-PG Pearls** * **'a' wave:** Atrial contraction (absent in Atrial Fibrillation; "Cannon a-waves" in AV dissociation/Complete Heart Block). * **'c' wave:** Carotid artifact or bulging of the tricuspid valve into the atrium during isovolumetric ventricular contraction. * **'x' descent:** Atrial relaxation and downward displacement of the tricuspid valve during ventricular ejection. * **'v' wave:** Venous filling against a closed tricuspid valve (Giant 'v' waves are characteristic of **Tricuspid Regurgitation**). * **'y' descent:** Opening of the tricuspid valve and rapid ventricular filling.

Q: Dicumarol therapy would decrease the plasma concentration of which of the following procoagulants?

Prothrombin. Explanation: Dicumarol is a natural anticoagulant that functions as a Vitamin K antagonist, similar to Warfarin. It inhibits the enzyme Vitamin K Epoxide Reductase (VKOR), which is essential for recycling Vitamin K. [2] 1. Why Prothrombin is Correct: Vitamin K is a necessary cofactor for the gamma-carboxylation of glutamic acid residues on specific clotting factors. [1] This post-translational modification allows these factors to bind calcium and phospholipids, making them functional. The Vitamin K-dependent factors are II (Prothrombin), VII, IX, and X, as well as Proteins C and S. [2] By inhibiting Vitamin K recycling, Dicumarol leads to the production of dysfunctional factors and a decrease in the plasma concentration of active Prothrombin (Factor II). [3] 2. Why Incorrect Options are Wrong: * Fibrinogen (Factor I): Synthesized in the liver but does not require Vitamin K for its synthesis or activation. [3] * Factor VIII: A cofactor in the intrinsic pathway. It is not Vitamin K-dependent and is primarily produced by sinusoidal endothelial cells (not just hepatocytes). [3] * Factor V: A cofactor in the common pathway. While synthesized in the liver, its production is independent of Vitamin K. [3] High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG: * Mnemonic for Vitamin K factors: "1972" (Factors 10, 9, 7, 2). [2] * Monitoring: Warfarin/Dicumarol therapy is monitored using PT (Prothrombin Time) and INR, as Factor VII has the shortest half-life and is affected first. * Antidote: For immediate reversal of Dicumarol/Warfarin overdose, use Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) or Prothrombin Complex Concentrate (PCC). For non-emergent reversal, use Vitamin K1 (Phytonadione). [1]

Question 1

As a part of a space-research program, a physiologist was asked to investigate the effect of flight-induced stress on blood pressure. The blood pressure of cosmonauts was measured twice: once before take-off and once after the spacecraft entered its designated orbit around the Earth. For a proper comparison, in which position should the pre-flight blood pressure be recorded?

Accepted Answer

The lying down position

Answer

The sitting position

Answer

The standing position

Answer

Any position, as long as the post-flight recording is made in the same position

Question 2

The plateau phase of the cardiac muscle action potential begins with which event?

Accepted Answer

Entry of Ca2+

Answer

Inactivation of the Na+ channel

Answer

Opening of the K+ channel

Answer

Closure of the K+ channel

Question 3

Pulmonary wedge pressure is indirectly measured as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Left atrial pressure

Answer

Right atrial pressure

Answer

Right ventricular pressure

Answer

Left ventricular pressure

Question 4

Why does the blood within the vessels not clot under normal conditions?

Accepted Answer

Vascular endothelium is smooth and coated with glycocalyx.

Answer

Vitamin K antagonists are present in plasma.

Answer

Thrombin has a positive feedback on plasminogen.

Answer

Sodium citrate in plasma chelates calcium ions.

Question 5

If the Purkinje fibers, situated distal to the A-V junction, become the pacemaker of the heart, what is the expected heart rate?

Accepted Answer

30/min

Answer

50/min

Answer

60/min

Answer

70/min

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a hyperdynamic state?

Accepted Answer

Liver disease

Answer

Anemia

Answer

Thyrotoxicosis

Answer

Arteriovenous malformation

Question 7

Oxygen consumption of the whole human brain is approximately how many ml per minute?

Accepted Answer

25

Answer

35

Answer

45

Answer

55

Question 8

The ‘v’ wave of the venous waveform represents what?

Accepted Answer

Ventricular systole

Answer

Ventricular diastole

Answer

Atrial systole

Answer

None of the above

Question 9

Dicumarol therapy would decrease the plasma concentration of which of the following procoagulants?

Accepted Answer

Prothrombin

Answer

Fibrinogen

Answer

Factor VIII

Answer

Factor V

Question 10

In determining blood pressure by the auscultatory method, what does the first sound heard represent?

Accepted Answer

The first sound heard represents the systolic pressure.

Answer

The loudest sound indicates the diastolic pressure.

Answer

Systolic pressure estimation tends to be lower than that made by the palpatory method.

Answer

The sounds heard are generated within the heart.

Cardiovascular System — MCQs

Cardiovascular System — MCQs

On this page

Practice by Chapter

Want unlimited practice?