Special Patient Populations Practice Test

What term describes when electrical impulses coordinating the heartbeat do not work properly?

Cardiac Arrhythmias Myocardial Infarction Aneurysm Atherosclerosis

Correct Answer:

Cardiac Arrhythmias

Explanation:

The term describes a disruption in the electrical signals that coordinate the heartbeat. The heart’s rhythm depends on a specialized conduction system—the SA node, AV node, and conducting pathways—that pace and synchronize atrial and ventricular contractions. When these impulses don’t flow or timing is off, the rhythm can become too fast, too slow, or irregular. That disturbance is called a cardiac arrhythmia. Arrhythmias can range from harmless to life-threatening and may cause palpitations, dizziness, or fainting, though sometimes there are no symptoms. This is different from a myocardial infarction, which is a blockage causing heart muscle damage; an aneurysm, which is a bulge in a vessel or heart wall; and atherosclerosis, which is plaque buildup in arteries.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to Special Patient Populations Practice Test for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions