What term describes a slow heart rate, less than 60 bpm?

• A. Sinus Bradycardia
• B. PAC
• C. PVC
• D. QRS Complex

Answer: (A)

Slow heart rate is called bradycardia. When the rhythm is otherwise normal and originates from the sinus node, a rate below 60 beats per minute is sinus bradycardia. You’d expect a normal P wave before every narrow QRS and a regular rhythm, just slower than usual. The other terms describe different things: a premature atrial contraction is an early beat from the atria; a premature ventricular contraction is an early beat from the ventricles often with a wide QRS; and the QRS complex is just the part of the ECG tracing that shows ventricular depolarization, not a rhythm name. So a slow rate with a normal sinus rhythm is sinus bradycardia.