Text Mode – Text version of the exam

Questions

1. After a day full of practice on the cardiac ward, Nurse Jackson decides to refresh the trainee nurses’ understanding
of the heart’s intricate dance of rhythms and pressure changes. Turning the discussion to the period of relaxation for
the heart’s lower chambers, she asks:

Can anyone shed light on what transpires during the phase of ventricular diastole?

A. Surge in aortic pressure.

B. Appearance of the T wave.
C. Increase of ventricular volume.
D. Generation of the “lub” heart sound.

2. Amidst the hum of monitors and the smell of sterile linens, Nurse Avery finds herself in the cardiac ward of the
hospital. During her shift, she observes a variety of heart-related cases. As she reviews a patient’s angiogram, she
muses about the structure of the coronary arteries. One specific artery, the right coronary artery, she knows, splits off
into the posterior interventricular artery and which other artery?

A. The Left Anterior Descending (LAD)

B. The Left Ventricle Circumflex (LVC)
C. The Marginal Artery
D. The Right Ventricle Circumflex (RVC)

3. As Nurse Avery continues her rounds, she spots a complex cardiovascular chart on the wall of the ward. She
contemplates the journey of blood, noting the passage from the heart’s muscular arteries into the thin-walled cardiac
veins. In the intricate maze of the cardiovascular system, where does the blood that flows into these cardiac veins
head to next?

A. The Left Ventricle

B. The Left Atrium
C. The Coronary Sinus
D. The Right Ventricle

4. Identify the type of nerves that establish a connection between the SA and AV nodes within the heart’s intricate
system.

A. Gastric nerves
B. Accelerator nerves
C. Phrenic nerves
D. Thoracic nerves

5. While deep in study, nursing student Liam contemplates the role of angiotensin in the body’s intricate homeostasis
mechanisms. He recalls that angiotensin can directly stimulate the adrenal cortex, leading to the release of a certain
hormone. But which one was it?

A. It triggers the release of Calcitonin.

B. It causes the secretion of Thyroxine.
C. It could be responsible for Aldosterone production.
D. It induces the release of Renin.

6. As a nurse on a bustling cardiac floor, Jane observed a critical part of her duty was interpreting the plethora of
rhythmic heart sounds and intricate details from the EKG monitor. One day, while pondering about the dynamics of
the heart’s contractions and relaxations, she wondered:

“During the period of ventricular contraction, also known as ventricular systole, what phenomenon is likely to occur?”
A. The EKG representation is known as the P wave.
B. A surge in the ventricular chamber’s volume.
C. An augmentation of pressure within the aorta.
D. The heart sound is typically referred to as ‘Dup’.

7. In the midst of her daily tasks, nurse Jane found herself explaining to a newly diagnosed heart failure patient the
fundamentals of cardiac performance. She attempted to simplify the concept of cardiac output, causing her to reflect:

“What two components are multiplied together to calculate cardiac output?”

A. Heart rate and ejection fraction.

B. Heart rate and stroke volume.
C. Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure.
D. Diastolic and systolic blood pressure.

8. While attending to Mr. Johnson, a patient with a history of cardiovascular issues, nurse Jane noticed certain
symptoms pointing to pulmonary edema – shortness of breath, a persistent cough, and fatigue. She started
wondering which part of the heart, if it were to fail, might be most responsible for this condition.

“Which cardiac chamber’s failure is most commonly associated with the onset of pulmonary edema?”

A. The right atrium.

B. The left ventricle.
C. The right ventricle.
D. The left atrium.

9. While performing a comprehensive cardiac examination, Nurse Jane knew the precise auscultation sites were
critical for accurate detection of heart sounds. When it came to the tricuspid valve, she wondered:

“Where should I position my stethoscope for optimal detection of the tricuspid valve’s sounds?”

A. To the left of the sternum, near the midpoint of the sixth rib.
B. To the right side of the sternum.
C. Roughly three inches from the xiphoid process.
D. Along the left lower sternal border.

