Abstract
The sinus node functions as the primary cardiac pacemaker because it has the fastest inherent rate of impulse formation. During each cardiac cycle, the sinoatrial node retains control of the cardiac rhythm because all the slower, subsidiary, pacemackers are passively depolarized and reset as the sinus impulse spreads throughout the conduction system. However, if sinus node impulse generation fails or if conduction of the sinus impulse blocks, the conduction system contains many other potential, latent pacemaking sites that are capable of assuming control.
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© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Abedin, Z., Conner, R. (2000). Escape and Capture. In: Interpretation of Cardiac Arrhythmias. Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine, vol 220. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4607-8_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4607-8_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7082-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4607-8
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