EKG and Cardiovascular Flashcards
Somatic tremor (artifacts)
Related to muscle movement. Characterized by irregular, jagged peaks with a shifting baseline throughout the tracing.
AC interference (artifacts)
Characterized by irregular spikes and is related to poor grounding or external electricity interfering with the tracing.
Wandering baseline (artifacts)
The baseline will wander away from the center of the paper. Results from poor electrode connection, can be associated with lotions, oils, or powders on the skin.
Interrupted baseline (artifacts)
Usually related to a disconnected or broken lead wire.
When there is a break in the tracing or the tracing moves into the margins of the paper.
P Wave (waveform)
Represents atrial depolarization or contraction
QRS (waveform)
Represents ventricular depolarization or contraction (atrial repolarization is not visible but occurs during this phase)
T Wave (waveform)
Represents ventricular repolarization or relaxation
U Wave (waveform)
Represents a repolarization of the bundle of His and Purkinje fibers.
Not always visible
P-R interval (intervals)
Represents the time it takes from the beginning of atrial depolarization to the beginning of ventricular depolarization.
Starts at the beginning of P Wave and ends at the beginning of the Q wave.
QT interval (interval)
Represents the time it takes from beginning of ventricular depolarization to the end of ventricular repolarization.
Starts at the beginning of the Q wave and ends at the end of the T wave.
ST segment (segment)
Represents the time from the end of ventricular depolarization to the beginning of ventricular repolarization.
Starts at the end of S wave and ends at the beginning of the T wave.
What should the speed be set on for an EKG machine?
25 mm/second
What leads are bipolar?
Lead l - records impulses L./R. Arms
Lead ll - records impulses R. Arm/L. Leg
Lead lll - records impulses L. Arm/L. Leg
Makes up the Einthovin’s Triangle
What leads are augmented?
Leads AVL, AVR, AVF
Sinoatrial node (SA)
Natural pacemaker of the heart, located in the upper right atrium
Atrioventricular node (AV)
Secondary pacemaker, located at the junction of the atria and the ventricles.
What leads are precordial and unipolar?
Leads V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6
You notice a widened QRS complex on the EKG strip, what is a possible cause of this type of artifact?
Premature ventricular contraction
Is caused by an early contraction of the ventricles that produce a widened QRS complex artifact
Pulmonary circuit (heart)
Forms a closed circuit between the heart and lungs.
Upper part of the body
Systemic circuit (heart)
Carries blood away from the heart
Lower part of the body
Interventricular septum (heart)
Separates the left & right ventricles
Left atrium (heart)
Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and empties into the left ventricle.
Semi-lunar valves (heart)
Determines the passage of blood between ventricles & main arteries
Helps maintain pressure on major arteries
Prevents back flow from atrials to ventricles during ventricular diastole
Aorta (heart)
Largest artery
Distributes oxygenated blood to all parts of the body
Originating from the left ventricle & extending down to the stomach
