EMT/NREMT Practice Test (Cardiology)

Question 1

Your patient is a 52-year-old man who is experiencing dull, 
aching chest symptoms. He seems attentive and focused, 
but his skin is pale, cool, and clammy upon assessment.
 What's the next step?

Accepted Answer

Administer Supplemental Oxygen

Answer

The patient's symptoms (chest pain, pale, cool, clammy skin) are highly suggestive of a cardiac event, which can lead to hypoxia. Administering supplemental oxygen is a critical initial step to improve oxygenation to the heart and tissues. This addresses a primary physiological need immediately, before other interventions like obtaining a SAMPLE history or considering medications.

Question 2

For a newborn (0-3 months), the normal heart rate is:

Accepted Answer

140 – 160

Answer

Newborns and infants have significantly higher resting heart rates compared to older children and adults due to their rapid metabolism and smaller heart size. A normal heart rate for a newborn (0-3 months) typically falls within the range of 140 to 160 beats per minute. This elevated rate is a physiological norm for their age group.

Question 3

On the left side of the heart is a two-flap valve called the:

Accepted Answer

Bicuspid valve

Answer

The bicuspid valve, also known as the mitral valve, is located on the left side of the heart, specifically between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It is characterized by having two cusps or flaps, which regulate blood flow from the atrium to the ventricle. The other options are either incorrect names or located elsewhere in the heart.

Question 4

The cardiovascular system, often known as the circulatory system, is made up of three basic components; which of the following is not one of these components?

Accepted Answer

Myoglobin

Answer

The three primary components of the cardiovascular (circulatory) system are the heart (the pump), blood vessels (the conduits), and blood (the transport medium). Myoglobin is an oxygen-binding protein found within muscle tissue, particularly cardiac and skeletal muscle, but it is not considered a basic structural component of the cardiovascular system itself.

Question 5

From the outside in, identify the layers of the heart.

Accepted Answer

Epicardium, myocardium, endocardium

Answer

The heart wall consists of three distinct layers, listed from the outermost to the innermost. The epicardium is the outermost layer, also known as the visceral layer of the serous pericardium. The myocardium is the thick middle layer composed of cardiac muscle, responsible for pumping blood, and the endocardium is the innermost layer, lining the heart chambers and valves.