Ch268 Electrocardiography Flashcards
Graphic recording of electric potentials generated by the heart; noninvasive, inexpensive and highly versatile test
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
What do ECG leads display?
Instantaneous differences in potential between the electrodes
The initiating event for cardiac contraction
Depolarization
3 components that produce the electric currents through the heart
- Cardiac pacemaker cells
- Specialized conduction tissue
- Heart muscle
A collection of pacemaker cells where depolarization stimulus for normal hearbeat originates
Sinoatrial (SA) node or sinus node
T or F: Depolarization wavefronts spread through the ventricular wall from the epicardium to the endocardium triggering the ventricular contraction.
False
Endocardium to epicardium
ECG waveform representing atrial depolarization
P wave
ECG waveform representing ventricular depolarization
QRS complex
ECG waveform representing ventricular repolarization
ST-T-U complex
Junction between the end of QRS complex and beginning of ST segment
J point
What conditions can J point become apparent?
Acute pericarditis
Atrial infarction
Phase in the cardiac action potential corresponding to the onset of QRS
Phase 0 (rapid upstroke)
Phase in cardiac action potential corresponding to the isoelectric ST segment
Phase 2 (plateau)
Phase in cardiac action potential corresponding to the inscription of the T wave
Phase 3 (active repolarization)
Effects of hyperkalemia and flecainide on cardiac action potential
- Decrease slope of Phase 0
- Increase QRS duration
- Impairs Na influx
Effects of amiodarone and hypocalcemia on cardiac action potential
- Prolong Phase 2
2. Increase QT interval
Effect of digitalis or hypercalcemia on cardiac action potential
Shortens ventricular repolarization (Phase 2)
Four major ECG intervals
- RR
- PR
- QRS
- QT
Compute the heart rate using the RR interval
Divide the number of large squares between consecutive R waves into 300 OR
Divide the number of small squares into 1500
PR interval measures the time between atrial and ventricular depolarization including the physiologic delay imposed by stimulation cells in AV junction area, has the normal value of:
120-200ms
QRS interval reflects the duration of ventricular depolarization with normal value of
100-110ms or less
T or F: QT interval is directly proportional to the heart rate
False
QT interval varies inversely with heart rate
Can be calculated as QT/square root of RR
Corrected QT interval (QTc)
Normal value: =0.44s
What wave corresponds to a negative initial QRS deflection
Q wave
First positive deflection in QRS complex
R wave
The negative deflection after an R wave in QRS complex
S wave
An entirely negative QRS complex
QS wave
Leads that record potentials transmitted onto the frontal plane
Limb leads (6)
Leads that record potentials transmitted onto the horizontal plane
Chest (precordial) leads (6)
Diagram representing the spatial orientation and polarity of the six FRONTAL plane leads
Hexaxial diagram
Anatomical positions of leads V7, V8, V9
V7 midaxillary line
V8 posterior axillary line
V9 posterior scapular line
All in line with V4 (5th intercostal space)
Left axis deviation on hexaxial diagram
-90 to -30 degrees
Right axis deviation on hexaxial diagram
+100 to +180 degrees
Normal axis on hexaxial diagram
-30 to +100 degrees
Implications of left axis deviation
- Normal variant
- Left ventricular hypertrophy
- Block in anterior fascicle of left bundle system (left anterior fascicular block/hemiblock)
- Inferior MI