PrepU Ch. 25: Structure and Function of the Cardiovascular System

A client is diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm that the physician just wants to "watch" for now. When teaching the client about signs/symptoms to watch for, the nurse will base the teaching on which physiologic principle?

As the aneurysm grows, more tension is placed on the vessel wall, which increases the risk for rupture.

During ventricular systole, closure of the atrioventricular (AV) valves coincides with which physiologic event?

Isovolumetric contraction Explanation: Ventricular systole is divided into two parts: isovolumetric contraction when the AV valves close and ventricles fill; and the ejection period, when the semilunar valves open and blood is ejected through the aortic valve into circulation.

The heart is a four-chambered pump. What is the function of the right ventricle?

Pumps blood to the lungs

Nitroglycerin is the drug of choice in treating angina. What does nitroglycerin release into the vascular smooth muscle of the target issues?

nitric oxide explanation: nitric oxide is released into the vessel lumen (to inactivate platelets) and away from the lumen (to relax smooth muscle) suggests that it protects against both thrombosis and vasoconstriction.

Downstream peripheral pulses have a higher pulse pressure because the pressure wave travels faster than the blood itself. What occurs in peripheral arterial disease?

the pulse decreases, rather than increases, in amplitude explanation: With peripheral arterial disease, there is a delay in the transmission of the reflected wave so that the pulse decreases, rather than increases, in amplitude.