Pulsus bigeminus is a cardiovascular phenomenon characterized by groups of two heartbeats

Cardiac cycle

The cardiac cycle is a term referring to all or any of the events related to the flow or blood pressure that occurs from the beginning of one heartbeat to the beginning of the next. The frequency of the cardiac cycle is described by the heart rate. Each beat of the heart involves five major stages...

 close together followed by a longer pause. The second pulse is weaker than the first. It is caused by premature contractions (see Premature atrial contraction

Premature atrial contraction

Premature atrial contractions , also known as atrial premature complexes or atrial premature beats , are a common cardiac arrhythmia characterized by premature heartbeats originating in the atria...

 or ventricular

Premature ventricular contraction

A premature ventricular contraction , also known as a premature ventricular complex, ventricular premature contraction , ventricular premature beat , or extrasystole, is a relatively common event where the heartbeat is initiated by the heart ventricles rather than by the sinoatrial node, the...

), usually of the ventricles

Ventricle (heart)

In the heart, a ventricle is one of two large chambers that collect and expel blood received from an atrium towards the peripheral beds within the body and lungs. The Atria primes the Pump...

, after every other beat, so called extrasystoles. It can be a sign of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy or of many other types of heart disease. It can also be an innocent and passing phenomenon. Digitalis toxicity can cause this type of phenomenon.

See also

• Pulsus bisferiens
  Pulsus bisferiens
  In medicine, pulsus bisferiens, also bisferious pulse or biphasic pulse, is a sign where, on palpation of the pulse, a double peak per cardiac cycle can be appreciated. Bisferious means striking twice...
  
  
• Dicrotic pulse
  Dicrotic pulse
  A dicrotic pulse is a type of pulse characterized by a percussion wave in systole and a prominent dicrotic wave in diastole. Physiologically, the dicrotic wave is the result of reflected waves from the lower extremities and aorta....