NODAL RHYTHM Meaning and
Definition
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Nodal rhythm is a medical term that refers to an abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia characterized by the initiation of an electrical impulse from an area in the atria known as the atrioventricular (AV) node. It is also commonly referred to as junctional rhythm as the AV node is located at the junction between the atria and the ventricles in the heart.
In the normal functioning of the heart, electrical signals are produced by the sinoatrial (SA) node, where the impulses travel to the AV node and then spread to the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood out of the heart. However, in nodal rhythm, the SA node fails to generate a signal, and thus the AV node takes over as the primary pacemaker of the heart, initiating electrical impulses in a slower or irregular manner.
Nodal rhythm typically results in a slower heart rate, called bradycardia, with the rate often ranging between 40 to 60 beats per minute. This is because the AV node has a slower conduction speed compared to the SA node. Some common causes of nodal rhythm include certain medications, underlying heart disease, electrical conduction abnormalities, or an imbalance of electrolytes in the body.
The diagnosis of nodal rhythm is usually made by conducting an electrocardiogram (ECG) that can detect the characteristic features such as absence of P waves (representing atrial depolarization) before the QRS complex (representing ventricular depolarization).
Treatment of nodal rhythm may involve addressing the underlying cause of the arrhythmia, such as adjusting medications or correcting electrolyte imbalances. In some cases, a pacemaker may be necessary to regulate and normalize the heart's rhythm.
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Abnormal cardiac r. characterized by the simultaneous contraction of auricles (atria) and ventricles, or the ventricular contraction may precede the auricular by the fraction of a second; it is assumed that in this case the contraction starts from the atrioventricular instead of the sinoauricular node.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NODAL RHYTHM
- bodal rhythm
- modal rhythm
- jodal rhythm
- hodal rhythm
- nidal rhythm
- nkdal rhythm
- nldal rhythm
- npdal rhythm
- n0dal rhythm
- n9dal rhythm
- nosal rhythm
- noxal rhythm
- nocal rhythm
- nofal rhythm
- noral rhythm
- noeal rhythm
- nodzl rhythm
- nodsl rhythm
- nodwl rhythm
Etymology of NODAL RHYTHM
The word "nodal" in the term "nodal rhythm" comes from the Latin word "nodus", which means "knot" or "node". This term is used particularly in the context of cardiology, where it refers to a rhythm that originates from the atrioventricular (AV) node in the heart. The AV node is a cluster of specialized cardiac cells responsible for transmitting electrical signals from the atria to the ventricles. Hence, "nodal rhythm" refers to an abnormal heart rhythm originating from this specific location in the heart.
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