ECG basics

Question 1

blood flow through the heart

Answer 1

1. Superior vena cava/ inferior vena cava
2. right atrium
3. tricuspid valve
4. right ventricle
5. pulmonary valve
6. pulmonary artery
7. pulmonary valve
8. left atrium
9. bicuspid/mitral valve
10. left ventricle
11. aortic valve
12. aorta

Question 2

right side of heart carries __

Answer 2

deoxygenated blood to the lungs

Question 3

left side of heart carries ___

Answer 3

oxygenated blood to the tissues/body

Question 4

electrical conduction steps of the heart

Answer 4

Send (SA)
A (AV)
Big (bundle of his)
Bounding (bundle branches)
Pulse (purkinjie fibers)

Question 5

meaning for ECG

Answer 5

what does electricity look like going through the heart

Question 6

representation of P wave

Answer 6

atrial contraction (depolarization – action potential)
means your atria have contracted

Question 7

representation of PR segment

Answer 7

electricity moves from atria to ventricle
AV node holding on to electricity

Question 8

representation of PR interval

Answer 8

from beginning of P wave to beginning of QRS

Question 9

representation of QRS complex

Answer 9

ventricle contraction (depolarization – action potential)
means your ventricles have contracted

Question 10

representation of T wave

Answer 10

ventricle relaxation (repolarization) ventricles resting

Question 11

why does atria not show repolarization (relaxing)

Answer 11

it is too small to read

Question 12

each small square time on ECG

Answer 12

0.04 second

Question 13

each large square time on ECG

Answer 13

0.20 second

Question 14

Five large square time on ECG

Answer 14

1 second

Question 15

how to count BPM

Answer 15

Count the number of cycles in a 6 second strip and multiply that number by 10.

Question 16

5 steps of interpreting EKG

Answer 16

1. Rhythm regular(consistent) or irregular
2. Measure heart rate
3. Identify the P wave
4. Measure the PR interval
5. Measure QRS complex

Question 17

determining regularity of rhythm

Answer 17

does QRS come at the same time every time = regular – taken when client is still

Question 18

approximate time of PR interval

Answer 18

should be between 0.12s & 0.20s or 3-5 small squares

Question 19

appr time of QRS interval

Answer 19

should be less than 0.12s or 3 small squares

Question 20

what does a wider QRS interval interpret?

Answer 20

wider means it is taker longer for electricity to pass through ventricles

Question 21

5 characteristics of normal sinus rhythm

Answer 21

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)

Question 22

difference between an arrhythmia vs dysrhythmia

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

characteristics of sinus bradycardia

Answer 23

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

Question 24

characteristics of sinus tachycardia

Answer 24

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

Question 25

first priority when reading EKG results

Answer 25

count 6 sec interval