Electrocardiography

Question 1

What does an electrocardiogram tell us?

Answer 1

• baseline snapshot of cardiac function
• evaluates symptoms of heart disease
• abnormal heart rhythms
• progress after heart attack
• side effects of certain medications

Question 2

What is holter monitoring?

Answer 2

records electrical activity of the heart continuously over 24 hours or longer

Question 3

What is stress testing for?

Answer 3

assesses patient’s blood and oxygen flow to the heart

Question 4

What can stress testing diagnose?

Answer 4

medical conditions like coronary artery disease

Question 5

What is heart rate?

Answer 5

number of times your heart beats per minute

Question 6

What is heart rhythm?

Answer 6

synchronized pumping action of the four heart chambers

Question 7

What is a steady heart rate?

Answer 7

60-100 beats per minute

Question 8

What is sinus rhythm?

Answer 8

orderly contraction of the atria and ventricles

Question 9

What is the pacemaker of the heart?

Answer 9

SA node

Question 10

What is the cycle of a heartbeat?

Answer 10

• SA node sends out electrical impulse
• atria contracts
• av node sends impulse into the ventricles
• ventricles contract
• SA node sends out another impulse and cycle repeats

Question 11

What are the proper equipment for EKG?

Answer 11

• 12-lead (10 electrodes on body, records activity from 12 angles)
• 3-lead
• single-channel

Question 12

What is the y-axis for ekg paper?

Answer 12

gain/amplitude

Question 13

What is the x-axis for ekg paper?

Answer 13

time

Question 14

What does each grid on the x-axis mean?

Answer 14

0.04 seconds

Question 15

What does each grid on a y-axis mean?

Answer 15

0.1 millivolts

Question 16

Where should electrodes be placed if lower leg is amputated?

Answer 16

both sides of abdomen

Question 17

Where should electrodes be placed if lower arm is amputated?

Answer 17

electrodes on upper arms

Question 18

Where do the 10 leads go?

Answer 18

6 chest, 4 limb

Question 19

Where does V1 lead go?

Answer 19

4th intercostal space, right of the sternum

Question 20

Where does V2 lead go?

Answer 20

4th intercostal space, left of sternum
- across from V1

Question 21

Where does V3 lead go?

Answer 21

midway between V2 and V4

Question 22

Where does V4 lead go?

Answer 22

5th intercostal space
- midclavicular line

Question 23

Where does V5 lead go?

Answer 23

5th intercostal space, between V4 and V6
- anterior axillary line

Question 24

Where does V6 lead go?

Answer 24

5th intercostal space
- midaxillary line

Question 25

What color is V1 lead?

Answer 25

red

Question 26

What color is V2 lead?

Answer 26

yellow

Question 27

What color is V3 lead?

Answer 27

green

Question 28

What color is V4 lead?

Answer 28

brown

Question 29

What color is V5 lead?

Answer 29

black

Question 30

What color is V6 lead?

Answer 30

magenta

Question 31

What color is right arm lead?

Answer 31

white

Question 32

What color is left arm lead?

Answer 32

black

Question 33

What color is left leg lead?

Answer 33

red

Question 34

What color is right leg lead?

Answer 34

green

Question 35

What does the P wave mean?

Answer 35

atrial depolarization/contract

Question 36

What does the QRS wave mean?

Answer 36

ventricular depolarization/contraction

Question 37

What does the T wave mean?

Answer 37

ventricular repolarization/relaxation

Question 38

What does the U wave mean?

Answer 38

repolarization/relaxation of the bundle of His and Purkinje fibers