Review Questions - Heart

1. Trace a drop of blood through one complete circuit of the circulatory

system.
2. Describe the location and function of the four heart valves. What
keeps each of these valves from everting?
3. Why is the SA node the pacemaker of the heart?
4. Describe the mechanical events (that is, pressure changes, volume
changes, valve activity and heart sounds) of the cardiac cycle.
Correlate the mechanical events of the cardiac cycle with the changes
in electrical activity.
5. How is the heart muscle provided with blood? Why does the heart
receive most of its own blood supply during diastole?
6. If the left bundle branch of the conducting system is blocked, how
would the heart sounds be affected?
7. Harvey has a heart murmur in his left ventricle that produces a loud
gurgling sound at the beginning of systole. Which valve is probably
faulty?
8. Vern is suffering from cardiac arrhythmias and is brought into the
emergency room of a hospital. In the emergency room he begins to
exhibit tachycardia and as a result loses consciousness. Explain why
Vern lost consciousness.
9. Describe the three steps of hemostasis, including a comparison of the

intrinsic and extrinsic pathways by which the clotting cascade is

triggered.