What is "gallop rhythm"

n. cardiac rhythm characterized by the presence of an extra sound; can indicate a heart abnormality [syn: cantering rhythm]

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

The normal heart rhythm contains two audible heart sounds called S and S 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 S or S, 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 S and S occur so close as to be indistinguishable.