EMT Cardiology Sample Test 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The normal heart rate for a newborn is:

140 – 160 (Correct answer)
120 – 140
100 – 120
80 – 100

Correct answer: 140 – 160

The normal heart rate for a newborn (0-3 months) is considerably faster than for older individuals. This elevated rate, typically ranging from 140-160 beats per minute, is necessary to meet the high metabolic demands and maintain adequate cardiac output in their small, rapidly developing bodies. Their cardiovascular system is still maturing and requires a higher baseline rate.

Question 2: The normal heart rate for a child between the ages of 1-6:

140 – 160
120 – 140
100 – 120 (Correct answer)
80 – 100

Correct answer: 100 – 120

As children grow and their cardiovascular system matures, their normal resting heart rate gradually decreases. For a child between the ages of 1 and 6 years, a typical normal heart rate range is 100-120 beats per minute. This rate is slower than that of a newborn but still faster than an adult's, reflecting their ongoing growth and development.

Question 3: The normal heart rate for a child over the age of 6 is:

140 – 160
120 – 140
100 – 120
80 – 100 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 80 – 100

For children over the age of 6, the normal resting heart rate continues to decrease, approaching adult ranges as their bodies mature. A typical normal heart rate for this age group is 80-100 beats per minute. This reflects a more developed cardiovascular system and a lower metabolic demand per unit of body mass compared to younger children.

Question 4: The correct flow of blood through the heart and lungs is…?

Inferior/superior vena cavae, right atrium, right ventricle, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle, aorta (Correct answer)
Aorta, left atrium, left ventricle, lungs, right atrium, right ventricle, Inferior/superior vena cavae
Inferior/superior vena cavae, right atrium, right ventricle, aorta, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle
Inferior/superior vena cavae, right atrium, right ventricle, aorta, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle

Correct answer: Inferior/superior vena cavae, right atrium, right ventricle, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle, aorta

Deoxygenated blood from the body enters the right atrium via the inferior and superior vena cavae, then flows to the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps this blood to the lungs for oxygenation. Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs to the left atrium, then flows to the left ventricle, which pumps it into the aorta for distribution throughout the body.

Question 5: What is the difference between angina pectoris and a myocardial infarction?

As an EMT-B you cannot determine the difference
The pain from angina pectoris will gradually get worse
A myocardial infarction will go away with rest
Angina pectoris is caused by physical or emotional stress (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Angina pectoris is caused by physical or emotional stress

Angina pectoris is chest pain caused by temporary myocardial ischemia, typically triggered by increased oxygen demand from physical exertion or emotional stress, and usually relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. A myocardial infarction (heart attack), however, involves actual death of heart muscle tissue due to prolonged ischemia, and the pain is usually more severe, persistent, and not relieved by rest.

Question 6: Your patient is an 80-year old male with shortness of breath. Which of the following could your patient be suffering from?

Congestive heart failure
A myocardial infarction
Cardiac compromise
All of the above (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All of the above

Shortness of breath is a common and critical symptom that can arise from various cardiac conditions. Congestive heart failure (CHF) can cause fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema), leading to dyspnea. A myocardial infarction (heart attack) can impair the heart's pumping ability, also resulting in shortness of breath. Cardiac compromise is a broad term encompassing any condition that reduces the heart's effective function, frequently presenting with dyspnea.

Question 7: The three-flap valve located on the right side of the heart is the:

Tri-valve
Mitral valve
Tricuspid valve (Correct answer)
Triluminar valve

Correct answer: Tricuspid valve

The tricuspid valve is located on the right side of the heart, specifically between the right atrium and the right ventricle. It is named for its three cusps or flaps. Its primary function is to prevent the backflow of deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium during ventricular contraction.

Question 8: What does the Mitral valve do?

Prevents blood from back-flowing into the left ventricle
Prevents blood from back-flowing into the left Atrium (Correct answer)
Prevents blood from back-flowing into the lungs
Prevents blood from flowing between the right and left ventricles

Correct answer: Prevents blood from back-flowing into the left Atrium

The mitral valve, also known as the bicuspid valve, is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. Its essential function is to prevent the backflow of oxygenated blood into the left atrium when the left ventricle contracts to pump blood into the aorta. It ensures unidirectional blood flow through the left side of the heart.

Question 9: A 45-year-old male patient is experiencing chest discomfort. After placing him in his position of comfort, your next action should be to ___________?

