Advanced - Dysrhythmias
Advanced – Dysrhythmias Exam
Containing 63 Questions and Answers
Best Graded A+ 2024-2025.
Excitability - Answer: the ability of non-pacemaker heart cells to respond to an
electrical impulse that begins in pacemaker cells.
, Advanced - Dysrhythmias
Depolarization - Answer: occurs when the normally negatively charged cells within
the heart muscle develop a positive charge.
Conductivity - Answer: the ability to send an electrical stimulus from cell
membrane to cell membrane. As a result, excitable cells depolarize in rapid
succession from cell to cell until all cells have depolarized. Ex: the wave of
depolarization causes the deflections in the ECG waveforms that are recognized as
the P wave and QRS complex.
Contractility - Answer: the ability of atrial and ventricular muscle cells to shorten
their fiber length in response to electrical stimulation, causing sufficient pressure
to push blood forward through the heart. In other words, this is the mechanical
activity of the heart.
AV Node - Answer: where impulses slow down or are delayed before proceeding
to the ventricles. This delay is reflected in the PR segment on the ECG. This slow
conduction provides a short delay, allowing the atria to contract and the ventricles
to fill.
SA Node - Answer: the heart's primary pacemaker. It can spontaneously and
rhythmically generate electrical impulses at a rate of 60-100 beats per min and
therefore has the greatest degree of automaticity.
Purkinje Cells - Answer: composed of the bundle of HIS, bundle branches, and
these fibers. Responsible for the rapid conduction of electrical impulses
, Advanced - Dysrhythmias
throughout the ventricles, leading to ventricular depolarization and the
subsequent ventricular muscle contraction.
Semi-Reclined - Answer: While obtaining a 12-lead ECG, remind the patient be as
as still as possible in a ________________________ position, breathing normally.
Clea, Dry, Moist - Answer: For continous ECG monitoring, be sure to
__________________ skin and clip hairs/shave. Ensure that the electrode
placement is _____________ and the gel on each electrode is ______________
and fresh.
P Wave - Answer: a deflection on an ECG representing atrial depolarization. When
the electrical impulse is consistently generated form the SA node, this wave has a
consistent shape in a given lead. If an impulse is then generated from a different
(ectopic) focus, such as atrial tissue, the shape of this wave changes in the lead,
indicating that an ectopic focus has fired.
PR Segment - Answer: the isoelectric line from the end of the P wave to the
beginning of the QRS complex, when the electrical impulse is traveling through
the AV node, where it is delayed.
PR Interval - Answer: measured form the beginning of the P wave to the end of
the PR segment. Represents the time required for atrial depolarization, the
impulse delay in the AV node, and the travel time to the Purkinje files. Normally
measures from 0.12-0.20 seconds (five small blocks).
Advanced – Dysrhythmias Exam
Containing 63 Questions and Answers
Best Graded A+ 2024-2025.
Excitability - Answer: the ability of non-pacemaker heart cells to respond to an
electrical impulse that begins in pacemaker cells.
, Advanced - Dysrhythmias
Depolarization - Answer: occurs when the normally negatively charged cells within
the heart muscle develop a positive charge.
Conductivity - Answer: the ability to send an electrical stimulus from cell
membrane to cell membrane. As a result, excitable cells depolarize in rapid
succession from cell to cell until all cells have depolarized. Ex: the wave of
depolarization causes the deflections in the ECG waveforms that are recognized as
the P wave and QRS complex.
Contractility - Answer: the ability of atrial and ventricular muscle cells to shorten
their fiber length in response to electrical stimulation, causing sufficient pressure
to push blood forward through the heart. In other words, this is the mechanical
activity of the heart.
AV Node - Answer: where impulses slow down or are delayed before proceeding
to the ventricles. This delay is reflected in the PR segment on the ECG. This slow
conduction provides a short delay, allowing the atria to contract and the ventricles
to fill.
SA Node - Answer: the heart's primary pacemaker. It can spontaneously and
rhythmically generate electrical impulses at a rate of 60-100 beats per min and
therefore has the greatest degree of automaticity.
Purkinje Cells - Answer: composed of the bundle of HIS, bundle branches, and
these fibers. Responsible for the rapid conduction of electrical impulses
, Advanced - Dysrhythmias
throughout the ventricles, leading to ventricular depolarization and the
subsequent ventricular muscle contraction.
Semi-Reclined - Answer: While obtaining a 12-lead ECG, remind the patient be as
as still as possible in a ________________________ position, breathing normally.
Clea, Dry, Moist - Answer: For continous ECG monitoring, be sure to
__________________ skin and clip hairs/shave. Ensure that the electrode
placement is _____________ and the gel on each electrode is ______________
and fresh.
P Wave - Answer: a deflection on an ECG representing atrial depolarization. When
the electrical impulse is consistently generated form the SA node, this wave has a
consistent shape in a given lead. If an impulse is then generated from a different
(ectopic) focus, such as atrial tissue, the shape of this wave changes in the lead,
indicating that an ectopic focus has fired.
PR Segment - Answer: the isoelectric line from the end of the P wave to the
beginning of the QRS complex, when the electrical impulse is traveling through
the AV node, where it is delayed.
PR Interval - Answer: measured form the beginning of the P wave to the end of
the PR segment. Represents the time required for atrial depolarization, the
impulse delay in the AV node, and the travel time to the Purkinje files. Normally
measures from 0.12-0.20 seconds (five small blocks).
