Final answer:
A dual-chamber pacemaker's purpose is to regulate the heart's electrical impulses for both the atrium and ventricle, ensuring proper heart rate and rhythm, especially during physical activity. It can be programmed for stimulation on demand or continuously, and some models also incorporate defibrillators.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of a dual-chamber pacemaker is to regulate the electrical signals in the two chambers of the heart: the atrium and the ventricle. More specifically, it delivers electrical impulses to the heart muscle to ensure that the heart continues to contract and pump blood efficiently, thereby managing heartbeats that are too slow or irregular due to arrhythmias. The pacemaker has sensors that detect body motion and breathing to increase the heart rate during exercise, ensuring the body's increased need for blood and oxygen is met.
The artificial pacemaker is programmable, and it can provide stimulation either temporarily upon demand or on a continuous basis. Some advanced pacemakers also include built-in defibrillators to correct life-threatening fast, irregular heartbeats known as ventricular fibrillation by delivering a large shock of electrical energy.