Final answer:
A wandering pacemaker, also known as an ectopic pacemaker, is an area of the heart other than the SA node that initiates an impulse followed by a premature contraction. This can occur due to various factors such as localized ischemia, exposure to certain drugs, or disease conditions. Chronic wandering pacemakers can lead to arrhythmias or fibrillation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A wandering pacemaker, also known as an ectopic pacemaker, is an area of the heart other than the SA node that initiates an impulse followed by a premature contraction. This can occur due to various factors such as localized ischemia, exposure to certain drugs, or disease conditions. While occasional occurrences are generally transitory and nonlife threatening, chronic wandering pacemakers can lead to arrhythmias or fibrillation.