A gallop rhythm refers to a (usually abnormal) rhythm of the heart on auscultation.^[1] It includes three or four sounds,^[2] thus resembling the sounds of a gallop.

The normal heart rhythm contains two audible heart sounds called S₁ and S₂ that give the well-known "lub-dub" rhythm; they are caused by the closing of valves in the heart.

A gallop rhythm contains another sound, called S₃ or S₄, dependent upon where in the cycle this added sound comes.

It can also contain both of these sounds forming a quadruple gallop, and in situations of very fast heart rate can produce a summation gallop where S₃ and S₄ occur so close as to be indistinguishable.

[edit] Associated conditions

Gallop rhythms may be heard in young or athletic people, but may also be a sign of serious cardiac problems like heart failure.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• chfpatients.com - suitable for non-medical people, but requires some knowledge of medical terms
• familypractice.com - requires knowledge of medical terms
• Kuo PT, Schnabel TG, Blakemore WS, Whereat AF (1957). "Diastolic gallop sounds, the mechanism of production". J. Clin. Invest. 36 (7): 1035–42. doi:10.1172/JCI103499. PMID 13449156. http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1072690.