Cardiovascular — MCQs

A 34-year-old woman with a past medical history of obesity and longstanding GERD presents to the emergency room with chest pain. She describes the pain as central with a sensation of something being stuck in her chest, and this is the third episode in the last month. The prior two incidents occurred at the gym while she was drinking a sport drink and resolved after resting for 3-4 minutes. This episode started after she received news that her father had just had a heart attack at age 69 and has lasted for 15 minutes. The patient also notes several months of intermittent difficulty swallowing but denies palpitations, diaphoresis, or shortness of breath. The patient has a family history of scleroderma in her mother. In the emergency room, her temperature is 98.4°F (36.8°C), blood pressure is 143/82 mmHg, pulse is 89/min, and respirations are 16/min. The patient appears mildly uncomfortable but exam is otherwise unremarkable. Which of the following is the most appropriate confirmatory test for this patient’s condition?

A 36-year-old woman comes to the physician because of blurred vision and difficulty keeping her eyes open. She also has occasional difficulty chewing, especially when eating meat or other foods that require prolonged chewing. The symptoms are worse at the end of the day. Physical examination shows bilateral drooping of the eyelids, which becomes more pronounced when she is asked to look upwards for 30 seconds. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

A team of researchers is investigating different mechanisms of transmitting sensory information in the body. They are particularly interested in the different types of sensory receptors. From a sample of tissue, they isolate a receptor that is encased in deep skin layers and joints. The receptor adapts quickly and they discover its role is to sense vibration and pressure. Which of the following types of nerve fibers is most likely used by this receptor to transmit sensory information?

A 58-year-old man with history of diabetes and hypertension suffers a cardiac arrest at home. The family calls 911, yet no one performs CPR. Five minutes after the arrest, EMS arrives to begin resuscitation. At this point, which region of the CNS is most likely to suffer ischemic damage?

A 4-day-old healthy male infant is born with normal internal and external male reproductive organs. Karyotype analysis reveals a 46XY genotype. Production of what substance by which cell type is responsible for the development of the normal male seminal vesicles, epididymides, ejaculatory ducts, and ductus deferens?

A 39-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician because she has been experiencing intermittent abdominal pain for the last 2 weeks. She says that the pain is squeezing in nature, is located in the right upper quadrant, and is particularly severe after eating a meal. After a diagnosis is made, the patient asks why the pain gets worse after eating. The physician explains that food is detected by the gastrointestinal tract through numerous receptors and that this information is transmitted to other parts of the body to cause compensatory changes. The neurons responsible for transmitting this information are most likely located in a layer of the intestine that has which of the following characteristics?

A 32-year-old woman patient presents to her family physician with recurrent retrosternal chest pain. She has had similar episodes for the past 7 months along with difficulty swallowing solid as well as liquid food. She recently completed an 8-week course of a proton pump inhibitor, but she is still bothered by the feeling that food gets stuck down her 'food pipe'. Her pain is not related to exertion. She denies any history of acid reflux disease. Her blood pressure is 125/81 mm Hg, respirations are 21/min, pulse is 78/min, and temperature is 36.7°C (98.1°F). She currently does not have pain. A barium swallow X-ray image is normal. Which of the following tests would aid in the diagnosis of this patient's condition?

A physiologist is studying various mediators that modulate coronary circulation. He is particularly looking at mediators that are activated via the clotting cascade, primarily activated factor XII. He finds that when the clotting cascade starts, it leads to the activation of factor XII, which in turn activates the enzyme kallikrein. This enzyme activates high and low-molecular-weight precursors of certain mediators, which work by contracting the visceral smooth muscle while relaxing the vascular smooth muscle. They are primarily associated with hypersensitivity and can cause an increase in capillary permeability, pain, and mobilize leukocytes. Which of the following is the precursor protein for the mediators the physiologist is studying?

A 30-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 1-month history of intermittent abdominal pain, flatulence, and watery diarrhea. The episodes typically occur 2–3 hours after meals, particularly following ingestion of ice cream, cheese, and pizza. She is administered 50 g of lactose orally. Which of the following changes is most likely to be observed in this patient?

A 29-year-old man is brought to the emergency room 6 hours after the onset of severe epigastric pain and vomiting. His heart rate is 110/min and blood pressure is 98/72 mm Hg. He is diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, and fluid resuscitation with normal saline is initiated. Which of the following is the most likely immediate effect of fluid resuscitation in this patient?