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

Aortic stenosis is most commonly associated with a bicuspid aortic valve. Normally, the aortic valve has three cusps (trileaflet), but in individuals with a bicuspid aortic valve, the valve only has two cusps. This congenital malformation significantly increases the risk of developing aortic stenosis over time. The abnormal structure of the bicuspid valve leads to increased stress and wear, resulting in calcification and narrowing of the aortic valve as the individual ages. In fact, aortic stenosis is often seen much earlier in patients with a bicuspid valve compared to those with a trileaflet valve, who may develop aortic stenosis due to degenerative changes later in life.

In contrast, other conditions listed are less directly associated with aortic stenosis. Mitral regurgitation is primarily a problem with the mitral valve and does not inherently lead to or stem from aortic stenosis. While coronary artery disease can coexist with aortic stenosis, it is not a causative factor of the valve disease itself. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, characterized by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, is a separate condition and is not inherently linked to aortic stenosis,