Free AAMA Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Practice Question

The correct interpretation of the ECG strip is that it shows an ectopic beat originating from the ventricles. This beat is called a premature complex because it occurs before the next expected normal beat and is not associated with the normal activation of the atria, which would be typically indicated by a P wave. In medical terminology, this type of ectopic beat is known as a premature ventricular contraction (PVC), which may indicate an underlying cardiac condition or electrolyte imbalance that requires further medical assessment.

The incorrect choices represent other cardiac conditions or arrhythmias that do not match the description provided in the scenario. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by a rapid, irregular heartbeat with no distinct P waves, sinus bradycardia by a heart rate lower than 60 beats per minute with regular intervals, and AV block by a delay or blockage in the electrical impulses passing from the atria to the ventricles, which is not indicated by a solitary, premature and bizarrely shaped complex.