Basic Cardiac Rhythms - Identification and Response

These flashcards cover key concepts regarding cardiac anatomy, physiology, heart rhythms, and their identification and treatment.

Cardiac Anatomy

Includes the right and left atria, right and left ventricles, and the atrioventricular and semilunar valves.

Normal Heart Rate

The normal heart rate is 60 – 100 beats per minute (bpm).

Systole

The phase of the cardiac cycle where the ventricles contract.

Diastole

The phase of the cardiac cycle where the ventricles relax and fill with blood.

Cardiac Output (CO)

The amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle in one minute; normally 4 – 8 L/min.

EKG Waveforms

Includes P wave, QRS complex, and T wave, representing different phases of the cardiac cycle.

Atrial Flutter

A coordinated rapid beating of the atria, often characterized by a sawtooth pattern of F waves.

Sinus Bradycardia

A regular but slow heart rate of less than 60 bpm, often seen in athletes.

Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)

A rhythm in which three or more PVCs arise in sequence at a rate greater than 100 bpm.

Asystole

The absence of electrical activity in the heart, leading to no pulse or blood pressure.