| Part of Speech | Definition | |
| Noun | 1. A premature systole resulting in a momentary cardiac arrhythmia.[Wordnet]. | |
Source: WordNet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. | Top | |
Date "EXTRASYSTOLE" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1901. (references) |
Specialty Definition: EXTRASYSTOLE
| Domain | Definition | ||
| Health | A premature contraction of the heart that is independent of the normal rhythm and arises in response to an impulse in some part of the heart other than the sinoatrial node; called also premature beat. (references) | ||
| Wikipedic | Systole is a medical name for a contraction most often used in the description of the way the heart beats. During systole blood is expelled from the ventricles It alternates with diastole which is the phase of relaxation of the heart muscle in which the heart fills with blood. The rate of the cardiac cycle is governed by a pace maker area in the wall of the auricle. Occasionally this will misfire and an extra beat is initiated when the heart is supposed to be in diastole. In the great majority of cases this is undetected by the patient and is of no significance. Occasionally it is felt as a thump in the chest. When extra-systoles become frequent the irregularity can cause problems as inefficient pumping interferes with healthy circulation. Some drugs like digitalis may cause extrasystoles if taken in large doses. (references) | ||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | Top | ||