10. In the hustle and bustle of a busy hospital ward, Nurse Thompson is currently caring for a patient who’s just
undergone a cardiovascular procedure. As part of his postoperative review, she needs to refresh her knowledge of
key arterial structures. She remembers clearly that the brachiocephalic artery branches out to form the right common
carotid artery and also the ____ artery.

A. Right thoracic artery

B. Left subclavian artery
C. Right subclavian artery
D. Left common carotid artery

11. In the middle of a busy night shift, Nurse Peters is brushing up on her knowledge of the cardiovascular system in
between patient rounds. As she examines an anatomical chart, she wonders which among the following is not
typically classified as a primary branch emerging from the descending thoracic aorta?

A. Renal artery
B. Bronchial artery
C. Mediastinal artery
D. Posterior intercostals artery
12. Amidst the steady rhythm of beeping monitors and soft shuffling in the cardiac ward, Nurse Sullivan finds herself
in a thoughtful moment, studying a model of the heart’s intricate vascular network. She ponders: which among these
is the primary branch springing forth directly from the aortic arch?

A. Right Subclavian artery

B. Common Carotid artery
C. Thoracic artery
D. Brachiocephalic artery

13. In the hustle and bustle of a teaching hospital, Nurse Jane prepares a learning session for her students about the
complex arterial system. As she displays a detailed model of the human anatomy, she questions which artery gives
rise to the left splenic, hepatic, and gastric arteries.

A. The artery known as the Phrenic artery.

B. The artery termed as the Suprarenal artery.
C. The artery referred to as the Left sacral artery.
D. The artery labeled as the Celiac artery.

14. In the anatomy lab, Nurse John is demonstrating the intricate network of arteries of the lower extremity, using a
life-like model. He poses an intriguing question: Which of these arteries does not typically branch off from the femoral
artery?

A. The artery known as the Deep external pudendal arteries.

B. The artery referred to as the Superficial circumflex iliac artery.
C. The artery labeled as the Deep circumflex iliac artery.
D. The artery called the Superficial pudendal artery.

15. During a round in the intensive care unit, Nurse Mary uses an educational moment to explain liver physiology to
her fellow nurses. She questions them about the vascular system, asking: Which of these veins is typically not
counted among the tributaries of the portal vein?

A. The vein known as the Left gastric vein.

B. The vein referred to as the Splenic vein.
C. The vein named the Subclavian vein.
D. The vein labeled the Inferior mesenteric vein.

16. During a high-stakes surgery, Dr. Allison, who is an experienced vascular surgeon, takes a moment to educate
the surgical interns. As she navigates the abdominal aorta, she queries them about its major branches, asking: Which
of these arteries is not typically counted as a significant branch of the abdominal aorta?

A. The artery known as the Common iliac artery.

B. The artery referred to as the Phrenic artery.
C. The artery named the Gonadal artery.
D. The artery labeled the Mediastinal artery.

17. During a clinical neurology rotation, Nurse Mark uses a 3D model of the brain to explain the vascular supply to the
medical students. He focuses on the vertebral arteries and their union, then questions: In the confines of the cranial
cavity, the vertebral arteries merge to form which artery?

A. The artery known as the PCA.

B. The artery referred to as the Basilar.
C. The artery named the MCA.
D. The artery labeled the Common Carotid.

18. While conducting a health check-up for a patient, Nurse Mark takes the time to explain some vital signs and their
importance to the medical interns. He ponders over a concept, asking: What is the pulse pressure (pp) generally
considered to be?
A. The half of the systolic pressure.
B. The inverse of the blood pressure.
C. The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure.
D. The sum of the systolic and diastolic pressure.

Answers and Rationales

1. Correct answer:
C. Increase of ventricular volume. Ventricular diastole is the phase of the cardiac cycle during which the ventricles of
the heart are at rest and fill with blood. During this phase, the atrioventricular (AV) valves (the mitral and tricuspid
valves) are open, allowing blood to flow from the atria into the ventricles. This influx of blood results in an increase in
ventricular volume.
The key to understanding this process is to realize that the heart’s pumping action is cyclical. It doesn’t simply
contract all at once; rather, the upper chambers (the atria) contract first, followed by the lower chambers (the
ventricles). During ventricular diastole, the ventricles are in a state of relaxation and filling with blood.

