A patient who is on a ventilator has been declared brain dead. A family member asks the nurse how the heart can still function if his father's brain is dead. What statement is an appropriate response by the nurse?
A) "Death of the heart will follow brain death in a few hours."
B) "The heart is controlled by the brainstem, not the upper levels of the brain."
C) "The cardiovascular center in the medulla would not be reflected in any tests."
D) "The heart is self-controlled and does not depend on the brain to beat."
D
Feedback:
The heart can generate action potentials on its own and can function without connection to the rest of the body. The heart will continue to function as long as oxygen and glucose are supplied to it. The brain does not initiate heart functioning. The cardiovascular center in the medulla helps to regulate blood pressure, not heart function.
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