palpitation /pal′pitā″shən/ [L, palpitare, to flutter] , a pounding or racing of the heart. It is associated with normal emotional responses and with heart disorders. Some people may complain of pounding heart and display no evidence of heart disease, whereas others with serious heart disorders may not detect associated abnormal palpitations. Some patients complain of palpitations after receiving digitalis because it increases the force of heart contractions. −palpitate, v.
