EKG flashcards
- choppy interference throughout tracing
- related to muscle movement (shivering, parkinson’s disease)
somatic tremor
- static looking tracing
- related to poor grounding or external electricity interfering with tracing (lights, computers, crossed lead wires)
AC interference
- results from poor electrode connection
- caused by lotions, oils, or powders on the skin
wandering baseline
normal EKG tracing of a heart rate less than 60 bpm
sinus bradycardia
reflects a heart rate of greater than 100 bpm
sinus tachycardia
- a break in the normal EKG tracing
- the sinoatrial node failed to fire
- not significant unless arrest lasts longer than 6 seconds
sinus arrest
the atria are contracting at a rate much faster than the ventricles are contracting
atrial flutter
- there is no organized contraction of the atria
- in a quivering state
- blood clot formation can occur due to stagnation of blood in the ventricles
atrial fibrillation
- ventricles are in a quivering state
- no discernable waves noted throughout the tracing
ventricular fibrillation
the heart stops
asystole
- a junctional dysrhythmia is likely present
- typical impulse pathway from the SA node to the atrioventricular node is not occuring
P wave negative deflection
- QRS wave appears wide and bizarre
- ventricular arrhythmia is occuring
- can be insignificant, but provider should be notified
premature ventricular contraction
P wave
atrial depolarization or contraction
QRS wave
ventricular depolarization (atrial repolarization is not visible but occurs during this phase
T wave
ventricular repolarization
U wave
repolarization of the bundle of His and purkinje fibers (not always visible)
P-R interval
time it takes from beginning of atrial depolarization to beginning of ventricular depolarization
QT interval
time it takes from beginning of ventricular depolarization to end of ventricular repolarization
ST segment
time from end of ventricular depolarization to beginning of ventricular repolarization
right arm lead color?
white
left arm lead color?
black
right leg lead color?
green
left leg lead color?
red
V1
red; right side of the sternum, 4th intercostal space
V2
yellow; left side of the sternum, 4th intercostal space
V3
green; left side of the sternum, midway between V2 and V4
V4
blue; left side of the sternum, 5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line
V5
orange; left side of the sternum, 5th intercostal space in the anterior axillary line
V6
purple; left side of the sternum, 5th intercostal space in the midaxillary line
Lead I
bipolar; records impulses between the left and right arms
Lead II
bipolar; records impulses between the right arm and the left leg
Lead III
bipolar; records impulses between the left arm and the left leg
AVL
unipolar; the left leg and right arm assist with the left arm tracing
AVR
unipolar; the left arm and left leg assist with the right arm tracing
AVF
unipolar; the right and left arms assist with the left leg tracing