Question

What is the role of a Defibrillator?

• A. To measure blood pressure
• B. To restore normal heart rhythm
• C. To measure body temperature
• D. To image the body's internal structures

Hint:

Think of a defibrillator as an "Electrical Reset Button" for the heart. It clears the chaotic signals so the heart can start fresh with its natural beat.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

A defibrillator is a life-saving medical device used in emergency medicine to treat life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. 1. Mechanism of Action: When the heart enters a state of fibrillation, the cardiac muscle fibers contract in a chaotic, uncoordinated manner, failing to pump blood. A defibrillator delivers a controlled, high-energy dose of electric current (an electric shock) to the heart.

2. Restoring Rhythm: This sudden electrical surge depolarizes a large part of the heart muscle simultaneously. This momentarily stops the chaotic electrical activity, allowing the heart's natural pacemaker (the SA node) to re-establish a

normal, coordinated heart rhythm.

3. Role in the Clinical Setting: Defibrillation is distinct from pacing. While a pacemaker maintains a rhythm, a defibrillator is used to "reset" a dangerous rhythm that has already occurred. It is not used for measurement (like blood pressure or temperature) or imaging (like X-ray or MRI).