NURS 3104 Study Guide - Final Guide: Hypokalemia, Torsades De Pointes, Cardiac Arrhythmia
13 Oct 2017
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Document Summary
Dysrhythmias also referred to as arrhythmias, are disorders of the formation or. Conduction (or both) of the electrical impulse within the heart. Dysrhythmias may initially be evidenced by the hemodynamic effect they cause (e. g. , a change in conduction may change the pumping action of the heart and cause decreased blood pressure). For example, an impulse that originates in the sinoatrial(sa) node and has a slow rate is called sinus bradycardia. The electrical impulse that stimulates and paces the cardiac muscle normally originates in the sinus node (sa node), an area located near the superior vena cava in the right atrium. Usually, the electrical impulse occurs at a rate ranging between 60 and 100 times a minute in the adult. The electrical impulse quickly travels from the sinus node through the atria to the atrioventricular (av)node. The electrical stimulation of the muscle cells of the atria causes them to contract.
