MCQ Quiz: Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system is a cornerstone of human physiology and a major focus in pharmacology. For B.Pharm students, a solid understanding of the heart’s anatomy, the cardiac cycle, blood circulation, and the regulation of blood pressure is essential. This system is the target of many critical drug classes, and this quiz will test your foundational knowledge of its structure and function, which is vital for comprehending cardiovascular medicine.


  1. Which chamber of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body?
    • Left atrium
    • Right atrium
    • Left ventricle
    • Right ventricle
    Answer: Right atrium
  2. The natural pacemaker of the heart is the:
    • Atrioventricular (AV) node
    • Sinoatrial (SA) node
    • Purkinje fibers
    • Bundle of His
    Answer: Sinoatrial (SA) node
  3. Which blood vessels are responsible for carrying blood away from the heart?
    • Veins
    • Capillaries
    • Arteries
    • Venules
    Answer: Arteries
  4. The valve located between the right atrium and the right ventricle is the:
    • Mitral valve
    • Aortic valve
    • Pulmonary valve
    • Tricuspid valve
    Answer: Tricuspid valve
  5. The phase of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles contract is called:
    • Diastole
    • Systole
    • Repolarization
    • Fibrillation
    Answer: Systole
  6. Which circuit of blood circulation carries blood to and from the lungs?
    • Systemic circuit
    • Pulmonary circuit
    • Coronary circuit
    • Portal circuit
    Answer: Pulmonary circuit
  7. The muscular layer of the heart wall is the:
    • Epicardium
    • Endocardium
    • Pericardium
    • Myocardium
    Answer: Myocardium
  8. What does an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) record?
    • The pressure within the heart chambers
    • The sounds of the heart valves closing
    • The electrical activity of the heart
    • The volume of blood pumped by the heart
    Answer: The electrical activity of the heart
  9. Cardiac output is the product of which two factors?
    • Heart rate and blood pressure
    • Stroke volume and heart rate
    • Systole and diastole
    • Blood pressure and stroke volume
    Answer: Stroke volume and heart rate
  10. Which blood vessels are the primary site of gas and nutrient exchange?
    • Arteries
    • Arterioles
    • Veins
    • Capillaries
    Answer: Capillaries
  11. The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood into the:
    • Aorta
    • Pulmonary artery
    • Pulmonary vein
    • Superior vena cava
    Answer: Pulmonary artery
  12. Stimulation of the heart by the parasympathetic nervous system will:
    • Increase the heart rate
    • Decrease the heart rate
    • Increase the force of contraction
    • Have no effect on the heart
    Answer: Decrease the heart rate
  13. The bicuspid or mitral valve is located between which two chambers?
    • Right atrium and right ventricle
    • Left atrium and left ventricle
    • Right ventricle and pulmonary artery
    • Left ventricle and aorta
    Answer: Left atrium and left ventricle
  14. The pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest is known as:
    • Systolic pressure
    • Diastolic pressure
    • Pulse pressure
    • Mean arterial pressure
    Answer: Diastolic pressure
  15. Which part of the conduction system directly stimulates the ventricular myocardium to contract?
    • SA node
    • AV node
    • Bundle branches
    • Purkinje fibers
    Answer: Purkinje fibers
  16. Which vessels return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium?
    • Pulmonary arteries
    • Pulmonary veins
    • Vena cavae
    • Aorta
    Answer: Pulmonary veins
  17. The structure that separates the two ventricles of the heart is the:
    • Interatrial septum
    • Interventricular septum
    • Atrioventricular valve
    • Coronary sulcus
    Answer: Interventricular septum
  18. A normal resting heart rate for an adult is typically within what range?
    • 40-60 beats per minute
    • 60-100 beats per minute
    • 100-120 beats per minute
    • 120-140 beats per minute
    Answer: 60-100 beats per minute
  19. What is the term for the amount of blood ejected by a ventricle in one contraction?
    • Cardiac output
    • Heart rate
    • Stroke volume
    • End-diastolic volume
    Answer: Stroke volume
  20. Which is the largest artery in the human body?
    • Pulmonary artery
    • Subclavian artery
    • Carotid artery
    • Aorta
    Answer: Aorta
  21. The “lub” sound (S1) of the heartbeat is caused by the closing of which valves?
    • Aortic and pulmonary valves
    • Mitral and tricuspid valves
    • Only the mitral valve
    • Only the aortic valve
    Answer: Mitral and tricuspid valves
  22. Stimulation by the sympathetic nervous system would lead to:
    • Vasodilation and decreased heart rate
    • Vasoconstriction and increased heart rate
    • Vasodilation and increased heart rate
    • Vasoconstriction and decreased heart rate
    Answer: Vasoconstriction and increased heart rate
  23. The inner lining of the heart chambers and valves is the:
    • Myocardium
    • Epicardium
    • Endocardium
    • Pericardium
    Answer: Endocardium
  24. The part of the cardiac conduction system that delays the impulse briefly is the:
    • SA node
    • AV node
    • Bundle of His
