CH18 Pathology of the Heart Beat-Rate

Exam 1 Review: Chapter 18: Pathology of the Heart Beat-Rate

ectopic pacemaker - Any other portion of the conduction system of the heart which develops an abnormal self-excitability; such abnormal self-excitability may occasionally trigger extra beats; causes include caffeine, nicotine, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, and toxic drug reactions, e.g., to digitalis.

ectopic focus - The situation in which the most rapid diastolic depolarization rate originates outside the SA node (sinus rhythm) or the AV node (nodal rhythm); it can arise anywhere in the heart where the tissue has become hyperexcitable due to hypoxia, drugs, etc. (It is a severe form of an ectopic pacemaker.)

arrhythmia - Any variation from the normal (sinus) rhythm of the heart beat; including sinus arrhythmia, premature beat, heart block, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, pulsus alternans and paroxysmal tachycardia.

heart block - A condition in which faulty transmission of the impulses that control the heartbeat results in a lack of coordination in the contraction of the atria and ventricles of the heart; symptoms include palpitations, exercise intolerance, congestive heart failure (CHF), lightheadedness or syncope (recurrent sudden attacks of unconsciousness, i.e., fainting) due to the excessively slow heart rate. [Not to be confused with Heart Break.]

tachycardia - A rapid heart rate, especially one above 100 beats per minute in an adult; it may be qualified as atrial, junctional (nodal), or ventricular and as paroxysmal.

bradycardia - Slowness of the heart rate, usually fewer than 60 beats per minute in an adult human.

fibrillation - (1) Rapid uncoordinated twitching movements that replace the normal rhythmic contraction of the heart and may cause a lack of circulation and pulse; it may be qualified as atrial fibrillation which causes the ventricles to beat rapidly and irregulalry, or ventricular fibrillation, which causes life-threatening myocardial quivering at 350 times a minute or more (a person must receive defibrillation within minutes to avoid sudden cardiac arrest and death); (2) Fine, rapid twitching of individual skeletal muscle fibers with little or no movement of the muscle as a whole.

Describe:

10. the various arrhythmias of the heart.

Arrhythmia Description

ectopic pacemaker Any other portion of the conduction system of the heart which develops an abnormal self-excitability; such abnormal self-excitability may occasionally trigger extra beats; causes include caffeine, nicotine, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, and toxic drug reactions, e.g., to digitalis.

ectopic focus The situation in which the most rapid diastolic depolarization rate originates outside the SA node (sinus rhythm) or the AV node (nodal rhythm); it can arise anywhere in the heart where the tissue has become hyperexcitable due to hypoxia, drugs, etc. (It is a severe form of an ectopic pacemaker.)

heart block A condition in which faulty transmission of the impulses that control the heartbeat results in a lack of coordination in the contraction of the atria and ventricles of the heart; symptoms include palpitations, exercise intolerance, congestive heart failure (CHF), lightheadedness or syncope (recurrent sudden attacks of unconsciousness, i.e., fainting) due to the excessively slow heart rate.

tachycardia A rapid heart rate, especially one above 100 beats per minute in an adult; it may be qualified as atrial, junctional (nodal), or ventricular and as paroxysmal.

bradycardia Slowness of the heart rate, usually fewer than 60 beats per minute in an adult human.

fibrillation Rapid uncoordinated twitching movements that replace the normal rhythmic contraction of the heart and may cause a lack of circulation and pulse; it may be qualified as atrial fibrillation which causes the ventricles to beat rapidly and irregulalry, or ventricular fibrillation, which causes life-threatening myocardial quivering at 350 times a minute or more (a person must receive defibrillation within minutes to avoid sudden cardiac arrest and death).

Arrhythmia	Description
ectopic pacemaker	Any other portion of the conduction system of the heart which develops an abnormal self-excitability; such abnormal self-excitability may occasionally trigger extra beats; causes include caffeine, nicotine, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, and toxic drug reactions, e.g., to digitalis.
ectopic focus	The situation in which the most rapid diastolic depolarization rate originates outside the SA node (sinus rhythm) or the AV node (nodal rhythm); it can arise anywhere in the heart where the tissue has become hyperexcitable due to hypoxia, drugs, etc. (It is a severe form of an ectopic pacemaker.)
heart block	A condition in which faulty transmission of the impulses that control the heartbeat results in a lack of coordination in the contraction of the atria and ventricles of the heart; symptoms include palpitations, exercise intolerance, congestive heart failure (CHF), lightheadedness or syncope (recurrent sudden attacks of unconsciousness, i.e., fainting) due to the excessively slow heart rate.
tachycardia	A rapid heart rate, especially one above 100 beats per minute in an adult; it may be qualified as atrial, junctional (nodal), or ventricular and as paroxysmal.
bradycardia	Slowness of the heart rate, usually fewer than 60 beats per minute in an adult human.
fibrillation	Rapid uncoordinated twitching movements that replace the normal rhythmic contraction of the heart and may cause a lack of circulation and pulse; it may be qualified as atrial fibrillation which causes the ventricles to beat rapidly and irregulalry, or ventricular fibrillation, which causes life-threatening myocardial quivering at 350 times a minute or more (a person must receive defibrillation within minutes to avoid sudden cardiac arrest and death).