EKG

Question 1

What do open sodium channels cause?

Answer 1

a rising phase of the action potential (depolarization)

Question 2

What happens when calcium is released?

Answer 2

couples the depolarization wave to the myofilaments

Question 3

What happens when potassium channels open?

Answer 3

resting membrane potential is restored (repolarization)

Question 4

How does the electrical impulses travel through the heart?

Answer 4

SA node to AV node to AV bundle (Bundle of His) to the right and left bundle branches and end at the purkinje fibers

Question 5

What does the p wave represent?

Answer 5

atrial depolarization

Question 6

What does Q represent on the EKG?

Answer 6

depolarization of the ventricular septum

Question 7

What does R represent?

Answer 7

repolarization of the distal 1/3 of the ventricular septum

Question 8

What does S represent?

Answer 8

depolarization of the remaining ventricle

Question 9

What does T represent?

Answer 9

repolarization of the ventricle

Question 10

What does the PR interval reflect?

Answer 10

conduction velocity through the AV nodde

Question 11

What does the QRS complex represent?

Answer 11

ventricular depolarization

Question 12

What does the QT interval represent?

Answer 12

the duration of depolarization AND repolarization of the ventricle

Question 13

What happens with repolarization?

Answer 13

the heart relaxes

Question 14

What happens with depolarization?

Answer 14

contraction

Question 15

Which ventricle contracts first?

Answer 15

right

Question 16

How long should the PR interval last? What is happening during this interval?

Answer 16

.12-.20 seconds. atrial depolarization

Question 17

How long should the QRS complex last? What is happening during this time?

Answer 17

.08-.12 seconds. Ventricles are contracting

Question 18

How long should the QT interval last? What is happening during this time?

Answer 18

less than .5 seconds. is the duration of depolarization AND repolarization of the ventricle

Question 19

What is the time elapsed between each small box on an EKG?

Answer 19

.04 seconds

Question 20

What is the time elapsed between each bolded box on an EKG?

Answer 20

.2 seconds

Question 21

What does a premature atrial contraction look like on an EKG?

Answer 21

p wave immediately following the t wave

Question 22

What can a PAC indicate?

Answer 22

can be a sign of an irritable heart

Question 23

What does a PVC look like?

Answer 23

may completely skip the p wave

Question 24

How can you tell if PVCs are perfusing the body?

Answer 24

Take the pulse

Question 25

What makes a sinus rhythm present?

Answer 25

a p-wave

Question 26

What does the AV node start?

Answer 26

ventricular contraction (depolarization)

Question 27

What is it called when a p wave is not present (i.e. sinus rhythm is not present)?

Answer 27

Junctional

Question 28

What is it called if the junctional rhythm is between 60 and 100 bpm?

Answer 28

accelerated

Question 29

If a junctional rhythm is over 100 bpm?

Answer 29

junctional tachycardia

Question 30

What would a wave be called if the t and the p wave become indistinguishable?

Answer 30

supraventricular

Question 31

What would a patient feel like if they are experiencing SVT?

Answer 31

restless, anxious, they would be pale and have low perfusion, Tachypnic, and hypotensive

Question 32

What does an atrial flutter look like on an EKG?

Answer 32

"saw tooth" waves

Question 33

How many atrial depolarizations reach the ventricles if a patient is experiencing atrial flutter?

Answer 33

about one in three

Question 34

How quick does the atrium typically fire at if someone experiencing atrial flutter?

Answer 34

250-350 bpm

Question 35

What happens when there is atrial fibrillation?

Answer 35

rapid continuous firing of multiple atrial foci

Question 36

What is someone at higher risk for if atrial fibrillation occurs?

Answer 36

stroke and pulmonary emboli

Question 37

How are the impulses firing on the atria during Afib?

Answer 37

like fireworks across the entire atrium

Question 38

Is Afib a regular rate?

Answer 38

no. it is always irregular

Question 39

What would a patient typically be given if they are experiencing A-fib with rapid ventricular response?

Answer 39

ditalizem or amiodarone as well as heparin or lovenox

Question 40

What happens when a patient is experiencing Afib with ventricular response?

Answer 40

Blood is clotting in the atria and immediately getting sent out to the body

Question 41

What happens during VTach?

Answer 41

only the ventricles are beating

Question 42

What should be done if VTach is present without a pulse?

Answer 42

CPR

Question 43

How many PVCs need to be present to indicate Vtach?

Answer 43

3 or more consecutively at a rate greater than 100 bpm

Question 44

What happens in a first degree AV block?

Answer 44

prolonged PR interval

Question 45

What happens in a second degree AV block?

Answer 45

Wenckebach (progressive block of the AV node) or Mobitz (Blocks the purkinje fibers)

Question 46

What happens in a 3rd degree AV block?

Answer 46

complete AV block

Question 47

What happens with a Wenckenbach?

Answer 47

p wave takes longer, longer, longer to show up and then it drops completely

Question 48

What happens in a Mobitz block?

Answer 48

a number of P waves occur before a successful QRS (2:1, 3:1, or higher)

Question 49

What happens in a complete block of the AV node?

Answer 49

prevents sinus paced atrial depolarization from reaching ventricles and the p wave is independent of the QRS rate

Question 50

What happens on an EKG when there is a bundle branch block?

Answer 50

widened QRS interval

Question 51

What is the difference on an EKG between Afib and V-Fib?

Answer 51

Afib will still have a QRS complex

Question 52

Where is a transvenous pacemaker placed?

Answer 52

pulmonary artery

Question 53

Where do the wires of a permanent pacemaker rest?

Answer 53

endocardium