pacemaker
Meaning of pacemaker: A pacemaker is an implanted device that monitors heart rhythm and delivers electrical stimulation whenever the heart beats too slowly or irregularly.
Definition of pacemaker
A pacemaker is an electronic device implanted in the body to monitor the heart's electrical activity and deliver a small electrical stimulus whenever the heart is not beating at an appropriate rate or rhythm on its own. The device is connected to the heart by one or more thin wires, called leads, that both sense the heart's natural electrical signals and deliver stimulation when needed.
Pacemakers are used mainly to treat a heart rate that is too slow, a condition called bradycardia, which can result from problems within the heart's own electrical conduction system. By supplying the missing electrical signal, a pacemaker restores a more regular, adequate heart rate.
The device runs on a battery housed in a small unit typically implanted beneath the skin near the collarbone, and its function is checked periodically to confirm the battery and leads are working as intended and to adjust its settings if needed.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
A pacemaker was implanted after testing confirmed the patient's slow heart rhythm was due to a conduction problem.
Good to know
A pacemaker treats a heart rate that is too slow rather than one that is too fast, distinguishing its role from a related device called a defibrillator, which is designed to correct dangerously fast or chaotic heart rhythms.