arrhythmia

arrhythmia
n.
any deviation from the normal rhythm (sinus rhythm) of the heart. The natural pacemaker of the heart (the sinoatrial node), which lies in the wall of the right atrium, controls the rate and rhythm of the whole heart under the influence of the autonomic nervous system. It generates electrical impulses that spread to the atria and ventricles, via specialized conducting tissues, and cause them to contract normally. Arrhythmias result from a disturbance of the generation or the conduction of these impulses and may be intermittent or continuous. Arrhythmias are subdivided into tachyarrhythmias (fast rate) and bradyarrhythmias (slow rate). They include ectopic beats (extrasystoles), ectopic tachycardias (see supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia), atrial and ventricular fibrillation, and heart block (which is often associated with slow heart rates). Symptoms include palpitations, breathlessness, and chest pain. In more serious arrhythmias the Stokes-Adams syndrome or cardiac arrest may occur. Arrhythmias may result from most heart diseases but they also occur without apparent cause.

The new mediacal dictionary. 2014.

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  • arrhythmia — [ə rith′mē ə] n. [ModL < Gr, lack of rhythm < a , without + rhythmos, measure] any irregularity in the rhythm of the heart s beating arrhythmic adj. arrhythmical arrhythmically adv …   English World dictionary

  • arrhythmia — arrhythmic /euh ridh mik, ay ridh /, arrhythmical, adj. arrhythmically, adv. /euh ridh mee euh, ay ridh /, n. Pathol. any disturbance in the rhythm of the heartbeat. Also, arhythmia. [1885 90; < NL < Gk arrhythmía. See A 6, RHYTHM, IA] * * *… …   Universalium

  • Arrhythmia — An abnormal heart rhythm. In an arrhythmia the heartbeats may be too slow, too rapid, too irregular, or too early. Rapid arrhythmias (greater than 100 beats per minute) are called tachycardias. Slow arrhythmias (slower than 60 beats per minute)… …   Medical dictionary

  • arrhythmia — Lack of normal ordered rhythm particularly in the case of the heart where arrhythmia can be a prelude to cardiac arrest …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • arrhythmia — ar•rhyth•mi•a [[t]əˈrɪð mi ə, eɪˈrɪð [/t]] n. pat any disturbance in the rhythm of the heartbeat • Etymology: 1885–90; < Gk arrhythmía. See a VI, rhythm ar•rhyth′mic, ar•rhyth′mi•cal, adj. ar•rhyth′mi•cal•ly, adv …   From formal English to slang

  • arrhythmia — noun an abnormal rate of muscle contractions in the heart • Syn: ↑cardiac arrhythmia • Derivationally related forms: ↑arrhythmic • Hypernyms: ↑heart disease, ↑cardiopathy • Hyponyms …   Useful english dictionary

  • Arrhythmia absoluta — Vorhofflimmern ist eine vorübergehende (paroxysmale oder intermittierende) oder dauerhafte (permanente) Herzrhythmusstörung mit ungeordneter Tätigkeit der Herzvorhöfe. Gebräuchliche Abkürzungen sind AF oder AFib (von englisch Atrial fibrillation) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Arrhythmia, sinus — The normal increase in heart rate that occurs during inspiration (when you breathe in). This is a natural response and is more accentuated in children than adults. The sinus refers to the natural pacemaker of the heart which is called the… …   Medical dictionary

  • arrhythmia — noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek, lack of rhythm, from arrhythmos unrhythmical, from a + rhythmos rhythm Date: circa 1860 an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • arrhythmia — noun An irregular heartbeat …   Wiktionary

  • arrhythmia — n. irregular heartbeat (Medicine) …   English contemporary dictionary

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