BASIC DYSRHYTHMIA EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+

BASIC DYSRHYTHMIA EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+

●● What is the normal cardiac conduction pathway?
Answer: SA node → Atria → AV node → Bundle of His → Right &
Left Bundle Branches → Purkinje Fibers → Ventricles contract


●● What is the natural pacemaker of the heart?
Answer: Sinoatrial (SA) node


●● What is automaticity?
Answer: Ability of cardiac cells to initiate an electrical impulse without
stimulation.


●● What is excitability?
Answer: Ability of cardiac cells to respond to electrical impulses.


●● What is conductivity?
Answer: Ability to transmit electrical impulses throughout the heart.


●● What is refractoriness?

,Answer: Time when cardiac cells recover before responding to another
impulse.


●● What is contractility?
Answer: Ability of myocardial muscle fibers to shorten and produce a
contraction.


●● Which electrolytes are most important for cardiac conduction?
Answer: * Potassium (K⁺)
* Sodium (Na⁺)
* Calcium (Ca²⁺)


●● What are the three mechanisms that cause dysrhythmias?
Answer: 1. Abnormal impulse formation
2. Abnormal impulse conduction
3. Combination of both


●● Common symptoms of dysrhythmias
Answer: * Palpitations
* Dizziness
* Syncope
* Lightheadedness
* Chest pain

, * Shortness of breath
* Fatigue
* Hypotension


●● Severe signs of poor perfusion caused by dysrhythmias
Answer: * Altered LOC
* Weak pulses
* Cyanosis
* Hypotension
* Shock
* Cardiac arrest


●● Risk factors for dysrhythmias
Answer: * CAD
* MI
* Heart surgery
* Hypertension
* Diabetes
* Thyroid disorders
* Electrolyte imbalance
* Sleep apnea
* Alcohol