Which description best defines the excitable gap in a reentrant circuit?

Study for the Pre-Tachyarrhythmia Test. Prepare with interactive questions and comprehensive explanations. Improve your understanding of tachyarrhythmia conditions and get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which description best defines the excitable gap in a reentrant circuit?

Explanation:
The excitable gap is the portion of tissue in a reentrant circuit that has recovered enough to be excited again when the circulating impulse arrives. As the wavefront travels, tissue behind it remains refractory (non-excitable), while the ahead tissue recovers and becomes excitable. That recovered, ready-to-fire segment is the excitable gap, and it allows the impulse to re-enter the loop and sustain the reentrant rhythm. The other options describe non-excitable or boundary areas, which don’t fit this concept.

The excitable gap is the portion of tissue in a reentrant circuit that has recovered enough to be excited again when the circulating impulse arrives. As the wavefront travels, tissue behind it remains refractory (non-excitable), while the ahead tissue recovers and becomes excitable. That recovered, ready-to-fire segment is the excitable gap, and it allows the impulse to re-enter the loop and sustain the reentrant rhythm. The other options describe non-excitable or boundary areas, which don’t fit this concept.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy