Heart & Circulation

Ectopic beat

Also called: Premature beat

What does Ectopic beat mean?

An extra heartbeat occurring earlier than the next expected normal beat.

U.S. National Library of Medicine
Understanding Medical Words ↗ National Cancer Institute
Cancer Terms Dictionary ↗ CDC
Vaccine Glossary ↗

This is a plain-language Healthway explanation, not an individual diagnosis. The meaning of a term can change with the clinical context in which it appears.