Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Question: 1 / 400

How long can heart muscle cells survive without oxygen before irreversible injury occurs?

1-2 minutes

3-4 minutes

Heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, have a high metabolic demand and rely heavily on a continuous supply of oxygen to function properly. When oxygen supply is interrupted, such as in cases of myocardial ischemia, irreversible injury to the heart muscle can start to occur relatively quickly.

Research indicates that heart muscle cells can typically survive without oxygen for about 3 to 4 minutes before irreversible damage occurs. During this timeframe, the cells may experience metabolic changes and damage but may still have a chance at recovery if oxygen supply is restored. Beyond this period, the cells undergo necrosis or apoptosis due to prolonged ischemia, leading to permanent damage to the heart tissue.

Understanding the time limits for cellular survival without oxygen is critical for clinical interventions, such as in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes or during cardiac arrest, where immediate restoration of blood flow is vital to prevent irreversible heart damage.

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5-7 minutes

10 minutes

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