EKG and Blood Pressure

These flashcards cover important terms and concepts related to the EKG and blood pressure, providing definitions for essential vocabulary in cardiovascular physiology.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

The heart's natural pacemaker located in the right atrium, generating electrical impulses.

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

A node that receives impulses from the SA node and delays the signal before sending it to the ventricles.

Bundle of His

A collection of heart muscle cells that transmits impulses from the AV node to the ventricles.

Purkinje Fibers

Fibers that spread electrical impulses throughout the ventricles to trigger contraction.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

A graphical recording of the electrical events occurring within the heart.

Depolarization

The process of electrical activation that leads to muscle contraction in the heart.

Repolarization

The process of returning the heart muscle cells to their resting state after contraction.

Systolic Pressure

The pressure in the arteries during ventricular contraction or systole.

Diastolic Pressure

The pressure in the arteries during ventricular relaxation or diastole.

Heart Rate

The number of times the heart beats per minute.

Baroreceptor Reflex

A reflex mechanism that helps regulate blood pressure in response to changes in blood volume or pressure.

Exercise Pressor Reflex

A physiological response that increases heart rate and blood pressure during exercise.

Mean Arterial Pressure

An average arterial pressure within the arteries during one cardiac cycle.

R-R Interval

The interval between successive R-wave peaks on an EKG, used to determine heart rate.

Ventricular Fibrillation\n\n

A serious heart condition where the ventricles quiver instead of pumping blood, leading to ineffective circulation.

Tachycardia\n\n

An abnormally fast heart rate, typically over 100 beats per minute.

Bradycardia\n\n

An abnormally slow heart rate, usually below 60 beats per minute.

Cardiac Output\n\n

The volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, calculated as heart rate times stroke volume.

Stroke Volume\n\n

The amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat.

Ischemia\n\n

Insufficient blood supply to heart muscle, often leading to chest pain or heart attack.

Heart Murmur\n\n

An abnormal sound during the heartbeat cycle, often due to turbulent blood flow.

Arrhythmia\n\n

An irregular heartbeat caused by abnormal electrical activity in the heart.