Escape
Escape (medical term)
Escape (/ɪˈskeɪp/), in the context of medicine, refers to a situation where a physiological mechanism breaks free from its normal regulation. The term is often used in relation to heart rhythms, where an escape rhythm may take over if the primary pacemaking system of the heart fails.
Etymology
The term 'escape' originates from the Old North French 'escaper', which in turn is derived from the Vulgar Latin 'excappare'. In the medical context, it was first used in the early 20th century to describe the phenomenon of a secondary pacemaker taking over the heart's rhythm.
Related Terms
- Escape rhythm: A secondary heart rhythm that takes over when the primary pacemaker fails.
- Escape beat: A heartbeat that originates from an ectopic focus as a result of the failure of the primary pacemaker.
- Escape interval: The time interval between the last normal beat and the first escape beat.
- Escape velocity: In medicine, this term is used metaphorically to describe the critical threshold that a disease process or condition must reach before it becomes self-perpetuating and independent of the initial causative factors.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Escape
- Wikipedia's article - Escape
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