Which rhythm is indicated by regular P waves before every QRS with a rate around 110 bpm?

Prepare for the Cleveland Clinic EKG Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Gain insights with hints and explanations. Ace your exam today!

Multiple Choice

Which rhythm is indicated by regular P waves before every QRS with a rate around 110 bpm?

Regular P waves before each QRS complex with a heart rate around 110 bpm points to sinus tachycardia. When the atrial impulse originates from the sinus node, you get a normal P wave preceding every QRS, and the QRS is usually narrow. The rate in sinus tachycardia is elevated but not excessively fast, typically in the 100–150 bpm range, while the rhythm remains regular and the PR interval stays within normal limits. This contrasts with sinus bradycardia, where the rate is under 60 bpm even though P waves precede every QRS. Atrial fibrillation shows no discrete P waves and an irregularly irregular rhythm, not a consistent P–QRS pattern. AV nodal reentrant tachycardia produces a rapid, regular rhythm but the P waves are often hidden within or after the QRS, so you don’t see clear P waves preceding each beat.

Regular P waves before each QRS complex with a heart rate around 110 bpm points to sinus tachycardia. When the atrial impulse originates from the sinus node, you get a normal P wave preceding every QRS, and the QRS is usually narrow. The rate in sinus tachycardia is elevated but not excessively fast, typically in the 100–150 bpm range, while the rhythm remains regular and the PR interval stays within normal limits.

This contrasts with sinus bradycardia, where the rate is under 60 bpm even though P waves precede every QRS. Atrial fibrillation shows no discrete P waves and an irregularly irregular rhythm, not a consistent P–QRS pattern. AV nodal reentrant tachycardia produces a rapid, regular rhythm but the P waves are often hidden within or after the QRS, so you don’t see clear P waves preceding each beat.

More practice questions