Ch. 6 Key Terms

Question 1

Atrial kick

Answer 1

Extra blood is ejected into the ventricles by the atria as a result of the electrical impulse bring delayed as it enters the AV node

Question 2

Automaticity

Answer 2

The ability of the heart to initiate an electrical impulse without being stimulated by an independent source

Question 3

Bigeminy

Answer 3

Pattern where every other complex is a premature impulse

Question 4

Biphasic

Answer 4

Waveform with a positive and negative deflection on the ECG tracing

Question 5

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Answer 5

Stroke; caused by a hemorrhage in the brain or a clot lodged in a cerebral artery

Question 6

Ectopic foci

Answer 6

Abnormal cells that generate electrical impulses in the heart

Question 7

Ectopic impulse

Answer 7

An electrical impulse that comes from outside the normal pacemaker site or electrical conduction pathway

Question 8

Embolus

Answer 8

Blood clot, air bubble, piece of fatty deposit, or other object which has been carried in the bloodstream to lodge in a vessel and cause an embolism

Question 9

Focus

Answer 9

A cardiac cell or group of cells that produces an ectopic impulse; cells that are notably different or abnormal in some manner

Question 10

Myocardial infarction (MI/heart attack)

Answer 10

Blockage of coronary arteries causing prolonged lack of oxygen (ischemia) to the heart and death of the heart muscle tissue

Question 11

Neurological

Answer 11

Pertaining to the nervous system

Question 12

Pulmonary embolism

Answer 12

Blocked artery in the lungs, usually caused by a clot

Question 13

Quadrigeminy

Answer 13

Pattern where every fourth complex is a premature impulse

Question 14

Renal infarction

Answer 14

Lack of oxygen to kidney tissue dur to a blocked blood vessel

Question 15

Thrombus

Answer 15

Blood clot that forms on the wall of a diseased area of the endocardium or on the wall of an injured blood vessel

Question 16

Trigeminy

Answer 16

Pattern where every third complex is a premature impulse