Ventricular Tachycardia is characterized by

• A. Originates from the atria.
• B. Narrow QRS complexes.
• C. Originates from the ventricles.
• D. It is always monomorphic.

Answer: (C)

Ventricular tachycardia is defined by its origin in the ventricles. When the electrical impulse starts in ventricular tissue, it activates the ventricles through an abnormal path, not the normal His-Purkinje system, so the heartbeat is rapid and the ECG shows wide QRS complexes. This broad QRS pattern reflects the altered, slower conduction through the ventricular muscle compared with normal intraventricular conduction. It’s not restricted to a single pattern: VT can be monomorphic or polymorphic, so saying it’s always a single, uniform shape is not correct. By contrast, rhythms that start in the atria or produce narrow QRS complexes are not VT. Therefore, the defining feature is that it originates from the ventricles.