arrhythmia

[ uh-rith-mee-uh, ey-rith- ]

nounPathology.
  1. any disturbance in the rhythm of the heartbeat.

Origin of arrhythmia

1
1885–90; <New Latin <Greek arrhythmía.See a-6, rhythm, -ia

Other words from arrhythmia

  • arrhyth·mic [uh-rith-mik, ey-rith-], /əˈrɪð mɪk, eɪˈrɪð-/, ar·rhyth·mi·cal, adjective
  • ar·rhyth·mi·cal·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with arrhythmia

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How to use arrhythmia in a sentence

  • His shot choices are haphazard and arrhythmic, always cutting against any recognizable beat.

    Trailer Park | The Daily Beast Video | October 1, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for arrhythmia

arrhythmia

/ (əˈrɪðmɪə) /


noun
  1. any variation from the normal rhythm in the heartbeat

Origin of arrhythmia

1
C19: New Latin, from Greek arrhuthmia, from a- 1 + rhuthmos rhythm

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for arrhythmia

arrhythmia

[ ə-rĭðmē-ə ]


  1. An abnormal rhythm of the heart, often detectable on an electrocardiogram. Electrical impulses in the heart normally originate in the sinoatrial node of the right atrium during diastole and are transmitted through the atrioventricular node to the ventricles, causing the muscle contraction that usually occurs during systole. However, abnormalities of electrical conduction during diastole or systole can result in various alterations of the heartbeat, such as changes in heart rate, skipped or irregular beats, and fibrillation of the heart muscle, which can be life threatening. These electrical disturbances can be caused by metabolic abnormalities, inadequate blood supply (as in coronary artery disease), drug effects, chronic disease, and other factors. Arrhythmias are sometimes treated with the implantation of a pacemaker.

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