To visualize this, imagine a sponge being compressed and then released. As it re-expands (or “relaxes”), it takes in
water, similarly, the ventricles increase in volume as they take in blood during diastole.

Incorrect answer options:

A. Surge in aortic pressure. This occurs during ventricular systole, not diastole. When the ventricles contract, they
push blood out into the aorta, leading to an increase in aortic pressure.
B. Appearance of the T wave. The T wave on an EKG corresponds to the repolarization of the ventricles, which is
different from ventricular diastole. Repolarization is a restorative electrical process that prepares the heart cells for
the next round of depolarization and contraction.
D. Generation of the “lub” heart sound. The “lub” sound, also known as the first heart sound (S1), is produced by the
closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves at the beginning of the ventricular systole. During ventricular diastole, these
valves are open.
2. Correct answer:
C. The Marginal Artery. The right coronary artery (RCA) is a vital structure in the heart’s vascular system, supplying
blood to the right side of the heart. After originating from the right aortic sinus, the RCA courses along the
atrioventricular groove and branches off into two significant arteries: the posterior interventricular artery (also known
as the posterior descending artery), which supplies the posterior part of the interventricular septum and the posterior
walls of both ventricles, and the Marginal Artery, which supplies the lateral part of the right ventricle.
To imagine this in a real-world scenario, consider the coronary arteries as the heart’s road system. Just like main
roads branching into smaller streets to supply various neighborhoods, the RCA splits into the posterior interventricular
artery and the Marginal Artery to ensure different areas of the heart muscle receive oxygen and nutrients.

Incorrect answer options:

A. The Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery and B. The Left Ventricle Circumflex (LVC) artery are branches of the
left coronary artery (LCA), not the right coronary artery. The LAD supplies the anterior part of the interventricular
septum and the anterior wall of the left ventricle, while the LVC (usually just referred to as the circumflex artery)
supplies the lateral and posterior walls of the left ventricle.
D. The Right Ventricle Circumflex (RVC) is not a recognized anatomical term. It appears to be a combination of terms
from both the right and left coronary systems. The right coronary artery does supply the right ventricle, but the term
“circumflex” is traditionally associated with a branch of the left coronary artery.
3. Correct answer:
C. The Coronary Sinus. The coronary sinus is a large vein that collects deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle
(myocardium) via the cardiac veins and channels it into the right atrium. This process is part of the coronary
circulation, which is responsible for supplying the heart muscle with the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function and
removing waste products.
In other words, after the oxygen and nutrients in the blood have been used by the heart muscle, the deoxygenated
blood and waste products are collected by the cardiac veins. These veins then drain into the coronary sinus, which
acts as a conduit to transport the deoxygenated blood back to the right atrium.

This can be likened to a drainage system, where the coronary sinus acts as a large pipe collecting used water (in this
case, deoxygenated blood) from smaller pipes (the cardiac veins) and channeling it into a reservoir (the right atrium)
for processing and recycling.

Incorrect answer options:

A. The Left Ventricle and D. The Right Ventricle are parts of the heart where the blood is pumped out to the
circulatory system, not where the cardiac veins drain.
B. The Left Atrium is where the pulmonary veins, carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs, drain. It is not involved in
the coronary circulation and does not receive blood from the cardiac veins.
4. Correct answer:
B. Accelerator nerves. The connection between the SA node (sinoatrial node) and the AV node (atrioventricular node)
within the heart is facilitated primarily by internal cardiac pathways made up of specialized cardiac muscle cells.
However, the accelerator nerves, part of the autonomic nervous system (specifically, the sympathetic nervous
system), also play an important role in modulating heart function, including the rate of impulse propagation between
the SA and AV nodes. Sympathetic stimulation (via the accelerator nerves) generally increases heart rate and the
speed of conduction between these nodes.
This could be thought of as the gas pedal in a car, pressing it (the action of accelerator nerves) increases the speed
(heart rate) and efficiency of the engine (heart’s pumping action).

