AEMCA Practice Exam

What leads to dropped beats in Mobitz Type 1 arrhythmia?

1. Unstable blood pressure

2. Complete block of impulses to the ventricles

3. Partial block allowing some impulses through

4. Spontaneous resolution

The correct answer is: Partial block allowing some impulses through

In Mobitz Type 1 arrhythmia, also known as Wenckebach phenomenon, the characteristic pattern involves a progressive lengthening of the PR interval until a ventricular contraction (QRS complex) is dropped. This phenomenon occurs due to a partial block in the conduction system of the heart, allowing some impulses to pass through but failing to conduct every impulse to the ventricles. As the conduction system gradually becomes less effective, the time between atrial depolarization and ventricular depolarization increases until the atrial impulse is completely blocked, resulting in a dropped beat. This specific progression is what distinguishes Mobitz Type 1 from other types of heart block, as it features a repetitive cycle where the conduction disturbance is transient and resolves on its own within the rhythm's overall pattern. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the partial nature of the block and the transmission of some impulses, leading to the observed dropped beats characteristic of this rhythm.