When assessing a patient, you note a pulse deficit of 23 beats. This finding may be caused by a. dysrhythmias. b. heart murmurs. c. gallop rhythms. d. pericardial friction rubs. {Ans: a. dysrhythmias Rationale: A pulse deficit occurs if there is a difference between the apical and radial beats per minute. A pulse deficit indicates cardiac dysrhythmias.}The portion of the vascular system responsible for hemostasis is the: a. thin capillary vessels b. endothelial layer of the arteries c. elastic middle layer of the veins d. smooth muscle of the arterial wall {Ans: b. endothelial layer of the arteries rationale: The innermost lining of the arteries is the endothelium. The endothelium maintains hemostasis, promotes blood flow, and under normal conditions, inhibits blood coagulation.}Systole {Ans: contraction of the myocardium, results in ejection of blood from the ventricles}second heart sound, S2 {Ans: associated with the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves}Arteries {Ans: carry oxygenated blood away from the heart (except for the pulmonary artery)}The conduction system is specialized nerve tissue responsible for creating and transporting the electrical impulse, or action potential. This impulse starts depolarization and subsequently cardiac contraction. The electrical impulse is normally started by the