Incorrect answer options:

A. Gastric nerves primarily innervate the stomach and do not play a direct role in cardiac conduction or impulse
propagation between the SA and AV nodes.
C. Phrenic nerves predominantly innervate the diaphragm, the primary muscle involved in respiration, and do not
have a direct role in the transmission of impulses between the SA and AV nodes of the heart.
D. Thoracic nerves refer to the spinal nerves in the thoracic region of the spine. They supply the thorax and abdomen
but do not directly regulate the conduction system of the heart.
5. Correct answer:
C. It could be responsible for Aldosterone production. Angiotensin II, a product of the renin-angiotensin system,
indeed stimulates the adrenal cortex to release aldosterone. Aldosterone is a steroid hormone that plays a pivotal role
in regulating sodium and potassium levels in the body, and indirectly, fluid volume and blood pressure.
This process can be related to a drought management system in a city. When the city (body) experiences a drought
(low blood volume/pressure), the management system (renin-angiotensin system) steps in, leading to policies
(hormones) like water rationing (aldosterone), which helps in retaining more water (sodium), indirectly increasing the
water supply (blood volume).

Incorrect answer options:

A. Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland, primarily in response to high blood calcium levels. It has no
direct connection with the renin-angiotensin system or angiotensin II.
B. Thyroxine, or T4, is also a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland. It plays key roles in regulating metabolism but
does not have a direct relationship with angiotensin II.
D. Renin is not a hormone released in response to angiotensin II. Rather, it is part of the initiating step in the renin-
angiotensin system. Renin, secreted by the kidneys, cleaves angiotensinogen to form angiotensin I, which is then
converted to angiotensin II.
6. Correct answer:
C. An augmentation of pressure within the aorta. During ventricular systole, the ventricles contract and push blood
into the aorta and pulmonary arteries. This contraction increases the pressure within these vessels. The increased
pressure in the aorta specifically can be felt as a pulse in peripheral arteries.
This is akin to squeezing a water-filled balloon – the pressure inside increases as the balloon contracts.

Incorrect answer options:

A. The EKG representation is known as the P wave. This is incorrect. The P wave on an EKG represents atrial
depolarization, which precedes atrial contraction (atrial systole), not ventricular systole.
B. A surge in the ventricular chamber’s volume. This is incorrect. During ventricular systole, the volume within the
ventricles decreases as blood is ejected out into the arteries. This is the opposite of a surge or increase in volume.
It’s like squeezing a sponge – the volume decreases as the water (blood) is pushed out.
D. The heart sound is typically referred to as ‘Dup’. This is not entirely correct. The ‘dup’ sound (or S2) occurs at the
beginning of diastole when the aortic and pulmonary valves close after blood has been ejected from the ventricles.
During ventricular systole, the ‘lub’ sound (or S1) is heard, which is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular
(mitral and tricuspid) valves, preventing backflow of blood to the atria.
7. Correct answer:
B. Heart rate and stroke volume. Cardiac output, a measure of the amount of blood the heart pumps each minute, is
calculated by multiplying the heart rate (the number of heartbeats per minute) and the stroke volume (the volume of
blood pumped out by each ventricle with each heartbeat).
This can be compared to a water pump, where the heart rate is the number of times the pump works per minute, and
the stroke volume is the amount of water it moves each time it works. The total amount of water moved (cardiac
output) would be the number of times it works (heart rate) multiplied by the amount moved each time (stroke volume).
Incorrect answer options:
A. Heart rate and ejection fraction. While the ejection fraction is a measure of the heart’s efficiency and is indeed
related to stroke volume, it’s a percentage and isn’t directly used to calculate cardiac output.
C. Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at
rest between beats. It doesn’t directly affect the calculation of cardiac output.
D. Diastolic and systolic blood pressure. These are measurements of blood pressure at different points in the cardiac
cycle, not factors in calculating cardiac output.
8. Correct answer:
B. The left ventricle. Left ventricular failure is the most common cause of pulmonary edema. The left ventricle is
responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. When it fails, it can’t effectively pump out all of the
blood it receives from the left atrium. This causes an increase in pressure which backs up into the pulmonary
circulation, resulting in fluid leakage from the capillaries into the lung tissue and air spaces, leading to pulmonary
edema.
To illustrate, imagine a crowded exit at a concert. If the door (left ventricle) isn’t opened wide enough to let people
(blood) out efficiently, the crowd (pressure) will build up behind it, causing a bottleneck effect, and people might start
spilling into areas they shouldn’t be (fluid in the lungs).

