Junctional rhythm

Junctional rhythm describes an abnormal heart rhythm resulting from impulses coming from a locus of tissue in the area of the atrioventricular node,[1] the "junction" between atria and ventricles.

Junctional rhythm
SpecialtyCardiology/electrophysiology

Under normal conditions, the heart's sinoatrial node determines the rate by which the organ beats – in other words, it is the heart's "pacemaker". The electrical activity of sinus rhythm originates in the sinoatrial node and depolarizes the atria. Current then passes from the atria through the atrioventricular node and into the bundle of His, from which it travels along Purkinje fibers to reach and depolarize the ventricles. This sinus rhythm is important because it ensures that the heart's atria reliably contract before the ventricles.

In junctional rhythm, however, the sinoatrial node does not control the heart's rhythm – this can happen in the case of a block in conduction somewhere along the pathway described above. When this happens, the heart's atrioventricular node takes over as the pacemaker.[2] In the case of a junctional rhythm, the atria will actually still contract before the ventricles; however, this does not happen by the normal pathway of activation and instead is due to a backwards or retrograde conduction (conduction comes from the AV node into and through the atria).[3]

Junctional rhythm can be diagnosed by looking at an ECG: it usually presents without a P wave or with an inverted P wave. Retrograde P waves refers to the depolarization from the AV node back towards the SA node.[4]

Accelerated junctional rhythm

Accelerated junctional rhythm is when the rhythm of emerged impulses is more than 40 to 60 beats per minute, which is the natural range of the junction. It happens in some instances such as digoxin toxicity, and usually has a rate of between 60 and 100 bpm.[5]

See also

References
  1. Merriam-Webster dictionary > Junctional rhythm Retrieved September 2010
  2. eMedicine:"Junctional Rhythms" http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic1212.htm
  3. medical dictionary http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/retrograde+conduction
  4. Abnormalities in the ECG measurement http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/ecg_outline/Lesson4/index.html#PRinterval
  5. ECG Interpretation: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses. 2005. ISBN 9781582553955.
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