ECG Flashcards
What are the parts of the conducting system of the heart
Sinoatrial node
Atrioventricular noce
Bunde of His
Right bundle branches
Left bundle branches
Purkinje fibres
What are are the functions of the fibrous ring of the heart
Anchors the valves
Is where the heart muscles insert
Electrical insulator allowing atria to contract seperately from the ventricles
What does an ECG record
Shows electrical changes on extracellular surface of cardiac myocytes
Shows muscle depolarisation
Describe the types of deflection during depolarisation and repolarisation
Depolarisation towards +ve electrode - positive complex, upward deflection
Depolarisation away +ve electrode - negative complex, downward deflection
Repolarisation towards +ve electrode - negative complex, downward deflection
Repolarisation away +ve electrode - positive complex, upward deflection
What is seen on an ECG when SA node depolarises
Nothing as insufficient signal
What does the P wave represent and what causes it to be upward
Atrial depolarisation
Depolarisation is downward, going towards the +ve electrode
What is the name for when there is little or no signal on an ECG
isoelectric segment or flat line
How is the delay at the AV node and the spread of depolarisation to the bundle of His seen on an ECG
Both are seen as an isoelectric segment
What does the q wave represent, how is it seen and why is this the case
It represents the depolarisation of the interventricular septum
Seen as a small downward deflection as depolarisation is from left to right, moving obliquely away from +ve electrode (no deflection may be seen)
What does the R wave represent, how does it appear and why
It represents depolarisation of apex and free ventricular wall
Appears as large upward deflection due to depolarisation moving towards electrode
What does the S wave represent, how does it appear and why
Represents the depolarisation spreading upwards to the base of the ventricles
Seen as small downward deflection as the depolarisation is moving away - small as not moving directly away
What does the T wave represent, how does it appear and why
Ventricular repolarisation
Appears as medium upward deflection as the repolarisation is moving away from the +ve electrode
What are the 6 views seen by the limb leads and which limbs contribute to them (also are they unipolar of bipolar)
aVR - unipolar, right upper
aVL - unipolar, left upper
aVF - unipolar, left lower
I - bipolar, left and right upper
II - bipolar, right upper and left lower
III - bipolar, left upper and left lower
What are leads I and aVL looking at
Left side of heart
What are leads II, III and aVF looking at
Inferior surface of the heart
What two planes are view by the leads, and what set does which
Limb looks at vertical
Chest looks at horizontal
Group the chest leads according to where they face
Septal leads - V1 and V2, face right ventricle and septum
Anterior leads - V3 and V4, face apex and anterior ventricle wall
Antero-septal leads - V1 to V4
Lateral leads - V5 and V6, face left ventricle