| basic electrical rhythm | A slow wave of depolarisation of smooth muscle from the fundus to the pylorus that coordinates gastric peristalsis and emptying. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Berger rhythm | Brain waves in the encephalogram which have a frequency of 8 to 13 per second. They are typical of the normal person awake and in a quiet resting state, and occur principally in the occipital region. (12 Dec 1998) |
| beta rhythm | <neurology> Brain waves in the electroencephalogram which have a frequency of 18 to 30 per second. They are typical during periods of intense activity of the nervous system, and occur principally in the parietal and frontal regions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bigeminal rhythm | That cardiac rhythm when each beat of the dominant rhythm (sinus or other) is followed by a premature beat, with the result that the heartbeats occur in pairs (bigeminy). Synonym: coupled rhythm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cantering rhythm | A triple cadence to the heart sounds; due to an abnormal third or fourth heart sound being heard in addition to the first and second sounds, and usually indicative of serious disease. Synonym: bruit de galop, cantering rhythm, gallop rhythm, Traube's bruit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gallop rhythm | Heart rhythm like the gallop of a horse. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ventricular rhythm | A slow independent ventricular rhythm under control of a ventricular centre (which is, by definition, ectopic). Synonym: ventricular rhythm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reciprocating rhythm | A cardiac arrhythmia initiated by an A-V junctional beat followed in turn by a reciprocal beat; the descending impulse of the reciprocal beat, before reaching the ventricles, is also reflected backward to the atria, but before reaching the atria is reflected downward again to the ventricles, so that there is both retrograde atrial activation and orthograde ventricular activation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pendulum rhythm | A condition in which the cadence of the heart sounds resembles that of the foetus, the first and second sounds becoming alike and evenly spaced; a sign of serious myocardial disease. Synonym: pendulum rhythm, tic-tac rhythm, tic-tac sounds. Origin: embryo-+ G. Kardia, heart (05 Mar 2000) |
| rhythm | <cardiology> The regularity of the heartbeat. Can be assessed by taking the pulse. (23 Aug 1998) |
| rhythm method | <gynaecology> A contraceptive method whereby abstinence is practiced a few days before and after the estimated day of ovulation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| circadian rhythm | The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs and stimuli, hormone secretion, sleeping, feeding, etc. This rhythm seems to be set by a 'biological clock' which seems to be set by recurring daylight and darkness. (12 Dec 1998) |
| circus rhythm | A contraction or excitation wave traveling continuously in circular fashion around a ring of muscle or through the wall of the heart. Synonym: circus rhythm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| coronary nodal rhythm | Formerly applied by some authorities to the electrocardiographic pattern of normal upright P waves in leads I and II with a short P-R interval. (05 Mar 2000) |
| coronary sinus rhythm | An ectopic atrial rhythm supposedly originating from a pacemaker at the mouth of the coronary sinus; recognised in the electrocardiogram by P-waves that are inverted in leads II, III, and a VI with a normal or prolonged P-R interval; an ectopic ("lower") atrial rhythm. (05 Mar 2000) |