ASPT EKG Certification Practice Exam

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• What is the myocardium made out of?
• Which ability of heart cells refers to receiving and transmitting electrical stimuli?
• What are the two receiving chambers of the heart?
• What are the two entrance valves of the heart where blood goes through after it enters the heart?
• What is the function of the pulmonary veins in the cardiovascular system?
• What is the significance of increased contractility in the heart during a sympathetic response?
• What is the state of the heart when the parasympathetic nervous system is in control?
• Which of the following describes the function of coronary arteries?
• Which part of the heart is primarily responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body?
• What is the thickest layer of the heart?
• Which cardiac condition can result from untreated ischemia?
• Where does the pulmonary vein carry blood from?
• What does the heart function as?
• What is the effect of rapid heart contractions on the ventricles?
• What is the normal electrical activity of the heart represented by on an EKG?
• Which part of the EKG shows atrial contraction?
• What happens to blood pressure during a sympathetic response?
• What best describes a heart murmur?
• What is the largest chamber in the heart?
• Where does an impulse start in the heart?
• What is the function of the sinus node in the heart?
• How is a sinus arrhythmia primarily caused?
• What is the outcome when the sympathetic nervous system is activated in a threatening situation?
• What should be done before and after using an EKG?
• What is the term for circulation that moves from the heart's right atrium to the lungs?
• What does the P Wave on an EKG typically signify?
• Where does blood go after it leaves the pulmonary veins?
• What is the only vein that carries high oxygenated blood?
• What are the right and left atria primarily known as?
• How large is the heart typically?
• What is the function of the pericardium?
• What is it called when the right and left coronary arteries can't supply enough blood to the heart?
• Where do you put the lead if the patient's right arm is amputated above the elbow?
• Which wave on the EKG represents the relaxation of the ventricles?
• What color is used for the ground lead in an EKG?
• What do you call an event occurring at a place other than its normal location?
• What does the bottom number of blood pressure represent?
• Why is the left ventricle considered the largest chamber of the heart?
• Which of the following describes the role of the left atrium?
• A muscle tremor would look like what on an EKG?
• What is the primary purpose of an EKG?
• What role do the left and right ventricles serve in the heart?
• How many layers does the heart have?
• The "fight or flight" response is primarily mediated by which part of the nervous system?
• Which physiological changes are associated with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system?
• What does the mediastinum do?
• What is ischemia?
• Which part of the heart is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body?
• What effect does blockages in the coronary arteries have on the heart?
• What is the mediastinum?
• What is depolarization in the context of cardiac cycles?
• What is the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle called?
• What can trigger the activation of the sympathetic nervous system?
• What is the second stage of the cardiac cycle referred to?
• What is the purpose of the gel on the electrode during an EKG?
• What happens when the heartbeat fires ectopically?
• Where does the impulse go after the AV node?
• What is the name for the upper border of the heart?
• What does repolarization refer to in heart activity?
• Which of the following statements is true regarding the sympathetic nervous system?
• The aorta leaves the heart and carries blood where?
• Which body systems are primarily affected by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system?
• Where should you place the EKG lead if a patient has an amputation on one limb?
• What is the primary function of the heart?
• Which artery is responsible for carrying low oxygen blood?
• Where are the four heart valves located, in relation to the heart's structures?
• What does a U Wave on an EKG represent?
• What is another name for leads aVR, aVF, and aVL?
• The aVR lead goes to what part of the body?
• What is the main purpose of an EKG?
• How does agonal rhythm differ from asystole on an EKG?
• What is the outer sac surrounding the heart?
• What is the function of the pericardial sac?
• What is the name of the muscular inner layer of the heart?
• Where does the pulmonary vein carry blood to for circulation to the rest of the body?
• What is the destination of the blood carried by the pulmonary arteries?
• What does the PQRST complex represent in an EKG?
• What would a broken cable wire do on an EKG?
• What condition can result from abnormalities in the heart's electrical conduction system?
• What is represented by the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave?
• What type of muscle makes up the myocardium?
• What is the normal rate of a sinus rhythm in beats per minute?
• Which layer of the heart is the outermost layer?
• As blood returns from the body, which heart chamber does it first enter?
• What is the term for the characteristic of heart cells that allows them to generate electrical impulses automatically?
• What is the function of the SA node?
• What is the gel or pad that conducts electricity called?
• What term describes a rapid heart beat?
• What is the term for the heart when it is contracting?
• What is another name for the bicuspid valve?
• What is one major cause of heart failure?
• What is the normal speed for an EKG to run?
• What is the fibrous outer fluid filled layer that covers the heart?
• Where is the apex of the heart located?
• What are heartbeats generated by an impulse originating from somewhere other than the SA node called?
• What occurs when myocardial tissue dies due to insufficient blood flow?
• Where does lead aVF connect?
