deck_736622 Flashcards
What does the P wave represent?Why is it a small upward depolarisation?
Atrial depolarisation Due to: smaller muscle mass and depolarisation moving towards the electrode
What does the QRS complex represent?
Ventricular contraction
What does Q represent?
Septal depolarisation spreading to ventricles
What does R represent?
Main ventricular depolarisation
What does S represent?
End of ventricular depolarisation
When does atrial repolarisation take place?
During the same time as ventricular depolarisation– during QRS complex
What does the T wave represent?
Ventricular repolarisation
Describe the T wave shape
Upward signal as repolarisation is away from electrodeMedium sized as timing in the different cells is dispersed
What does the PR interval measure?
Time taken for impulse to reach ventricles from the SA node
What is a normal time for a PR interval?
0.12 to 0.2 seconds 3-5 small squares
What does a short PR interval indicate?
Atria have been depolarised close to the AV node or the is an abnormality of conduction from the atria to the ventricles.
What does the duration of the QRS complex represent?
How long excitation takes to spread through the ventricles
What is the normal duration of a QRS complex?
0.12 seconds or less
What does a widened QRS complex represent?
An abnormality of conduction through the ventricles E.g. Bundle branch block
What are the V leads?
Six chest leadsMade from 6 positions overlying the 4th and 5th rib spaces – look in horizontal plane from the front and from the left
What do V1 and V2 show?
Right ventricle
What do V3 and V4 show?
Septum and anterior wall of left ventricle
What do V5 and V6 show?
Anterior and lateral walls of left ventricle
What is the cardiac axis?
The average direction of spread of the depolarisation wave from the front
Where can you deduct the cardiac axis?What is the normal shape?
From leads I, II and III Defects signal upwards as depolarisation is spreading towards the three leads
When does right axis deviation occur?What is it associated with?
When the right ventricle becomes hypertrophied. Usually associated with pulmonary condition putting a strain on the right side of the heart as well as congenital heart defects.
What do you see form the leads in right axis deviation?
Deflection in I becomes negativeDeflection in III becomes positive – axis swings towards the right
When does left axis deviation occur?What is it usually due to?
When the left ventricle becomes hypertrophied Usually due to a conduction defect– unlikely to be due to increased bulk of left ventricle
What do you usually see from the leads in left axis deviation?
QRS complex become negative in III Only is significant when QRS deflection is predominantly negative in lead II