What it means
In the body, an impulse is the electrical message that moves along a nerve or spreads through the heart. Each heartbeat starts with an impulse from the heart's natural pacemaker, the SA node. The apical impulse is the tap of the heart against the chest wall that you can feel. In mental health, an impulse is a sudden urge, and poor impulse control means acting on urges without thinking.
At a glance
| Spanish | impulso |
|---|---|
| Also written | impulses |
Related terms
conduction
The passing of something, such as an electrical signal or heat, from one place to another through a material.
neuron
A nerve cell: a cell that carries electrical and chemical signals through the nervous system.
normal sinus rhythm
The heart's normal rhythm, started by the sinoatrial (SA) node, regular and at 60 to 100 beats a minute in adults.