a rhythm in which a part of the heart's electrical conduction system other than the SA node initiates all electrical impulses that cause the heart to beat (i.e., acts as the heart's primary pacemaker).

• Bundle of His
• Atrioventricular node
• escape rhythm

• Sinoatrial node

a situation in which an irritable area in the cardiac conduction system begins to generate an impulse even though the SA node may be working normally

• Sinus bradycardia
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Atrial fibrillation
• Ectopic focus

difficult or abnormal heart rhythm; includes rhythms that are too fast, too slow, or originate in an area of the heart other than the SA node; sometimes commonly called arrhythmia

• Bradycardia
• Tachycardia
• dysrhythmia

• Atrial Fibrillation

a cardiac rhythm originating in the sinus (SA) node.

• sinus rhythm

• Premature ventricular contraction
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Atrial fibrillation

cardiac rhythm originating in the atria instead of the SA node.

• Sinus rhythm
• Ventricular rhythm
• Atrial rhythm
• Atrioventricular rhythm

cells near the bundle of His or in the area of the AV junction rather than in the SA node.

• Cells in the SA node
• junctional rhythm

• Cells in the right atrium
• Cells in the left ventricle

a cardiac rhythm originating in the ventricles rather than in the SA node; marked on an EKG tracing by a widened QRS complex.

• Atrial fibrillation
• Sinus tachycardia
• Ventricular rhythm
• Premature ventricular contraction

type of cardiac rhythm caused when the AV node or AV bundle delays the electrical impulse from the SA node too long; also called AV block.

• Atrial fibrillation
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Sinus bradycardia
• heart block

a sinus rhythm in which all characteristics are normal except for rhythm regularity; R-R intervals are irregular and usually vary with the patient's breathing.

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Ventricular Tachycardia
• Sinus Bradycardia
• Sinus Arrhythmia

the basic rhythm of a patient's heart, separate from any abnormal beats or complexes.

• atrial fibrillation
• ventricular tachycardia
• bradycardia
• underlying rhythm