Ventilate the patient with a nonrebreather mask at 15 liters per minute.
Ventilate the patient with the bag-valve mask at 15 liters per minute.
Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 15 liters per minute. (Correct answer)
Administer oxygen by the nasal cannula at 6 liters per minute.

Correct answer: Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 15 liters per minute.

For a patient experiencing chest discomfort, especially if it suggests a cardiac event, the initial priority after ensuring a comfortable position is to administer high-flow oxygen. A nonrebreather mask at 15 liters per minute provides the highest concentration of supplemental oxygen, which is crucial to improve myocardial oxygenation and reduce the workload on the heart. This helps mitigate ischemia and improve patient outcome.

Question 10: Your patient is a 62-year-old man with a history of heart disease. He is experiencing chest pain. Your first action should be to ____________?

Place the pads for the automated external defibrillator on his chest.
Begin CPR while preparing the automated external defibrillator.
Ask him if he has taken his nitroglycerin, and if not, offer to assist him.
Place him in a comfortable position and administer high-flow oxygen. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Place him in a comfortable position and administer high-flow oxygen.

For a patient with a history of heart disease experiencing chest pain, the immediate priorities are to ensure patient comfort and optimize oxygenation. Placing the patient in a comfortable position (often semi-Fowler's) and administering high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreather mask helps reduce myocardial workload and improve oxygen supply to the heart. These actions are fundamental initial steps in prehospital cardiac care.

Question 11: Which heart rhythm often converts to ventricular fibrillation?

Asystole
Ventricular tachycardia (Correct answer)
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial tachycardia

Correct answer: Ventricular tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia (VTach) is a rapid heart rhythm originating from the ventricles. If sustained, VTach can be unstable and quickly degenerate into ventricular fibrillation (VFib), a chaotic and life-threatening rhythm where the heart quivers uselessly. VFib is a common cause of sudden cardiac arrest and requires immediate defibrillation to restore a perfusing rhythm.

Question 12: Patients commonly describe heart attack pain as which of the following characteristic?

Like “pins and needles”
Crushing or squeezing (Correct answer)
Intermittent (comes and goes)
Less severe than indigestion

Correct answer: Crushing or squeezing

Patients experiencing a heart attack (myocardial infarction) commonly describe the chest pain as a crushing, squeezing, pressure, or tightness sensation. This diffuse, oppressive discomfort is a classic characteristic of cardiac ischemia, often felt across the chest and sometimes radiating to the arm, jaw, or back. It is typically not sharp, stabbing, or intermittent like some other types of chest pain.

Question 13: Which patient is showing signs and symptoms of cardiac compromise?

85-year-old man: difficulty breathing, high fever, rapid pulse
72-year-old woman: wheezing, labored breathing, tightness in throat
53-year-old woman: dull chest pain, sudden sweating, difficulty breathing (Correct answer)
51-year-old man: headache, dizziness, gagging, chest pain

Correct answer: 53-year-old woman: dull chest pain, sudden sweating, difficulty breathing

The symptoms of dull chest pain, sudden sweating (diaphoresis), and difficulty breathing (dyspnea) are classic indicators of cardiac compromise, such as a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Cardiac pain often presents as a pressure or dull ache, and these associated symptoms arise from the heart's inability to pump blood effectively. Other options describe respiratory issues or non-specific symptoms.

Question 14: Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood out to the body tissues?

Right atrium
Right ventricle
Left atrium
Left ventricle (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Left ventricle

The left ventricle is the most muscular and powerful chamber of the heart. Its primary function is to pump oxygen-rich blood, received from the left atrium, into the aorta and then throughout the entire systemic circulation to supply the body's tissues. Its thick walls generate the high pressure needed for this extensive blood flow.

Question 15: A 64-year-old female has just collapsed in cardiac arrest. You are alone. After your initial assessment, you should give two ventilations, then

Analyze the rhythm, and deliver a shock if indicated. (Correct answer)
Begin chest compressions for one minute.
Analyze the rhythm, and begin chest compressions.
Call medical control, and begin chest compressions.

Correct answer: Analyze the rhythm, and deliver a shock if indicated.

In an adult cardiac arrest scenario, after initial assessment and providing two ventilations (if indicated), the immediate next step for a lone rescuer with an available AED is to apply the device. The AED will analyze the patient's heart rhythm and advise if a shock is necessary to correct life-threatening arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation, which significantly improves survival rates. Early defibrillation is critical.

EMT Cardiology Sample Test 2

The normal heart rate for a newborn is: