EKG Shit Flashcards
myocardial automaticity
cells can contract on own without nervous system stimulation
myocardial excitability
any cell within myocardium can create impulses and become excited
myocardial conductivity
one cell can send impulse to other cells and propagate through myocardium even outside natural conductive pathways
myocardial contractility
cells can shorten and lengthen during contraction/relaxation
cardiac action potential phase 1 ion & action
Na+ enters, upstroke
cardiac action potential phase 2 ion & action
Ca2+ enters, plateau
cardiac action potential phase 3 ion & action
K+ exits, repolarization
cardiac action potential phase 4 is…
resting potential
unipolar limb leads: right arm
aVr
unipolar limb leads: left arm
aVL
unipolar limb leads: left leg
aVf
P wave: what happens?
atria depolarization
QRS wave: what happens?
depolarization of ventricles
T wave: what happens?
repolarization of myocardium
PR interval: what happens?
electrical impulse in AV node and waiting (electrical silence, atria are contracting)
ST interval: what happens?
electrical silence (ventricles are contracting)
EKG small boxes per minute
1500
EKG large boxes per minute
300
EKG one small box equals
0.04 seconds
EKG one large box equals
0.20 seconds
EKG small boxes in a large box
25 (5x5)
six steps of EKG interpretation
- determine heart rate
- determine heart rhythm
- look at P-wave
- measure PR interval
- measure QRS duration
- interpret rhythm
EKG X and Y axes
X: time (determine heart rate)
Y: voltage amplitude (shows adequate voltage NOT strength of contraction)
heart rate determination tips
HR abnormal? count beats over six seconds
HR normal? measure from R wave to R wave