In SVT, what is typically the origin of the rapid heart rate?

In supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), the rapid heart rate typically originates from the atria. SVT is characterized by a fast heart rate that arises from above the ventricles, primarily involving the atrial tissue or the areas surrounding the atrioventricular (AV) node.

One of the key features of SVT is that the impulses are generated prematurely or inappropriately within the atrial tissue due to abnormal conduction pathways, reentrant circuits, or ectopic foci, leading to a rapid heart rate. This distinguishes it from other types of tachycardia, such as ventricular tachycardia, where the origin is in the ventricles, or sinus node dysfunction, which would involve the sinoatrial node. In SVT, the atrial tissue is usually the instigator of the rapid impulse formation, causing the ventricles to respond to these rapid signals.

Understanding the origin of the rapid heart rate is crucial for appropriate diagnosis and management, as treatments can differ significantly depending on whether the arrhythmia originates in the atria or ventricles.