arrhythmia (redirected from ventricular a's)

ar·rhyth·mi·a  (-rm-)

n.

An irregularity in the force or rhythm of the heartbeat.

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[New Latin, from Greek arruthmi, lack of rhythm, from arruthmos, unrhythmical : a-, without; see a-¹ + rhuthmos, rhythm; see rhythm.]

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arrhythmia  (-rthm-)

An abnormal rhythm of the heart, often detectable on an electrocardiogram. Electrical impulses in the heart normally originate in the sinoatrial node of the right atrium during diastole and are transmitted through the atrioventricular node to the ventricles, causing the muscle contraction that usually occurs during systole. However, abnormalities of electrical conduction during diastole or systole can result in various alterations of the heartbeat, such as changes in heart rate, skipped or irregular beats, and fibrillation of the heart muscle, which can be life threatening. These electrical disturbances can be caused by metabolic abnormalities, inadequate blood supply (as in coronary artery disease), drug effects, chronic disease, and other factors. Arrhythmias are sometimes treated with the implantation of a pacemaker.

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arrhythmia, arhythmia, arythmia, arrythmia

any abnormality in the rhythm of the heartbeat. — arrhythmic, arhythmic, arythmic, arrythmic, adj.

See also: Heart

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

arrhythmia - an abnormal rate of muscle contractions in the heart cardiac arrhythmia cardiopathy, heart disease - a disease of the heart flutter - abnormally rapid beating of the auricles of the heart (especially in a regular rhythm); can result in heart block cantering rhythm, gallop rhythm - cardiac rhythm characterized by the presence of an extra sound; can indicate a heart abnormality atrial fibrillation - fibrillation of the muscles of the atria of the heart bradycardia - abnormally slow heartbeat Adams-Stokes syndrome, atrioventricular block, heart block, Stokes-Adams syndrome - recurrent sudden attacks of unconsciousness caused by impaired conduction of the impulse that regulates the heartbeat premature ventricular contraction, PVC - irregularity of cardiac rhythm; recurrent occurrences can be a precursor of ventricular fibrillation tachycardia - abnormally rapid heartbeat (over 100 beats per minute) ventricular fibrillation - fibrillation of heart muscles resulting in interference with rhythmic contractions of the ventricles and possibly leading to cardiac arrest