Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the EMT Intermediate Exam. Access detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions that come with hints and explanations. Prepare comprehensively for your EMT certification!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What would be an expected result of systemic vascular resistance?

Decreased blood pressure
Increased blood flow
Higher heart rate
Increased blood pressure

The correct answer is: Increased blood pressure

Systemic vascular resistance refers to the resistance that blood encounters as it flows through the vasculature. It is primarily determined by the size and tone of the arterioles and plays a critical role in regulating blood pressure. When systemic vascular resistance increases, the heart has to generate more pressure to overcome this resistance in order to maintain adequate blood flow to tissues. As a result, elevated systemic vascular resistance typically leads to an increase in blood pressure. This mechanism ensures that organs and tissues receive sufficient blood supply, especially during situations where increased perfusion is necessary, such as during physical exertion or stress. Therefore, when systemic vascular resistance is heightened, you would expect an increase in blood pressure as a compensatory response to maintain adequate circulation.