Cardiovascular: Bezold-Jarisch reflex: practice question

A Physiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Physiology · Cardiovascular: Bezold-Jarisch reflex

Sample item

Thirty minutes after an inferior wall myocardial infarction, a man has heart rate 42 per minute, blood pressure 80/50 mmHg, warm skin and clear lungs. Which reflex best explains the picture?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Bezold-Jarisch reflex, with vagal afferents from ventricular receptors causing bradycardia and vasodilatation

Ischaemic or chemically stimulated inferoposterior ventricular receptors send vagal C-fibre afferents to the medulla, which raises vagal tone and withdraws sympathetic tone, producing bradycardia, vasodilatation and hypotension. It is common in inferior infarction, after reperfusion and during spinal anaesthesia, and responds to atropine and fluids.

Option by option

  • A. Cushing reflex, with raised intracranial pressure and sympathetic surge

    The Cushing reflex produces hypertension with bradycardia in raised intracranial pressure.

  • B. Bezold-Jarisch reflex, with vagal afferents from ventricular receptors causing bradycardia and vasodilatation (correct)

    Correct. The triad of bradycardia, hypotension and warm skin is typical of this vagal reflex.

  • C. Bainbridge reflex, with atrial stretch causing tachycardia

    The Bainbridge reflex increases heart rate when the atria are stretched.

  • D. Chemoreceptor reflex, with carotid body stimulation causing hypertension

    Chemoreceptor stimulation raises sympathetic outflow and blood pressure.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Physiology question

What is the answer to this Physiology question?

The best answer is B, Bezold-Jarisch reflex, with vagal afferents from ventricular receptors causing bradycardia and vasodilatation. Ischaemic or chemically stimulated inferoposterior ventricular receptors send vagal C-fibre afferents to the medulla, which raises vagal tone and withdraws sympathetic tone, producing bradycardia, vasodilatation and hypotension.

Why is "Cushing reflex, with raised intracranial pressure and sympathetic sur…" not the answer?

The Cushing reflex produces hypertension with bradycardia in raised intracranial pressure.

Why is "Bainbridge reflex, with atrial stretch causing tachycardia" not the answer?

The Bainbridge reflex increases heart rate when the atria are stretched.

Why is "Chemoreceptor reflex, with carotid body stimulation causing hypertens…" not the answer?

Chemoreceptor stimulation raises sympathetic outflow and blood pressure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiovascular: Bezold-Jarisch reflex in Physiology. It is common in inferior infarction, after reperfusion and during spinal anaesthesia, and responds to atropine and fluids.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Cardiovascular: Bezold-Jarisch reflex?

For each system, sketch the key graph (pressure–volume loop, oxygen dissociation curve, nephron handling) and explain it aloud. Then use the flashcards and the other Physiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.