AEMCA Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the AEMCA Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Get exam-ready today!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the intrinsic rate of the AV node?

60-80 bpm
40-60 bpm
80-100 bpm
20-40 bpm

The correct answer is: 40-60 bpm

The intrinsic rate of the atrioventricular (AV) node is indeed 40-60 beats per minute (bpm). This intrinsic pacing ability is significant for understanding how the heart's conduction system operates, especially in cases where the primary pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, fails or is compromised. The AV node acts as a backup pacemaker. When the SA node, which typically fires at a rate of 60-100 bpm, is not functioning correctly, the AV node can take over the pacing of the heart. However, the rate at which it can do this is lower, which is why the intrinsic rate is in the 40-60 bpm range. Understanding this helps in recognizing bradycardic arrhythmias that might result from AV nodal dominance. This rate range also differentiates the AV node from other cardiac structures, such as the SA node and bundle of His, which have their own intrinsic rates. Thus, the correct answer reflects fundamental electrophysiological knowledge regarding the heart's conduction system.