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Multiple Choice

What are the P waves like in sinus tachycardia?

In sinus tachycardia the rhythm still starts in the sinoatrial node, so atrial activation is normal. That means the P waves have the usual morphology, precede every QRS, and are typically upright in lead II with a normal PR interval. The rate is elevated (over 100 beats per minute), but the P waves aren’t altered by the tachycardia itself. This differentiates it from rhythms that lack visible P waves, show sawtooth P waves, or have inverted P waves due to retrograde atrial activation or a junctional focus.

In sinus tachycardia the rhythm still starts in the sinoatrial node, so atrial activation is normal. That means the P waves have the usual morphology, precede every QRS, and are typically upright in lead II with a normal PR interval. The rate is elevated (over 100 beats per minute), but the P waves aren’t altered by the tachycardia itself. This differentiates it from rhythms that lack visible P waves, show sawtooth P waves, or have inverted P waves due to retrograde atrial activation or a junctional focus.