CVS 7 ECGs Flashcards
Describe signal recorded by am extracellular electrode placed near a myocardial cell during systole
Extracellular electrodes only record changes in membrane potential so would see two signals with each systole, one upwards peak for depolarisation and one downward peak for repolarisation
Describe the spread of excitation over the normal heart
Action potential generated by pacemaker cells in SAN and spreads over atria and to AVN where after 120ms delay it spreads down septum via bundle branches then out over ventricular myocardium from inside to outside.
After 280ms cells begin to repolarise which spreads in opposite direction to depolarisation
What will give an electrode an upward signal?
Depolarisation moving towards electrode
Repolarisation moving away from electrode
What causes an electrode to have a downward signal?
Depolarisation away from electrode
Repolarisation towards electrode
What causes a bigger amplitude in electrode signal?
The more muscle depolarising and the more directly towards the electrode it’s moving
What causes the P wave?
Atrial depolarisation
What causes the small downward deflection at Q?
The depolarisation away from the electrode as excitation moves out across axis of heart about half way down septum. Small as not moving directly away
What causes the large peak at R?
Depolarisation spreading through ventricular muscle moving towards electrode. It is large as lots of muscle and moving directly towards electrode
Why is there a downward deflection at S?
Depolarisation spreading upwards from apex of ventricle to base away from electrode
What occurs in the ST interval?
Ventricular systole ~280ms
What causes T wave?
Ventricular repolarisation. Upwards as moving away, medium sized as timing over different cells dispersed
What is a lead?
An electrical view of the heart
What can we do by comparing leads?
Localise abnormalities and detect changes in electrical axis
Where does lead one view from?
Left side of heart
Where does lead II view from?
Apex of heart
Where does lead III view from?
From the bottom of heart