ECG Flashcards
what is pathway conduction in heart?
conduction starts in SA node then to AV node where slight delay before travelling down bundle of his that then split to right + left bundle branches which lead to purkinje fibers
why is atrial wave smaller than ventricle wave on ECG?
atria wave smaller than ventricle wave because atria has less muscle mass so smaller depolarisation
what is P wave?
atrial depolarisation
what is QRS complex?
ventricular depolarisation (0.12sec) - shows how long excitation takes to spread through ventricles
*remember depolarisation NOT contraction
what is small Q wave?
septal depolarisation from left to right
what is T wave?
ventricular repolarisation
what is U wave?
extra wave that can sometimes be seen at end of T wave (same shape but smaller)
= origin is uncertain, maybe represent repolarisation of papillary muscles (contract to pull chordae tendineae to close mitral/tricuspid valves)
what is PR interval?
0.12-0.2 seconds = time taken for electrical impulse to travel from SA node through atria to AV node, down bundle of His and into ventricular muscle
- measure from start if P wave to start of QRS complex (probs should be called PQ interval but isn’t)
what is ST interval? And what do abnormalities suggest?
= ventricular depolarisation and repolarisation
changes due to abnormalities from ischaemia (when ventricles contract)
what can alter QT interval?
= ventricles contract in the interval
- can be altered genetically
what size are large squares in ECG?
5mm, means 0.2 seconds
how do you calculate the heart rate on ECG?
300/number of large squares
what do
a) lead I
b) lead II
c) lead III
each run between?
a) lead I is between left arm + right arm
b) lead II is between left leg and right arm
c) lead III is between left leg and left arm
where do you place the 6 chest leads?
V1 = 4th intercostal space next to sternum on right side
V2 = 4th intercostal space next to sternum on left side
V3 = in between V2 + V4
V4 = 5th intercostal space midclavicular line
V5 = same horizontal level as V5 but in anterior-axillary line
V6 = same horizontal level as V5 but in mid-axillary line
what leads look at left lateral surface of heart?
leads I, II and aVL
what leads look at inferior surface of heart?
leads III + aVF (lead II also can)
what leads look at right atrium?
lead aVR (which combines lead 1,2,3)
what does V1+V2 chest leads look at?
right ventricle
what does V3+V4 chest leads look at?
look at septum in between ventricles
what does V5+6 chest leads look at?
look at anterior and lateral walls of left ventricle
what direction does depolarisation spread to show positive deflection?
when depolarisation spreads towards a lead it shows a positive deflection and when away negative deflection
what is shape of QRS complex if mostly positive?
r wave greater than s (depolarisation moving toward that lead)
what shape is QRS complex if mostly negative?
s wave greater than r (depolarisation moving toward that lead)
what shape is QRS complex if depolarisation moving at right angles?
the r and s same is
what is right axis deviation?
happens for example when right ventricle hypertrophied so has more effect on QRS so depolarisation swings to right
lead I negative and lead III more positive than lead II
what is left axis deviation?
left ventricle hypertrophied so average depolarisation swings to left
lead III and lead II negative (lead I positive)
what is normal axis deviation?
is 11 o’clock to 5 o’clock axis so lead II greater positive deflection than I or III
what is shape of QRS in leads looking at right ventricle?
right ventricle leads = V1+2, aVR
lead deflection is 1st upwards ( R wave) due to septum depolarisation. then downward deflection (S wave) as main muscle mass depolarised (which bigger in left)