Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

What is the potential consequence of damage to the mitral valve?

1. Blood may regurgitate into the lungs

2. Coronary artery disease may develop

3. Increased lung capacity

4. Blood may backflow into the aorta

The correct answer is: Blood may regurgitate into the lungs

Damage to the mitral valve can lead to significant cardiovascular complications. Specifically, if the mitral valve is compromised, such as in conditions like mitral regurgitation, it allows blood to flow backward into the left atrium during ventricular contraction. This backward flow can then lead to increased pressure in the lungs and pulmonary circulation. As a result, fluid may accumulate in the lungs, leading to pulmonary congestion and symptoms associated with heart failure, such as shortness of breath and cough. Thus, the potential consequence of regurgitation due to mitral valve damage is that blood may regurgitate into the lungs, causing these pulmonary complications. The other options do not appropriately reflect the direct implications of mitral valve damage. For instance, coronary artery disease is a separate pathology not directly caused by a malfunctioning mitral valve. Increased lung capacity does not logically follow from mitral valve damage; rather, it would typically decrease due to the resulting pulmonary congestion. Lastly, blood backing up into the aorta is not a consequence of mitral valve malfunction; instead, it would involve issues with the aortic valve.