Junctional Rhythms

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to junctional rhythms as presented in the lecture notes.

Junctional Rhythms

Rhythms originating from the AV junction with specific ECG features such as absent or inverted P waves.

Premature Junctional Contractions (PJC)

A PJC arising from an ectopic focus within the AV junction, occurring before the next expected sinus beat.

AV Junction

The area of the heart where atrial and ventricular depolarization occurs, influencing the appearance of P waves on an ECG.

Escape Rhythm

A junctional rhythm that occurs when the heart's primary pacemaker fails, causing the AV junction to take over.

Accelerated Junctional Rhythm

An ectopic rhythm caused by enhanced automaticity of the bundle of His, resulting in a regular ventricular rate of 61-100 BPM.

Junctional Tachycardia

A condition defined as three or more sequential premature junctional contractions occurring at a rate exceeding 100 beats per minute.

Junctional Bradycardia

A junctional rhythm with a rate of less than 40 beats per minute, possible presence of inverted P waves, and no PR interval.

P Wave

A graphical representation of atrial depolarization observed in ECG, which can be absent, inverted, or retrograde in junctional rhythms.

PR Interval

The time interval between the onset of atrial depolarization and the onset of ventricular depolarization, which may be absent or short in junctional rhythms.

Nursing Interventions for Junctional Rhythms

Include vital signs monitoring, oxygen administration, assessing for shock, and identifying potential underlying causes.