defibrillation
Medical term EKG and Cardiovascular Testing
Delivering an electric shock to the heart to stop a life-threatening rhythm so a normal rhythm can return.
Sources
Related terms
- shockA dangerous state in which blood flow is too low to meet the body's needs.
- AV nodeAtrioventricular node: tissue between the atria and ventricles that receives the impulse from the SA node…
- bundle of HisConduction fibers that carry the impulse from the AV node through the wall between the ventricles.
- cardiac cycleOne complete heartbeat: contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the chambers.
- cardiac outputThe amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute.
- depolarizationThe electrical change in heart or nerve cells that triggers contraction or a signal.
- diastoleThe phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill.
- dysrhythmiaAn abnormal heart rhythm; also called arrhythmia.
- electrocardiogramA tracing of the heart's electrical activity recorded from electrodes on the skin.