Consolidated Political Compass Test (CPCT) Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) refers specifically to a group of rapid heart rhythms originating above the ventricles, which includes the atria and the atrioventricular (AV) node. This condition is characterized by a ventricular rate exceeding 100 beats per minute due to enhanced automaticity, reentry mechanisms, or triggered activity in the atria or AV node.

The term itself, "Supraventricular Tachycardia," encompasses various specific types of rhythms, such as atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation, but it is primarily identified by its rapid rate originating in the supra-ventricular tissue. This distinction is crucial for proper diagnosis and management in clinical settings, where the focus is not just on the rapid heart rate, but also on understanding its origin.

In contrast, the other listed conditions involve different mechanisms or sites of origin. Atrial flutter, while a specific type of SVT, is categorized separately rather than being the general term. First-degree heart block involves a delay in conduction without tachycardia, and premature ventricular contractions are early beats originating from the ventricles, which are not classified as supraventricular. This clarity in definitions and classifications is vital for health professionals to accurately