    • Purkinje fibers
    Answer: AV node
  25. The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries resulting from heart contraction is the:
    • Blood pressure
    • Pulse
    • Cardiac cycle
    • Heart murmur
    Answer: Pulse
  26. What is the function of the valves in veins?
    • To filter blood
    • To regulate blood pressure
    • To prevent the backflow of blood
    • To exchange gases
    Answer: To prevent the backflow of blood
  27. The systemic circuit carries oxygenated blood from the ______ to the rest of the body.
    • Right atrium
    • Right ventricle
    • Left atrium
    • Left ventricle
    Answer: Left ventricle
  28. The P wave on an ECG represents:
    • Ventricular depolarization
    • Ventricular repolarization
    • Atrial depolarization
    • Atrial repolarization
    Answer: Atrial depolarization
  29. Which of the following is NOT a major factor in regulating blood pressure?
    • Cardiac output
    • Peripheral resistance
    • Blood volume
    • Blood glucose level
    Answer: Blood glucose level
  30. The strings that attach the atrioventricular valve cusps to the papillary muscles are the:
    • Purkinje fibers
    • Chordae tendineae
    • Trabeculae carneae
    • Pectinate muscles
    Answer: Chordae tendineae
  31. The “dub” sound (S2) of the heartbeat is caused by the closure of which valves?
    • Mitral and tricuspid valves
    • Aortic and pulmonary valves
    • Only the tricuspid valve
    • Only the pulmonary valve
    Answer: Aortic and pulmonary valves
  32. Which chamber of the heart has the thickest myocardium?
    • Right atrium
    • Left atrium
    • Right ventricle
    • Left ventricle
    Answer: Left ventricle
  33. Blood pressure is highest in which of the following vessels?
    • Veins
    • Capillaries
    • Arterioles
    • Arteries
    Answer: Arteries
  34. The QRS complex on an ECG represents:
    • Atrial depolarization
    • Atrial repolarization
    • Ventricular depolarization
    • Ventricular repolarization
    Answer: Ventricular depolarization
  35. The superior and inferior vena cavae drain deoxygenated blood into the:
    • Left atrium
    • Right atrium
    • Left ventricle
    • Right ventricle
    Answer: Right atrium
  36. The layer of simple squamous epithelium that lines the inside of blood vessels is called the:
    • Tunica media
    • Tunica externa
    • Endothelium
    • Myocardium
    Answer: Endothelium
  37. The volume of blood in a ventricle at the end of diastole is the:
    • Stroke volume
    • End-systolic volume
    • End-diastolic volume
    • Cardiac reserve
    Answer: End-diastolic volume
  38. The semilunar valves are the:
    • Mitral and tricuspid valves
    • Aortic and pulmonary valves
    • Tricuspid and aortic valves
    • Mitral and pulmonary valves
    Answer: Aortic and pulmonary valves
  39. The autonomic control centers for the cardiovascular system are located in the:
    • Cerebrum
    • Cerebellum
    • Medulla oblongata
    • Thalamus
    Answer: Medulla oblongata
  40. What is the primary characteristic of capillaries that allows for efficient exchange?
    • Thick, muscular walls
    • Presence of valves
    • Large diameter
    • Thin walls (one cell thick)
    Answer: Thin walls (one cell thick)
  41. The T wave on an ECG represents:
    • Firing of the SA node
    • Ventricular depolarization
    • Atrial repolarization
    • Ventricular repolarization
    Answer: Ventricular repolarization
  42. The circulatory route from the digestive tract to the liver is called the:
    • Renal circulation
    • Hepatic portal circulation
    • Pulmonary circulation
    • Coronary circulation
    Answer: Hepatic portal circulation
  43. The tunica media of a blood vessel is composed mainly of:
    • Endothelium
    • Smooth muscle and elastic fibers
    • Collagen fibers
    • Adipose tissue
    Answer: Smooth muscle and elastic fibers
  44. Which event occurs during ventricular systole?
    • The atria contract.
    • The ventricles relax.
    • The atrioventricular valves are closed.
    • The ventricles fill with blood.
    Answer: The atrioventricular valves are closed.
  45. A heart rate that is significantly slower than normal is called:
    • Tachycardia
    • Bradycardia
    • Fibrillation
    • Arrhythmia
    Answer: Bradycardia
  46. Blood flows from the left ventricle through which valve?
    • Mitral valve
    • Tricuspid valve
    • Aortic valve
    • Pulmonary valve
    Answer: Aortic valve
  47. Compared to arteries, veins generally have:
    • Thicker walls
    • Smaller lumens
    • Thinner walls and larger lumens
    • No endothelium
    Answer: Thinner walls and larger lumens
  48. The sequence of excitation in the heart’s conduction system is:
    • AV node -> SA node -> Bundle of His -> Purkinje fibers
    • SA node -> AV node -> Bundle of His -> Purkinje fibers
    • Bundle of His -> Purkinje fibers -> SA node -> AV node
    • Purkinje fibers -> AV node -> SA node -> Bundle of His
    Answer: SA node -> AV node -> Bundle of His -> Purkinje fibers
  49. A heart rate that is significantly faster than normal is called:
    • Bradycardia
    • Tachycardia
    • Asystole
    • Heart block
    Answer: Tachycardia
  50. The sac that encloses the heart is the:
    • PleuraPeritoneumPericardiumEndosteum
    Answer: Pericardiu

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