pacemaker

American  

[peys-mey-ker] / ˈpeɪsˌmeɪ kər /

noun

1. pacesetter.

2. Medicine/Medical. an electronic device implanted beneath the skin for providing a normal heartbeat by electrical stimulation of the heart muscle, used in certain heart conditions.

3. Anatomy, Physiology. any specialized tissue that governs a rhythmic or cyclic biological activity, as the sinoatrial node of the heart that controls heartbeat.

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pacemaker British  

/ ˈpeɪsˌmeɪkə /

noun

1. a person, horse, vehicle, etc, used in a race or speed trial to set the pace

2. a person, an organization, etc, regarded as being the leader in a particular field of activity

3. Also called: cardiac pacemaker.  a small area of specialized tissue within the wall of the right atrium of the heart whose spontaneous electrical activity initiates and controls the beat of the heart

4. Also called: artificial pacemaker.  an electronic device for use in certain cases of heart disease to assume the functions of the natural cardiac pacemaker

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pacemaker Scientific  

/ pās′mā′kər /

1. Any of several usually miniaturized and surgically implanted electronic devices used to stimulate or regulate contractions of the heart muscle. Electrodes attached to the heart muscle conduct electrical signals generated from the pacemaker, which either provides constant electrical stimuli to regularize the heartbeat (fixed-rate pacemakers) or provides a stimulus only when electrical activity within the heart is abnormal (demand pacemakers). Pacemakers are used in the treatment of various arrhythmias.

2. A part of the body, such as the specialized mass of cardiac muscle fibers of the sinoatrial node, that sets the pace or rhythm of physiological activity.

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pacemaker Cultural  

1. A group of specialized muscle fibers in the heart that send out impulses to regulate the heartbeat. If the heart's built-in pacemaker does not function properly, an artificial pacemaker may be necessary — a small electrical device that also regulates the heartbeat by sending out impulses. An artificial pacemaker may be placed inside the body surgically or may be worn outside.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pacemaking
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pacemaker

First recorded in 1880–85; pace ¹ + maker

Explanation

A pacemaker is a medical device that controls a person's heartbeat. A patient only has a pacemaker implanted when his own heart isn't working well on its own. The human heart has a natural pacemaker that makes it beat at an appropriate rate to keep blood flowing throughout the body. Sometimes it doesn't work right, because of some kind of blockage or other problem that causes the heart to beat too slowly. In these cases, cardiologists — or heart doctors — will often surgically implant an electronic pacemaker as a replacement. Pacemaker research began in 1899, but it wasn't until 1958 that the first patients received these lifesaving devices.

Example Sentences

John Jr.’s doctor finally convinced him to stop racing at age 84 after he had a Pacemaker inserted, and he passed away two years later in August 2011.

From Washington Post • Apr. 18, 2014

Charles McQuillan of Pacemaker Press in Northern Ireland caught Alistair Mennie diving under a crashing wave in a bid to avoid being caught in its wake.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2013

Pacemaker cells stimulate the spontaneous contraction of cardiac muscle as a functional unit, called a syncytium.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Pacemaker cells keep the jellies’ muscles pulsating rhythmically.

From Scientific American • Jul. 25, 2012

At Wilmington, Del., last week from the test field for Bellanca planes, George Haldeman lifted his stock Bellanca Pacemaker, powered with a Wright Whirlwind 300 h. p. motor.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• favorite
• shoo-in