Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification Practice Exam 2025 - Free Cardiac Vascular Nursing Practice Questions and Study Guide

Mitral regurgitation is a condition where the mitral valve does not close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole. The primary consequence of this backward flow is that blood accumulates in the left atrium and subsequently increases pressure in the pulmonary circulation, leading to congestion in the lungs. This can result in symptoms such as shortness of breath and pulmonary edema.

The other options highlight different physiological issues but do not accurately depict the primary consequence of mitral regurgitation. For instance, while obstruction of blood flow to the left ventricle may occur due to other conditions, it is not a consequence of mitral regurgitation specifically. Additionally, blood backing up into the aorta is more associated with aortic valve disorders, and decreased pressure in the right atrium is not a direct result of the mitral valve's dysfunction. Thus, the accumulation of blood in the left atrium and lungs is the most significant and immediate consequence of mitral regurgitation.