Physiology Practice Test: The Cardiovascular System - Cardiac Function | Practice Test / Quiz / MCQs

1. What causes the rapid depolarization phase of a contractile cell action potential?

calcium movement into the cellpotassium movement into the cellsodium movement out of the cellsodium movement into the cellcalcium movement out of the cell

2. What phase of the cardiac cycle is the heart in when all four valves of the heart are closed and ventricular pressure is less than atrial pressure?

isovolumetric contractionisovolumetric relaxationnoneventricular ejectionventricular filling

4. Which of the following best describes the effect of sympathetic activity on ventricular contractile cells?

the rates of contraction and relaxation both increase, whereas the force of contraction decreasesthe rates of contraction and relaxation both decrease, whereas the force of contraction increasesthe rate of contraction and the force of contraction both increase, whereas the rate of relaxation decreasesthe force of contraction increases, whereas the rates of contraction and relaxation are not affectedthe rates of contraction and relaxation and the force of contraction all increase

7. Cardiac function curves plot ________ against ________.

heart rate : end-systolic volumestroke volume : end-diastolic volumecardiac output : end-diastolic volumeheart rate : end-diastolic volumestroke volume : end-systolic volume

8. Which of the following decreases stroke volume?

increase sympathetic activityincrease in atrial pressuredecrease in central venous pressureincrease parasympathetic activityincrease in filling time

9. Which of the following describes the effect of end-diastolic volume on stroke volume?

An increase in end-diastolic volume stretches ventricular muscle cells to lengths closer to optimum, increasing the strength of contraction and thereby increasing stroke volume.A decrease in end-diastolic volume allows ventricular muscle cells to relax more during diastole, allowing more blood to return to the heart increasing stroke volume.A decrease in end-diastolic volume creates a vacuum drawing more blood into the ventricle increasing stroke volume.An increase in end-diastolic volume stretches ventricular muscle cells to lengths greater than optimum, decreasing the strength of contraction and thereby decreasing stroke volume.A decrease in end-diastolic volume allows cardiac muscle to relax, conserving energy for the next contraction, thereby increasing stroke volume of that next contraction.

10. What causes the sounds that one hears as the heart beats?

the snapping of the valves into a closed positionthe bulk movement of blood into and out of the ventriclethe turbulence created as the valves closethe turbulence created as the valves openthe snapping of the valves into the open position

15. Which of the following structures is POORLY innervated by the parasympathetic nervous system, therefore, an increase in parasympathetic activity has little effect on this structure?

ventriclesconduction pathwaysinoatrial nodePurkinje fibersatrioventricular node

16. The muscular wall of the right ventricle is thicker than that of the left ventricle because it develops a greater pressure in order to deliver blood to the organs of the body.

TrueFalseMaybeDon't Know

17. Calcium movement into the cell causes the rapid depolarization of the autorhythmic cell action potential, whereas sodium movement into the cell causes the rapid depolarization of the contractile cell action potential.

MaybeDon't KnowTrueFalse

18. Which of the following is TRUE of the ventricular filling phase of the cardiac cycle?

Ventricular pressure is decreasing.Ventricular pressure is greater than atrial pressure.Ventricular filling occurs during systole.All valves in the heart are open.Ventricular pressure is less than aortic pressure.

19. Which of the following ion channels must open for a cardiac pacemaker cell to depolarize to threshold for an action potential?

both funny channels and T-type calcium channelsboth funny channels and L-type calcium channelsL-type calcium channels onlyT-type calcium channels onlyfunny channels only

20. Under resting conditions, heart rate is primarily under the control of what control system?

the sympathetic nervous systemintrinsic mechanismsthe parasympathetic nervous systemthe somatic nervous systemepinephrine

21. The term autorhythmicity refers to the heartʹs ability to ________.

conduct action potentials along the conduction pathwayoriginate its contraction neurogenicallygenerate its own contractile cycleact as a functional syncytiumintrinsically modify its contractility

23. An increase in heart rate can be mediated through which of the following?

an increase in sympathetic activity onlyan increase in parasympathetic activity and a decrease in sympathetic activitya decrease in parasympathetic activity and an increase in sympathetic activitya decrease in sympathetic activity onlya decrease in parasympathetic nervous activity only

25. Which of the following statements about the plateau phase of a contractile cell action potential is FALSE?

Calcium permeability is high relative to the resting state.Potassium permeability is low relative to the resting state.The cardiac muscle is in the absolute refractory period.Sodium channels are inactivated.The membrane potential remains the same as the peak of the action potential for about milliseconds.

25 Questions

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25 Questions

❤ If you liked Fatskills, consider supporting us by checking out The Life Manuals You Never Got.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know? Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson© 2026 Fatskills.com

All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know?
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Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
© 2026 Fatskills.com