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Disease Conduction
MEDOP 230- Cardiology: Diseases of the conduction system
| Term | Definition | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Arrhythmia | Any type of irregular rate or rhythm of the heart. | |
| Bradycardia | Arrhythmia in which the heart beats too slowly. | |
| Fibrillation | Arrhythmia in which there is very fast, uncoordinated quivering of the myocardium. | |
| Flutter | Arrhythmia that involves a very fast but regular rhythm of the atria or ventricles (up to 250 beats/min) | |
| Heart block | Arrhythmia in which impulses from the SA node do not travel normally to the Purkinje fibers. | |
| Premature contraction. | Arrhythmia in which there are one or more extra contractions of either the atria or the ventricles | •Bigeminy = one premature contraction followed by one normal contraction •Trigeminy = one premature contraction followed by two normal contractions •Couplet = two premature contractions |
| Sick sinus syndrome | Arrhythmia in which bradycardia alternates with tachycardia; occurs when the SA node and an ectopic site compete to be the heart’s pacemaker. | |
| Tachycardia | Arrhythmia in which there is a fast but regular rhythm (up to 200 beats/min) | |
| Asystole | Complete absence of a heartbeat; also known as cardiac arrest. | |
| Palpitation | An uncomfortable sensation like a “thump” inside the chest due to premature contraction of the heart. |