Question

A heart rate of 45 bpm and an absence of P waves from the electrocardiogram would suggest

A) Ventricular Fibrillation
B) Cardiac arrhythmia
C) Damage to the bundle branches
D) Damage to the SA node

Answer 1

A heart rate of 45 bpm and an absence of P waves from the ECG would suggest damage to the SA node, which is responsible for initiating impulses in the heart.

Step-by-step explanation:

A heart rate of 45 bpm and an absence of P waves from the electrocardiogram (ECG) would suggest damage to the SA node. The SA node is responsible for initiating the impulses that spread to the other conducting cells in the heart. Without functioning SA node, the heart would slow down and generate a heart rate lower than normal, resulting in a condition called bradycardia.