Incorrect answer options:

A. The right atrium. While right atrial failure could cause systemic venous congestion (such as peripheral edema and
hepatomegaly), it wouldn’t directly cause pulmonary edema.
C. The right ventricle. Right ventricular failure can lead to a backup of blood in the systemic circulation, not the
pulmonary circulation. This might cause peripheral edema but is less likely to directly cause pulmonary edema.
D. The left atrium. While left atrial failure could hypothetically lead to pulmonary edema by causing a backup of blood
in the pulmonary veins, it’s much less common than left ventricular failure as the latter is responsible for the primary
pumping action of the heart.
9. Correct answer:
D. Along the left lower sternal border. The tricuspid valve is best heard along the left lower sternal border, usually in
the fourth intercostal space. Heart sounds are best auscultated at the location where the sound waves are most
directly conducted to the chest wall.
It’s similar to placing your ear on a wall to hear what’s happening in the next room – the closest you are to the source
of sound (in this case, the tricuspid valve), the better you can hear it.

Incorrect answer options:

A. To the left of the sternum, near the midpoint of the sixth rib. This location is more associated with the auscultation
of the mitral valve rather than the tricuspid valve.
B. To the right side of the sternum. This location isn’t traditionally associated with any specific heart valve
auscultation.
C. Roughly three inches from the xiphoid process. This isn’t a standard location for auscultating any of the heart
valves.
10. Correct answer:
C. Right subclavian artery. The brachiocephalic artery, also known as the innominate artery, is a major blood vessel
originating from the aortic arch. It divides into the right common carotid artery, which supplies blood to the right side
of the neck and head, and the right subclavian artery, which supplies blood to the right upper limb.
A useful analogy here could be a highway (the brachiocephalic artery) branching into two major exits: one leading to
a large city (the right common carotid artery serving the head and neck) and the other leading to a nearby town (the
right subclavian artery serving the upper limb).

Incorrect answer options:

A. Right thoracic artery. There’s no artery by this name in standard anatomical terminology, so this is not a correct
answer.
B. Left subclavian artery. The left subclavian artery comes directly off the aortic arch, not the brachiocephalic artery.
D. Left common carotid artery. Like the left subclavian artery, the left common carotid artery also arises directly from
the aortic arch, not from the brachiocephalic artery.
11. Correct answer:
A. Renal artery. The renal arteries are not branches of the descending thoracic aorta; instead, they branch from the
abdominal aorta to supply the kidneys with blood. The descending thoracic aorta is the portion of the aorta located in
the thoracic cavity, above the diaphragm, while the renal arteries are found below the diaphragm.
Think of the body as a city, and the aorta as the main highway running through it. The renal arteries are like exits off
the highway further down, outside the city (the thoracic cavity), while the branches from the descending thoracic aorta
are like exits within the city itself.
Incorrect answer options:
B. Bronchial artery. This is incorrect because bronchial arteries do typically arise from the thoracic aorta. They supply
oxygenated blood to the lungs and bronchi.
C. Mediastinal artery. These are branches of the thoracic aorta that supply the structures in the mediastinum, the
space between the lungs.
D. Posterior intercostal artery. These arteries are indeed branches of the thoracic aorta and supply the intercostal
spaces, which are the spaces between the ribs.
12. Correct answer:
D. Brachiocephalic artery. The brachiocephalic artery is the first major branch of the aortic arch, which originates
directly from the heart. This artery is unique to humans and some other primates. It’s called “brachiocephalic”
because it supplies blood to both the brachium (arm) and the cephalus (head). After leaving the aortic arch, the
brachiocephalic artery divides into two further branches: the right common carotid artery, which supplies blood to the
right side of the neck, face, and brain, and the right subclavian artery, which supplies blood to the right upper limb.
To put this in a practical perspective, imagine the heart as a busy city with the aortic arch as its main highway. The
brachiocephalic artery can be likened to the first and largest exit from this highway, leading to two significant roads—
the right common carotid and the right subclavian artery, which, in turn, take blood to different “neighborhoods” or
parts of the body.

