| heart beat | A complete cardiac cycle, including spread of the electrical impulse and the consequent mechanical contraction. Synonym: ictus cordis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| pseudofusion beat | <cardiology, physiology> An electrocardiographic representation of a cardiac depolarisation produced by superimposition of an ineffectual electronic pacemaker spike upon a QRS-complex originating from a spontaneous focus within the heart. The pacemaker spike is ineffectual because the electronic discharge, which it represents graphically, occurred within the absolute refractory period of the spontaneous beat and is therefore not indicative of pacemaker malfunction. (21 Jun 2000) |
| summation beat | A beat triggered by more than a single electrical impulse, when the wave fronts coincide to act together on a single final pathway of activity; in the electrocardiogram, the atrial or ventricular complex when either atria or ventricles are activated jointly by two simultaneous or nearly simultaneous invading impulses. Synonym: combination beat, mixed beat, summation beat. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dependent beat | <cardiology, physiology> An extrasystole supposedly precipitated in some way by the preceding normal beat to which it is coupled, an extrasystole caused by artificial stimulation of the heart. Synonym: dependent beat. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Dressler beat | Fusion beat interrupting a ventricular tachycardia and producing a normally narrow QRS complex as a result of the fusion of two impulses, one impulse from the ventricular tachycardia and the other from a supraventricular focus; Dressler beat's strongly support the diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia by interruption of it. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dropped beat | A heart beat that fails to appear. (05 Mar 2000) |
| interference beat | Ventricular capture in forms of A-V dissociation due to interference. (05 Mar 2000) |
| echo beat | Extrasystole produced by the return of an impulse in the heart retrograde to a focus near its origin which then returns antegradely to produce a second depolorization. (05 Mar 2000) |
| escape beat | Escaped beat, an automatic beat, usually arising from the A-V junction or ventricle, occurring after the next expected normal beat has defaulted; it is therefore always a late beat, terminating a longer cycle than the normal. Synonym: escape contraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| forced beat | <cardiology, physiology> An extrasystole supposedly precipitated in some way by the preceding normal beat to which it is coupled, an extrasystole caused by artificial stimulation of the heart. Synonym: dependent beat. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fusion beat | A beat triggered by more than a single electrical impulse, when the wave fronts coincide to act together on a single final pathway of activity; in the electrocardiogram, the atrial or ventricular complex when either atria or ventricles are activated jointly by two simultaneous or nearly simultaneous invading impulses. Synonym: combination beat, mixed beat, summation beat. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aborted ectopic pregnancy | The rupture of an oviduct, the seat of ectopic pregnancy, or extrusion of the product of conception through the fimbriated end of the oviduct; aborted ectopic pregnancy, the pregnancy having originated in the fallopian tubes. Synonym: aborted ectopic pregnancy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acth syndrome, ectopic | Symptom complex due to acth production by non-pituitary neoplasms. (12 Dec 1998) |
| persistent ectopic pregnancy | An ectopic pregnancy which has persistent viable tissue, secreting hCG after conservative surgery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pregnancy, ectopic | A pregnancy that is not in the usual place and is located outside the inner lining of the uterus. A fertilised egg settles and grows in any location other than the inner lining of the uterus. The vast majority of ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube (95%), however, they can occur in other locations, such as the ovary, cervix, and abdominal cavity. An ectopic pregnancy occurs in about 1 in 60 pregnancies. A major concern with an ectopic pregnancy is internal bleeding. If there is any doubt, seek medical attention promptly. (12 Dec 1998) |