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Cardiovascular Physiology Flashcards

7 cards from real ACSM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Cardiovascular Physiology flashcards as text

  1. Which of the following best describes the Frank-Starling mechanism?

    Answer: Greater ventricular end-diastolic volume results in a stronger contraction

    The Frank-Starling mechanism states that as ventricular filling (preload) increases, the force of contraction increases due to greater actin-myosin cross-bridge formation.

  2. During maximal aerobic exercise, which factor contributes MOST to the increase in cardiac output in trained individuals?

    Answer: Increased stroke volume due to enhanced ventricular filling and ejection

    Trained individuals achieve higher cardiac output primarily through a larger stroke volume (augmented preload via plasma volume expansion and enhanced ejection fraction) rather than heart rate alone.

  3. What is the primary determinant of diastolic blood pressure?

    Answer: Total peripheral resistance

    Diastolic blood pressure is primarily determined by total peripheral resistance, which reflects the degree of vasoconstriction in arterioles.

  4. A 45-year-old client has a resting cardiac output of 5 L/min and a heart rate of 70 bpm. What is the stroke volume?

    Answer: 71 mL

    Stroke volume = Cardiac output / Heart rate = 5000 mL / 70 bpm ≈ 71 mL.

  5. Which physiological change explains the redistribution of blood flow to active muscles during exercise?

    Answer: Local metabolic vasodilation in active muscles with vasoconstriction in non-essential beds

    Local metabolites (CO₂, lactate, adenosine, K⁺) cause vasodilation in active muscles, while sympathetic vasoconstriction reduces flow to splanchnic and renal beds.

  6. Which ECG change is a normal physiological response to aerobic endurance training?

    Answer: Resting sinus bradycardia

    Endurance training increases vagal tone, lowering resting heart rate and producing sinus bradycardia, which is a normal adaptation.

  7. The oxygen pulse during a graded exercise test is calculated as VO₂ divided by heart rate. What does a plateau in oxygen pulse indicate?

    Answer: Stroke volume has plateaued and further VO₂ increases are heart-rate dependent

    Oxygen pulse (VO₂/HR) is a surrogate for stroke volume × oxygen extraction; a plateau suggests stroke volume is no longer rising despite increasing workload.