Incorrect answer options:

A. Right Subclavian artery. This artery does not directly spring from the aortic arch. Instead, it branches off the
brachiocephalic artery, which is the first and largest artery branching off the aortic arch.
B. Common Carotid artery. While the common carotid arteries do originate from the aortic arch, they are not the
primary branch. The right common carotid arises from the brachiocephalic trunk, and the left common carotid artery
branches directly from the aortic arch as the second branch.
C. Thoracic artery. There is no single “thoracic artery” directly branching from the aortic arch. The thoracic aorta,
which is a continuation of the aortic arch, gives rise to several smaller branches that supply blood to the thoracic wall
and various thoracic organs. But, it is not a primary branch from the aortic arch.
13. Correct answer:
D. The artery labeled as the Celiac artery. The celiac artery (also known as the celiac trunk) is a major branch of the
abdominal aorta. It supplies oxygenated blood to the liver, stomach, and spleen, hence it gives rise to the left gastric
artery, splenic artery, and common hepatic artery (which in turn gives rise to the hepatic artery properly supplying the
liver).
Think of the celiac artery as a highway that splits into three roads: each road leads to a different town (in this case,
organ), delivering necessary supplies (oxygenated blood).

Incorrect answer options:

A. The artery known as the Phrenic artery. The phrenic arteries are typically two in number, the superior and inferior,
and they supply the diaphragm. They do not give rise to the gastric, hepatic, and splenic arteries.
B. The artery termed as the Suprarenal artery. The suprarenal arteries are those which supply the adrenal (or
suprarenal) glands, located atop the kidneys. These are not the arteries that give rise to the gastric, hepatic, and
splenic arteries.
C. The artery referred to as the Left sacral artery. The sacral arteries, which include the median sacral and lateral
sacral arteries, supply the sacrum and coccyx in the lower part of the spine. They do not give rise to the gastric,
hepatic, and splenic arteries.
14. Correct answer:
C. The artery labeled as the Deep circumflex iliac artery. The deep circumflex iliac artery is not typically a branch of
the femoral artery. It originates from the external iliac artery, which is superior to the femoral artery. The deep
circumflex iliac artery primarily supplies the iliacus muscle, abdominal muscles, and iliac bone.
Think of the arterial system as a tree. The deep circumflex iliac artery is a branch stemming from a trunk (external
iliac artery) that is higher up than the trunk from which the femoral artery branches off.

Incorrect answer options:

A. The artery known as the Deep external pudendal arteries. This is incorrect as the deep external pudendal artery is
indeed a branch of the femoral artery. It is one of the several branches supplying the skin and muscles of the
perineum.
B. The artery referred to as the Superficial circumflex iliac artery. This is not the correct answer as this artery is also a
branch of the femoral artery. It courses laterally across the inguinal ligament and supplies the skin of the lower
abdominal wall and groin.
D. The artery called the Superficial pudendal artery. This option is also incorrect. The superficial external pudendal
artery, a branch of the femoral artery, supplies blood to the lower abdominal skin and external genitalia.
15. Correct answer:
C. The vein named the Subclavian vein. The subclavian vein is not a tributary of the portal vein. Instead, it carries
blood from the upper extremities, allowing deoxygenated blood to return to the heart. It runs under the collarbone, or
clavicle (hence the name “subclavian”), and joins the internal jugular vein to form the brachiocephalic vein.
Consider the portal vein as a major river, with the left gastric, splenic, and inferior mesenteric veins as its tributaries.
The subclavian vein, on the other hand, belongs to a different river system entirely.

