ECG Flashcards
How does an ECG detect the excitation of the heart?
The wave of depolarisation and repolarization moves across the heart and sets up electrical currents which can be detected by surface electrodes
What is an ECG a record of?
Depolarisation and repolarisation cycle of cardiac muscle obtained from skin surface, the potential differences between distant sites on the body surface are detected by electrodes and coupled to the electrocardiograph
What are the 3 limb leads?
- lead I RA-LA
- lead II RA-LL
- lead III LA-LL
What is the P wave?
Atrial depolarisation
What is the QRS complex?
Ventricular depolarisation (masks atrial repolarisation)
What is the T wave?
ventricular repolarisation
What is the PR interval?
Largely AV node delay
What is the ST segment?
Ventricular systole
What is the TP interval?
diastole
When do the atria contract?
between the P wave and QRS complex
What is the difference between the electrocardiograph and the electrocardiogram?
The electrocardiograph is the machine which the electrodes are coupled to and the electrocardiogram is the recording of the potential differences
What is meant by a dipole?
charges which are separated - a vector with components of magnitude and direction
What information is provided by an ECG?
information on: cardiac rate cardiac rhythm chamber size the electrical axis of the heart - main test for myocardial ischaemia and infarction
How is the magnitude of the electrical vector determined?
by the mass of cardiac muscle involved in the generation of the signal
How is the direction of the electrical vector determined?
the overall activity of the heart at any instant in time and varies over the cardiac cycle
What does the word lead refer to in an ECG?
an imaginary line between 2 or more electrodes, one of which electrodes is the recording (+ve) or seeing electrode
What happens on the electrocardiogram when the depolarisation moves towards the recording electrode?
Deflection is upwards
deflection downwards when depolarisation moves away