ATROPINE TEST Meaning and
Definition
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The atropine test is a medical procedure used to assess the heart's response to a drug called atropine. Atropine is a medication derived from the belladonna plant, which belongs to the nightshade family. This drug acts as a muscarinic antagonist, meaning it blocks the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system.
During an atropine test, a small dose of atropine is administered to the patient, usually via injection or oral ingestion. The purpose of this test is to evaluate the heart's sensitivity to atropine and to determine the presence of certain heart conditions, such as heart block or sick sinus syndrome.
After atropine is administered, the heart rate typically increases, as atropine blocks the inhibitory effect of acetylcholine on the heart. This increase in heart rate allows healthcare professionals to assess the heart's response to atropine. If the heart rate does not significantly increase after atropine administration, it may indicate a problem with the conduction system in the heart.
The atropine test is often performed in conjunction with an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor and record changes in heart rate and rhythm. It is a valuable diagnostic tool used by healthcare providers to gather information about an individual's cardiac function and assist in the identification of certain heart disorders.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ATROPINE TEST
- ztropine test
- stropine test
- wtropine test
- qtropine test
- arropine test
- afropine test
- agropine test
- ayropine test
- a6ropine test
- a5ropine test
- ateopine test
- atdopine test
- atfopine test
- attopine test
- at5opine test
- at4opine test
- atripine test
- atrkpine test
- atrlpine test
- atrppine test
Etymology of ATROPINE TEST
The word "atropine" in the term "atropine test" comes from the name of a plant called "Atropa belladonna", commonly known as deadly nightshade. The plant contains a chemical compound called atropine, which has various medical uses.
The etymology of "atropine" can be traced back to Greek. The Greek word "atropos" means "without turn" or "inflexible", which is derived from "a-" (without) and "tropos" (turn). This name reflects the property of atropine to dilate the pupils and cause paralysis of certain muscles, resulting in a state where the eyes cannot follow moving objects.
The term "atropine test" refers to a medical procedure in which atropine is used to dilate the pupils for the purpose of examining the eye.
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