Incorrect answer options:

A. The vein known as the Left gastric vein. This is not correct as the left gastric vein, which drains the lesser
curvature of the stomach, is indeed one of the tributaries of the portal vein.
B. The vein referred to as the Splenic vein. This is not accurate because the splenic vein, which drains blood from the
spleen, part of the pancreas and the fundus, and the greater curvature of the stomach, merges with the superior
mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.
D. The vein labeled the Inferior mesenteric vein. This is incorrect as the inferior mesenteric vein, which drains the
distal regions of the large intestine, is typically a tributary of the splenic vein, which then flows into the portal vein.
16. Correct answer:
D. The artery labeled the Mediastinal artery. The mediastinal arteries are not typically counted among the significant
branches of the abdominal aorta. These arteries generally originate from the thoracic aorta and supply the lymph
nodes and connective tissues in the mediastinum, which is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity.
Think of the abdominal aorta as a major highway with several exit ramps (branches). Each exit ramp leads to a
different city (organ). The mediastinal artery, however, is like an exit ramp on a completely different highway.

Incorrect answer options:

A. The artery known as the Common iliac artery. This option is incorrect because the common iliac arteries, which
include a right and a left, are indeed major branches of the abdominal aorta. They supply blood to the pelvis and
lower limbs.
B. The artery referred to as the Phrenic artery. This is also not accurate. The inferior phrenic arteries, which typically
branch off the abdominal aorta, supply the diaphragm.
C. The artery named the Gonadal artery. This is incorrect as well because the gonadal arteries, which include the
ovarian arteries in females and the testicular arteries in males, are also major branches of the abdominal aorta.
17. Correct answer:
B. The artery referred to as the Basilar artery. The vertebral arteries, which ascend along the cervical vertebrae into
the cranium, unite at the lower border of the pons, a part of the brainstem, to form the basilar artery. This crucial
artery serves as the main conduit of blood to the posterior portion of the brain.
Consider the vertebral arteries as two streams coming from different directions, merging to form a single river, which
is the basilar artery.

Incorrect answer options:

A. The artery known as the PCA (Posterior Cerebral Artery). This is incorrect as the PCA is actually a branch of the
basilar artery and not formed by the union of the vertebral arteries.
C. The artery named the MCA (Middle Cerebral Artery). This option is not accurate as the MCA is a primary branch of
the internal carotid artery, not a result of the union of the vertebral arteries.
D. The artery labeled the Common Carotid. This is incorrect as the common carotid artery does not form from the
union of the vertebral arteries. Instead, it bifurcates into the internal and external carotid arteries, which supply
different areas of the head and neck.
18. Correct answer:
C. The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure. Pulse pressure (PP) is defined as the difference
between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). It gives an indication of the force that the
heart generates each time it contracts. If your systolic blood pressure was, say, 120 mmHg and your diastolic blood
pressure was 80 mmHg, your pulse pressure would be 40 mmHg.
Consider the blood pressure as the high tide and low tide of the sea. The systolic pressure is the high tide, the
diastolic pressure is the low tide, and the pulse pressure would be the difference in height between these two tides.

Incorrect answer options:

A. The half of the systolic pressure. This is incorrect, as pulse pressure is not determined by taking half of the systolic
blood pressure. Rather, it is the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures.
B. The inverse of the blood pressure. This statement is not accurate, as pulse pressure does not represent an inverse
of blood pressure. In fact, an inverse relationship would imply that as blood pressure increases, pulse pressure
decreases, or vice versa, which is not the case.
D. The sum of the systolic and diastolic pressure. This statement is incorrect, as the sum of the systolic and diastolic
pressures defines total or mean arterial pressure (MAP), not pulse pressure.