Doctors suggest that during long periods of sitting, you should flex and extend your feet at the ankles periodically and squeeze your calf muscles to assist with blood circulation.
Why would non-exercise muscle contraction affect blood flow and cardiovascular health?
Contraction of muscles stimulates the arteries to vasodilate, reducing blood pressure.
Contraction of muscles itself increases heart rate and burns calories, keeping the heart strong and assisting in maintaining a healthy weight.
Contraction of the leg muscles stimulates baroreceptors to signal the autonomic nervous system and decrease blood pressure and heart rate from multiple fronts.
Contraction of the leg muscles squeezes leg veins, which function as a pumping mechanism to return deoxygenated blood to the heart.
The Correct Answer is D

This helps prevent blood pooling and clotting in the lower extremities, which can lead to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
It also reduces the workload on the heart and improves blood circulation throughout the body.
Choice A is wrong because contraction of muscles does not stimulate the arteries to vasodilate, but rather causes vasoconstriction in the inactive tissues to divert blood flow to the active muscles.
Choice B is wrong because the contraction of muscles itself does not increase heart rate significantly unless it is part of an aerobic exercise that elevates the metabolic demand.
Burning calories and keeping the heart strong are benefits of regular physical activity, not occasional muscle contraction.
Choice C is wrong because contraction of the leg muscles does not stimulate baroreceptors, which are pressure-sensitive receptors located in the walls of the arteries.
Baroreceptors respond to changes in blood pressure and signal the autonomic nervous system to adjust heart rate and vascular resistance accordingly.
Contraction of the leg muscles does not affect blood pressure or heart rate directly but rather assists with venous return.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The mitral valve lies between the left atrium and left ventricle and prevents the regurgitation of blood from the ventricle back into the atrium.

It has two leaflets that open and close to allow blood to flow from the lungs into the left atrium and then to the left ventricle.
Choice B is wrong because the tricuspid valve lies between the right atrium and right ventricle and prevents the regurgitation of blood from the ventricle back into the atrium.
It has three leaflets that open and close to allow blood to flow from the body into the right atrium and then to the right ventricle.
Choice C is wrong because the pulmonary valve lies between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and prevents the regurgitation of blood from the artery back into the ventricle.
It has three leaflets that open and close to allow blood to flow from the right ventricle to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen.
Choice D is wrong because the aortic valve lies between the left ventricle and the aorta and prevents the regurgitation of blood from the aorta back into the ventricle.
It has three leaflets that open and close to allow blood to flow from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation

The aorta is the largest artery in the human body, as well as the main artery in the circulatory system.
It originates from the left ventricle of the heart and extends down to the abdomen, where it splits into two smaller arteries (the common iliac arteries).
The aorta distributes oxygenated blood to all parts of the body through the systemic circulation.
Choice A. Carotid is wrong because the carotid artery is not the largest artery in the body, but one of the main arteries that pumps blood from the heart to the brain and the rest of the head.
It has a diameter of 4.3 mm-7.7 mm and a blood flow of 350-550 milliliters per minute.
Choice C. Celiac is wrong because the celiac artery is not the largest artery in the body, but a major branch of the abdominal aorta that supplies oxygenated blood to the liver, stomach, spleen, pancreas, and duodenum.
Choice D. Femoral is wrong because the femoral artery is not the largest artery in the body, but the largest artery found in the leg region.
It runs down the inner thigh and carries out the important role of supplying blood to the lower body.
It has a diameter of 6.6 mm and a blood flow of 284 milliliters per minute.
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