|
| Glossary |
|
Arrhythmia |
| An irregular heartbeat. |
|
| Atrium |
One of the two upper chambers of the heart. These chambers receive blood from the body and lungs and pump it to the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart. |
| |
| Beta-blocker |
A drug used to slow the heart rate and reduce the pressure inside the blood vessels. It can also regulate heart rhythm. |
| |
| Bradycardia |
| A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats per minute. |
| |
| Contraction |
| A squeezing of the heart muscle that forces blood out of the heart. This contraction is the heartbeat. |
| |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) |
| Measurement of the electrical activity during heartbeats. |
| |
| Heart Block |
| When the electrical impulse is slowed, becomes irregular or is stopped. Heart block can occur at the AV nodeor along the conduction pathways. |
| |
Incision |
| A cut produced by a surgical instrument in order to perform surgery. |
| |
| Pulse Generator |
| The part of the pacemaker system made up of the electrica circuitry and the battery, which are packed and sealed in a metal container. |
| |
| Sick Sinus Syndrome |
| When the sinus node sends out electrical impulses too slowly or irregularly. |
| |
| Sinoatrial (SA) Node |
| The small mass of special muscle tissue that generates a heartbeat. It is located in the upper right chamber of the heart. |
| |
| Ventricles |
| The two lower chambers of the heart. These chambers pump blood out of the heart and into the body and lungs |
|
