Cardiology

Question 1

P wave

Answer 1

1. Atria contracting

Question 2

PR interval

Answer 2

1. How much time it takes for electricity to travel to the ventricles
2. Count boxes from beginning of p wave to beginning of QRS complex and multiply by .04 seconds

Question 3

QRS duration

Answer 3

1. How long it takes electricity to travel through ventricles
2. QRS complex represents when the atria contracts
3. Multiply boxes from end of PR interval to end of S wave by .04 seconds

Question 4

T wave

Answer 4

Ventricles are repolarizing- getting ready to contract again.

Question 5

Heart rate on an ECG

Answer 5

1. Count boxes from R wave to R wave

2. For atrial rate, measure from P to P wave

Question 6

ECG rhythm

Answer 6

Regular or irregular based on if sequence of waves occurs at a regular rate.

Question 7

Sinus tachycardia

Answer 7

Heart rate is higher than 100 bpm

Question 8

Sinus bradycardia

Answer 8

Heart rate is lower than 60 bpm

Question 9

Electrical conduction system of the heart

Answer 9

1. Passes through SA node in right atrium, causing the atria to contract
2. Travels to AV node
3. Travels down bundle of His to bundle branches
4. Ventricles contract

Question 10

AV bundle

Answer 10

On the septum separating the chambers

Question 11

Purkinje Fibers

Answer 11

Fibers in ventricular walls

Question 12

Sinus arrhythmia

Answer 12

1. Intervals occur at irregular periods

2. Dizziness and palpitations

Question 13

Premature atrial contraction

Answer 13

1. Regularity of intervals are constant except for extra complexes
2. Extra P waves will appear different from normal P waves
3. Causes decreased cardiac output

Question 14

Atrial flutter

Answer 14

1. Very high atrial rate
2. No P waves are present, “picket fence” flutter waves
3. Decreased cardiac output

Question 15

Atrial fibrillation

Answer 15

1. P-P interval is unable to be determined due to fibrillatory waves, no visible P waves
2. High atrial rate
3. Irregular QRS duration

Question 16

Premature ventricular contraction

Answer 16

1. Early QRS complexes

2. No P waves for early complexes

Question 17

Ventricular tachycardia

Answer 17

1. No P waves, T waves in opposite direction

2. QRS complex has an irregular shape with a longer rate

Question 18

Ventricular fibrillation

Answer 18

1. P-P and R-R intervals are chaotic and can’t be identified

2. Only fibrillatory waves are present for QRS complex

Question 19

Asystole

Answer 19

No electrical output

Question 20

Shock

Answer 20

Failure of the circulatory system to adequately deliver oxygen to tissues.

Question 21

Heart failure

Answer 21

1. Inability to pump enough blood to sustain life
2. Can be caused by valve disorders, cardiomyopathy, MI, or dysrythmia
3. Treated by heart transplants or implants
4. CHF can cause retention of fluid and congestion of blood in pulmonary circulation
5. Usually begins on left side

Question 22

Stroke volume

Answer 22

Blood ejected from the ventricles with each beat

Question 23

Cardiac output

Answer 23

Volume pumped by one ventricle per minute.