EKG Terms

Question 1

located in the right atrium and composed of specialized cells that delay the impulse to the ventricles to allow the atria to contract and the ventricles to fill

Answer 1

atrioventricular (AV) node

Question 2

the AV node and the bundle of His

Answer 2

AV junction

Question 3

an example of a dual-chamber pacemaker that stimulates the atrium and then the ventricle

Answer 3

AV sequential pacemaker

Question 4

a dysrhythmia in which every other beat is a premature ectopic beat

Answer 4

bigeminy

Question 5

waveforms that are part positive and part negative

Answer 5

biphasic

Question 6

a heart rate less than 60 bpm

Answer 6

bradycardia

Question 7

an abnormal electrical conduction through the right or left bundle branches

Answer 7

bundle branch block

Question 8

having several waveforms

Answer 8

complex

Question 9

the ability of cardiac cells to receive electrical impulses and to send impulses to adjacent cells

Answer 9

conductivity

Question 10

two consecutive premature contractions

Answer 10

couplet

Question 11

slurring or widening of the beginning of the QRS complex caused by preexcitation of the ventricle

Answer 11

delta wave

Question 12

a pacemaker that discharges only when the heart rate drops below a preset rate

Answer 12

demand pacemaker

Question 13

the movement of ions across the cell membrane that causes the inside of the cell to become more positive, which usually leads to contraction

Answer 13

depolarization

Question 14

a pacemaker that stimulates the atrium and ventricles

Answer 14

dual-chamber pacemaker

Question 15

an abnormal cardiac rhythm

Answer 15

dysrhythmia

Question 16

an impulse originating from an area other than the SA node

Answer 16

ectopic

Question 17

when the sinus node fails to initiate the impulse and another pacemaker site produces the electrical impulse to pace the heart

Answer 17

escape

Question 18

ventricular fibrillation with fibrillation waves that are less than 3 mm in height

Answer 18

fine ventricular fibrillation

Question 19

a pacemaker that discharges at a preset rate regardless of the patient’s heart rate

Answer 19

fixed-rate pacemaker

Question 20

a decrease in oxygenated blood supply to an organ or tissue

Answer 20

ischemia

Question 21

a dysrhythmia in which the impulse originates in the AV junction due to failure of the SA node or AV conduction; rhythmic rate of 40-60 bpm

Answer 21

junctional escape rhythm

Question 22

a dysrhythmia in which the impulse originates in the AV junction with a ventricular response greater than 100 bpm

Answer 22

junctional tachycardia

Question 23

a dysrhythmia that occurs when the impulse originates at various sites, such as the SA node, atria, and AV junction; requires at least 3 different P waves in the same lead for dx

Answer 23

multiformed atrial rhythm

Question 24

a necrosis of cardiac tissue caused by inadequate blood blow

Answer 24

myocardial infarction (MI)

Question 25

a premature atrial complex that is not followed by a QRS complex and is therefore blocked or not conducted

Answer 25

nonconducted PAC

Question 26

premature atrial contraction

Answer 26

PAC

Question 27

an artificial generator that delivers an electrical current to the heart to cause depolarization or contraction

Answer 27

pacemaker

Question 28

the power source that contains a battery and controls the pacemaker

Answer 28

pacemaker generator

Question 29

beginning suddenly and occuring repeatedly

Answer 29

paroxysmal

Question 30

supraventricular tachycardia that begins and ends abruptly

Answer 30

paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)

Question 31

occuring in more than one shape

Answer 31

polymorphic

Question 32

term used for rhythms that originate from impulses above the ventricles but travel through an abnormal pathway other than the AV node and bundle of HIS, leading to impulses that stimulate the ventricles prematurely

Answer 32

preexcitation

Question 33

a beat occuring earlier than the next anticipated beat

Answer 33

premature complex

Question 34

an arrhythmia that shows electrical activity with no palpable pulse

Answer 34

pulseless electrical activity

Question 35

the web of fibers throughout the ventricular myocardium

Answer 35

Purkinje fibers

Question 36

premature ventricular contraction

Answer 36

PVC

Question 37

a dysrhythmia in which every fourth beat is a premature ectopic beat

Answer 37

quadrigeminy

Question 38

the movement of ions through the cell membrane that returns the negative charge to the inside of the cell

Answer 38

repolarization

Question 39

three or more sequential ectopic beats; also known as salvo or burst

Answer 39

run

Question 40

term used when sinus node dysfunction is present, which is indicated by sinus bradycardia, sinus block, or sinus arrest

Answer 40

sick sinus syndrome

Question 41

the pacemaker of the heart; located in the right atrium; discharges at a rate of 60-100 bpm

Answer 41

sinoatrial (SA) node

Question 42

a dysrhythmia in which the impulse originates in the SA node followed by a ventricular response with a rate less than 60 bpm

Answer 42

sinus bradycardia

Question 43

a dysrhythmia in which the impulse originates in the SA node followed by a ventricular response with a rate greater than 100 bpm

Answer 43

sinus tachycardia

Question 44

originating from an area above the bundle braches

Answer 44

supraventricular

Question 45

an episode of fainting

Answer 45

syncope

Question 46

a heart rate greater than 100 bpm

Answer 46

tachycardia

Question 47

a type of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that demonstrates a prolonged QT interval; the QRS complex changes width, shape, and amplitude, resembling a spindle around the isoelectric line

Answer 47

torsades de pointes

Question 48

a dysrhythmia in which every third beat is a premature ectopic beat

Answer 48

trigeminy

Question 49

a dysrhythmia in which the impulse originates in the ventricles with a rate greater than 100 bpm

Answer 49

ventricular tachycardia

Question 50

multiformed atrial rhythm

Answer 50

wandering atrial pacemaker

Question 51

preexcitation syndrome indicated by a wide QRS complex with a slurred upstroke (delta wave)

Answer 51

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome