Basics of ECG

Question 1

to find the rate

Answer 1

count off method (300, 150, 100, 75, 60, 50) R to R wave

Question 2

normal paper speed of ECG

Answer 2

25 mm/sec

Question 3

full standard normal calibration

Answer 3

10 boxes tall and 5 wide

Question 4

rate < 60 bpm

Answer 4

bradycardia

Question 5

rate > 100 bpm

Answer 5

tachycardia

Question 6

normal sinus rhythym

Answer 6

p wave followed by QRS; p wave upright in leads I, II, III

Question 7

normal PR interval

Answer 7

3-5 small boxes (in one big box)

Question 8

normal QRS interval

Answer 8

< or = to 2.5 small boxes

Question 9

normal QT interval

Answer 9

around 10 small boxes (half the RR interval)

Question 10

to check axis

Answer 10

look at leads I and II; QRS upward in both–normal

Question 11

if up in lead I, and isoelectric in lead II, where to check for axis deviation

Answer 11

aVF

Question 12

thumbs up rule for axis deviation

Answer 12

up in lead I (left thumbs up) and up in aVF (right thumbs up)—–normal axis deviation (and if only L thumbs up then L axis deviation)

Question 13

increased PR interval

Answer 13

1st degree heart block

Question 14

diagnostic of Rheumatic Fever

Answer 14

long PR interval

Question 15

preexcitation syndrome and junctional rhythym

Answer 15

decreased PR interval

Question 16

increased QRS interval

Answer 16

bundle branch blocks

Question 17

tall R and deep S for QRS interval

Answer 17

RBBB

Question 18

wide QRS interval and deep Q

Answer 18

LBBB

Question 19

normal QT interval

Answer 19

around 10 boxes; T wave ends < halfway between RR intervals

Question 20

left ventricular hypertrophy to what axis deviation

Answer 20

L axis

Question 21

right ventricular hypertrophy to what axis deviation

Answer 21

R axis

Question 22

to check for R ventricular hypertrophy

Answer 22

leads V1 and V2; R wave>S wave in V1

Question 23

to check for L ventricular hypertrophy

Answer 23

leads V5 and V6; S wave>R wave in V1
huge R in V6

Question 24

to check for abnormal p wave

Answer 24

lead II and lead V1 (L and R atrial enlargement)

Question 25

p wave enlargement >2.5

Answer 25

R atrial enlargement

Question 26

biphasic p wave

Answer 26

L atrial enlargement (signal had to go back elsewhere in L atrium b/c too big)

Question 27

abnormal Q wave

Answer 27

greater than 1 small box; myocardial infarction (STEMI)

Question 28

caused by septal depolarization

Answer 28

Q wave

Question 29

deep “juicy Q” wave

Answer 29

left ventricular hypertrophy

Question 30

normal T wave

Answer 30

less than half way between RR

Question 31

T wave should be upright in all leads except

Answer 31

aVR

Question 32

T wave can be isoelectric in what lead

Answer 32

aVL

Question 33

T wave inverted inferolaterally

Answer 33

sick myocardium (run screaming from room)

Question 34

depression of ST segment and inverted T wave

Answer 34

myocardial ischemia

Question 35

ST segment elevation

Answer 35

myocardial infarction

Question 36

scooped ST segment

Answer 36

patient on Digoxin

Question 37

tall peaked T wave

Answer 37

hyperkalemia

Question 38

flattened p wave and widened QRS

Answer 38

severe hyperkalemia

Question 39

ST depression, flattened T

Answer 39

hypokalemia

Question 40

shortened QT interval

Answer 40

hypercalcemia

Question 41

prolonged QT interval

Answer 41

hypocalcemia

Question 42

normal calibration of ecg

Answer 42

10 mm for vertical box inscription (1 mV)

Question 43

abnormal QRS wave

Answer 43

L or R ventricular hypertrophy
bundle branch blocks

Question 44

ST elevation of all leads indicates

Answer 44

pericarditis

Question 45

2 humps between every QRS wave

Answer 45

normal; p and t waves