A Level Biology Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by severe chest pain due to inadequate blood supply to the heart muscle?

1. Heart failure

2. Angina pectoris

3. Myocardial infarction

4. Atrial fibrillation

The correct answer is: Angina pectoris

The condition characterized by severe chest pain resulting from insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle is indeed angina pectoris. This condition occurs when the heart muscle doesn't receive enough oxygen-rich blood, often due to narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. The chest pain, known as angina, can feel like pressure, squeezing, or heaviness in the chest and is generally a warning sign that the heart is under stress. Angina typically occurs during physical exertion or stress when the heart requires more oxygen, but is not limited to these situations; it can also present during rest in some cases. Understanding this context is critical, as it distinguishes angina from more severe cardiac events such as a heart attack, where there is a complete blockage of blood flow to part of the heart muscle, leading to tissue damage. Other conditions listed, such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and myocardial infarction, are related to the heart's functionality but represent different pathology. Heart failure involves the heart's inability to pump effectively, atrial fibrillation pertains to irregular heart rhythms, and myocardial infarction indicates heart muscle death due to prolonged blockage of blood supply, often accompanied by symptoms more severe than typical angina.