• Which part of the heart receives oxygen-poor blood from the body?
• What can ischemia to the heart potentially cause?
• What type of impulses do heart cells generate automatically?
• What is the term for a condition when the heart cannot meet the demands of the body?
• What is angina?
• What would typically indicate a healthy heart rhythm on an EKG?
• Which part of an EKG shows the contraction of the ventricles?
• What is the approximate diameter of the coronary arteries?
• What instrument is used for recording the heart's activity?
• What conduction disorder involves an abnormal pathway for electrical impulses from the atria to the ventricles?
• What is the normal standard setting for the EKG?
• When the heart rate goes down to 40-60 beats per minute, where is the impulse usually generated from?
• What does the T wave indicate?
• What device records the electrical impulses of the cardiac cycle?
• What are electrodes?
• How do the ventricles contribute to blood circulation?
• What is the appearance of an artificial pacemaker on an EKG?
• What condition is characterized by an abnormally fast heart rate?
• What is unique about cardiac tissue?
• What valves must blood pass through to exit the heart?
• What is a major cause of atherosclerosis?
• How many electrodes are typically used in a 12 lead EKG?
• What effect does the sympathetic nervous system have on blood vessels during stress?
• What is an electrocardiogram?
• What is the role of the septum in the heart?
• What does a flatline on an EKG typically indicate?
• What term identifies the preparation phase of the heart before it works again?
• In terms of size, how does the right ventricle compare to the left ventricle?
• What is another name for the resting phase on the EKG?
• What is the only way to oxygenate the blood?
• What symptom might a patient experience if there is inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle?
• Which system's purpose is to initiate the heart beat and regulate the cardiac cycle?
• What does each small square on an EKG represent?
• What happens when the myocardium is stimulated with electricity?
• Where does the impulse go after the Bundle of His?
• During stress, the sympathetic nervous system's activation leads to which of the following effects?
• During which phase do the heart's ventricle chambers empty out all of their blood?
• What could happen to a patient if the heart beats too slowly?
• What is the role of the pulmonary vein?
• What are precordial leads commonly referred to as?
• Which of the following describes a physiological change that occurs during the "fight or flight" response?
• What is a potential sign of severe ischemia?
• What term describes abnormal heart rhythms?
• What does bradycardia refer to?
• Which vein returns blood to the heart?
• What does an asystole EKG line represent?
• Where does the impulse go after the bundle branches?
• What happens when the electrical impulse reaches the Purkinje fibers?
• What is the primary function of the heart?
• What characteristic of the heart allows cells to respond to external stimuli?
• Which of the following is NOT a typical effect of the sympathetic nervous system activation?
• What is the duration a cardiac cycle is defined as?
• What condition describes reduced blood flow to the heart, indicating inadequate blood supply to a tissue?
• What occurs when the ventricles are in the systole phase?
• What is the specialized conduction tissue found in the right atrium that serves as the electrical connection between the atria and ventricles?
• What electrical event does the QRS complex represent?
• What ability allows heart cells to contract after they receive an electrical impulse?
• What nourishes the myocardium?
• What vein brings blood from below the diaphragm to the heart?
• What happens if the blood supply to the myocardium stops?
• What role do the heart valves play in the circulatory system?
• Which hormone is most commonly associated with the sympathetic nervous system activation?
• Where is the heart located in the body?
• What is the primary function of the heart's atria?
• When measuring the height of peaks in an EKG, what does each large square represent?
• Which rib is the base of the heart located below?
• What role does adrenaline play in the "fight or flight" response?
• Where do the Purkinje fibers transmit the electrical impulses from and to?
• Which of the following terms describes the heart's relaxation phase?
• What occurs when the atria contract?
• What is a type of fibrillation that is not compatible with life?
• Where does the impulse go after the SA node?
• What component on the EKG shows the contraction of the atrium?
• What separates the right and left side of the heart?
• Where does the Superior Vena Cava collect blood from?
• What are the pulmonic and aortic valves classified as?
• What do the Chordae Tendineae do in the heart?
• What is the primary function of the sympathetic nervous system during stress responses?
• Which chambers of the heart are responsible for pushing blood out?
• When does the U wave typically appear in an EKG, if it appears?
• Which set of heart valves is known as the AV valves?
• What component checks the voltage that the EKG machine is utilizing?
• What is the apex of the heart?
• Where is the SA node located?
• What is the primary function of the myocardium?
• What is a non-synchronous contraction of the muscle tissue that makes the heart appear like a "bag of worms"?
• What is the first stage of the cardiac cycle known as?
• What is the normal range for heart rate in beats per minute?
• What does a rapid heart rhythm often signify?
• What typically occurs on the EKG when a patient has very low potassium levels?
• Which part of the EKG shows the contraction of the ventricles?
• Which electrode shows no cardiac information and serves as a ground electrode?