ECG basics Flashcards
blood flow through the heart
- Superior vena cava/ inferior vena cava
- right atrium
- tricuspid valve
- right ventricle
- pulmonary valve
- pulmonary artery
- pulmonary valve
- left atrium
- bicuspid/mitral valve
- left ventricle
- aortic valve
- aorta
right side of heart carries __
deoxygenated blood to the lungs
left side of heart carries ___
oxygenated blood to the tissues/body
electrical conduction steps of the heart
Send (SA)
A (AV)
Big (bundle of his)
Bounding (bundle branches)
Pulse (purkinjie fibers)
meaning for ECG
what does electricity look like going through the heart
representation of P wave
atrial contraction (depolarization – action potential)
means your atria have contracted
representation of PR segment
electricity moves from atria to ventricle
AV node holding on to electricity
representation of PR interval
from beginning of P wave to beginning of QRS
representation of QRS complex
ventricle contraction (depolarization – action potential)
means your ventricles have contracted
representation of T wave
ventricle relaxation (repolarization) ventricles resting
why does atria not show repolarization (relaxing)
it is too small to read
each small square time on ECG
0.04 second
each large square time on ECG
0.20 second
Five large square time on ECG
1 second
how to count BPM
Count the number of cycles in a 6 second strip and multiply that number by 10.
5 steps of interpreting EKG
- Rhythm regular(consistent) or irregular
- Measure heart rate
- Identify the P wave
- Measure the PR interval
- Measure QRS complex
determining regularity of rhythm
does QRS come at the same time every time = regular – taken when client is still
approximate time of PR interval
should be between 0.12s & 0.20s or 3-5 small squares
appr time of QRS interval
should be less than 0.12s or 3 small squares
what does a wider QRS interval interpret?
wider means it is taker longer for electricity to pass through ventricles
5 characteristics of normal sinus rhythm
1.Regular Rhythm
2. Rate between 60-100 beats/minute ,
3.A uniform, positive P wave before each QRS,
4.A constant, normal PR interval (0.12 – 0.20 seconds),
5.A normal QRS width (less than 0.12 seconds)
difference between an arrhythmia vs dysrhythmia
If you experience an arrhythmia, the rhythm of your heartbeat is too fast or too slow.
If you experience dysrhythmia, the rate of your heartbeat is irregular, but it’s still within a normal range.
characteristics of sinus bradycardia
Rhythm: Regular
Rate: Less than 60 bpm
P wave: present for all QRS, look the same
PR: 0.12 - 0.2 seconds
QRS complex <0.12 seconds
characteristics of sinus tachycardia
Rhythm: Regular
Rate: 101-160 bpm
P wave: present for all QRS, look the same (can be hidden)
PR: 0.12 - 0.2 seconds
QRS complex <0.12 seconds
first priority when reading EKG results
count 6 sec interval
