ECG Made Easy Flashcards
What is a Q wave?
The first downwards deflection of the ECG
What is an R wave?
The first upward deflection of the ECG
What is an S wave?
Any deflection below the baseline, following an R wave
What does each large square (5mm) of an ECG represent?
0.2 s
What does each small square (5mm) of an ECG represent?
0.04s
What is a normal PR interval?
0.12 - 0.2s
What is a normal QRS duration
0.12s
What appearance does a QRS complex have if depolarization is moving predominantly towards the lead?
Predominantly upwards QRS
What appearance does a QRS have if depolarization is moving predominantly away from the lead?
Predominantly downwards QRS
What does a QRS with equal R and S waves indicate?
The depolarization wave is moving at right angles to the lead
What is a normal cardiac axis of the heart?
11 o’clock to 5 o’clock
What is the general deflection location in leads 1 - 3 in a heart with a normal cardiac axis?
Upwards in leads I - III
What ECG changes are seen in right axis deviation?
Negative deflection in lead I
Deflection in lead III becomes more positive
What are some common causes of right axis deviation?
Pulmonary conditions that put a strain on the right side of the heart and congenital heart disorders
What is a cause of left axis deviation?
LV hypertrophy or conduction defect (more common)
- commonly left anterior fascicle block
What is a left axis ECG with negative lead III indicative of?
Conduction defect (more likely than LVH)
What is the general rule for direction of cardiac axis?
It points towards any lead where R wave is larger than S wave
In degrees, what is the range of the normal cardiac axis?
- -30 to + 90 degrees
- with 0 being parallel to the horizontal
What 2 factors determine the shape of the QRS in the chest (V) leads?
- The septum between the ventricles is depolarized before the walls of the ventricles, and the depolarization wave spreads across the septum from left to right
- In normal heart, LV wall has more muscle than right LV wall
What area of the heart do leads V1 and V2 look at?
The right ventricle
What area of the heart do leads V3 and V4 look at?
The septum
What area of the heart do leads V5 and V6 look at?
The left ventricle
What directions are the first deflections in leads V5 and V6 and why?
RS wave (positive deflection first) and is because of the septum depolarisation
Why is S negative in leads V1 and V2?
The main muscle mass depolarized is the LV - which is spreading away from LV leads