Advanced Patient Assessment Practice Exam

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What is the normal axis position in the heart of a healthy individual?

60 to 120 degrees
0 to 90 degrees
-90 to 0 degrees
120 to 180 degrees

The correct answer is: 0 to 90 degrees

The normal axis position in the heart of a healthy individual typically falls within the range of 0 to 90 degrees. This range indicates that the electrical activity of the heart is oriented primarily towards the left and downward, which is consistent with proper cardiac physiology and anatomy. The axis measurement is derived from an analysis of an electrocardiogram (ECG), specifically examining the direction of depolarization in the heart. When the heart is functioning normally, the electrical impulse travels from the sinoatrial node down through the atrioventricular node and into the ventricles. The orientation of this electrical activity is clinically relevant in diagnosing various cardiac conditions. Deviations from the normal axis could signify conditions such as left or right ventricular hypertrophy, conduction abnormalities, or the presence of certain cardiac pathologies. The other ranges presented do not accurately reflect the normal cardiac electrical axis. For instance, an axis range of 60 to 120 degrees or 120 to 180 degrees may indicate left axis deviation or extreme left axis deviation respectively, while an axis of -90 to 0 degrees typically suggests right axis deviation. Hence, the correct identification of the normal axis (0 to 90 degrees) is crucial for health assessments involving cardiac function.