Final answer:
The statement that a supraventricular ectopy (SVE) is also known as a premature atrial contraction (PAC) is True. Supraventricular ectopies, including PACs, are premature heartbeats originating from above the ventricles and typically non-life-threatening.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a supraventricular ectopy (SVE) is also known as a premature atrial contraction (PAC) is True. Supraventricular ectopy refers to any premature heartbeat that originates above the ventricles, which includes PACs. A PAC occurs when an ectopic focus in the atria initiates an impulse before the sinoatrial (SA) node, causing a premature contraction. It's important to realize that the SA node is the normal pacemaker of the heart, with the highest rate of depolarization, initiating the sinus rhythm and ensuring the heart contracts in a coordinated manner. PACs are generally non-life-threatening and are observed on an electrocardiogram (ECG) as an abnormal electrical pattern in the atria.