Junctional rhythm describes an abnormal heart rhythm resulting from impulses coming from a locus of tissue in the area of the atrioventricular node(AV node), the "junction" between atria and ventricles.

Under normal conditions, the heart's sinoatrial node(SA node) determines the rate by which the organ beats – in other words, it is the heart's "pacemaker". The electrical activity of sinus rhythm originates in the sinoatrial node and depolarizes the atria. Current then passes from the atria through the atrioventricular node and into the bundle of His, from which it travels along Purkinje fibers to reach and depolarize the ventricles. This sinus rhythm is important because it ensures that the heart's atria reliably contract before the ventricles.

In junctional rhythm, however, the sinoatrial node does not control the heart's rhythm – this can happen in the case of a block in conduction somewhere along the pathway described above, or in sick sinus syndrome, or many other situations. When this happens, the heart's atrioventricular node or bundle of His can take over as the pacemaker, starting the electrical signal that causes the heart to beat. Depending on where the rhythm originates in the AV node, the atria can contract before ventricular contraction due to retrograde conduction, during ventricular contraction, or after ventricular contraction. If there is a blockage between the AV node and the SA node, the atria may not contract at all.

Junctional rhythm can be diagnosed by looking at an ECG: it usually presents without a P wave or with an inverted P wave. Retrograde, or inverted, P waves refers to the depolarization from the AV node back towards the SA node.