What is the primary function of a defibrillator?

• A. To measure blood pressure
• B. To pace the heart with electrical impulses
• C. To image the heart using X-rays
• D. To restore a normal heartbeat by delivering electric pulses or shocks

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that a defibrillator is used to restore a normal heartbeat by delivering electric shocks or pulses. In a life-threatening arrhythmia like ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, the heart’s electrical activity becomes chaotic and pumping stops effectively. A defibrillator delivers a controlled electric shock to briefly stop that disorganized activity, allowing the heart’s natural rhythm to resume. This is distinct from simply measuring blood pressure or imaging the heart; those are monitoring or diagnostic functions. Some devices can pace the heart, but the defining purpose of a defibrillator is to reset the rhythm with shocks to reestablish a normal heartbeat.