NCLEX : Systemic Circulation

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for NCLEX

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Systemic Circulation

Which of the following is the proper unit of measurement for blood pressure?

Possible Answers:

IU

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The proper unit when recording a patient's blood pressure is mmHg, or millimeter of mercury. This is derived from a historical measurement of how many millimeters of mercury in a mercury manometer were able to be elevated by a particular pressure. Due to it's toxicity,  are longer used in medical equipment, though the  unit remains in use.

Example Question #2 : Systemic Circulation

A patient has a 49 year history of hypertension. Which part of the heart would be most enlarged on echocardiogram?

Possible Answers:

Left ventricle

Right ventricle

Right atrium

Pulmonary artery

Left atrium

Correct answer:

Left ventricle

Explanation:

The left ventricle is the most commonly enlarged heart structure seen in chronic hypertension. The left ventricle must overcome the afterload of the arterial system by becoming hypertrophied. As a result, the heart gets remodeled to overcome the systemic high blood pressures. The left ventricle directly pumps blood from the heart to the systemic circuit.

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