EKG Terminology

Question 1

What is an EKG?

Answer 1

A diagnostic test that takes a snapshot of the electrical activity in the heart

Question 2

What is the EKG used for?

Answer 2

To measure the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat and to look for heart damage

Question 3

rate

Answer 3

the number of times the ventricle contract per minute

Question 4

rhythm

Answer 4

a measurement of whether the heart beats at regular intervals

Question 5

ectopy

Answer 5

an extra heartbeat that originates from outside the SA node

Question 6

How many leads are there total?

Answer 6

12

Question 7

What does each lead record and what is its purpose?

Answer 7

Records the electrical activity from different anatomical areas of the heart for the purpose of identifying the location of acute coronary ischemia or injury

Question 8

P wave

Answer 8

represents the atrial depolarization

Question 9

QRS complex

Answer 9

represents ventricular depolarization

Question 10

ST segment

Answer 10

extends from the end of the S wave to the beginning of the T wave

Question 11

T wave

Answer 11

represents the repolarization of the ventricles

Question 12

PR interval

Answer 12

the amount of time elapsed from the beginning of the wave to the beginning of the QRS complex

Question 13

QT interval

Answer 13

the amount of time elapsed from the start of the Q wave and the end of the T wave

Question 14

What are the 17 types of rhythms for common EKG interpretations?

Answer 14

1. Sinus
2. Normal sinus rhythm (NSR)
3. Sinus bradycardia (SB)
4. Sinus tachycardia (ST)
5. Sinus arryhthmia
6. Atrial fibrillation (A fib)
7. Atrial flutter (A flutter)
8. Dual paced
9. Ventricular paced (V paced)
10. Supra ventricular tachycardia (SVT)
11. Ventricular fibrillation (V fib)
12. Ventricular tachycardia (V tach)
13. Asystole
14. Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
15. Premature atrial contraction (PAC)
16. Premature ventricular contraction (PVC)
17. Bigeminy

Question 15

What are the 6 types of PR intervals for common EKG interpretations?

Answer 15

1. Shortened PR interval (short PR)
2. Prolonged PR interval (prolonged PR)
3. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW)
4. First degree AV block (1 [degree sign] AVB)
5. Second degree AV block (2 AVB)
6. Complete AV block (Complete AVB)

Question 16

What are the 8 types of QRS duration for common EKG interpretations?

Answer 16

1. Intraventricular conduction delay (IVCD)
2. Left bundle branch block (LBBB)
3. Incomplete left bundle branch block
4. Right bundle branch block (RBBB)
5. Incomplete right bundle branch block
6. Left anterior fasicular block (LAFB)
7. left posterior fasicular block (LPFB)
8. Bifasicular block

Question 17

What are the 2 types of QRS axis?

Answer 17

Left axis deviation (LAD)

Right axis deviation (RAD)

Question 18

What are the 6 types of ST segment and T wave?

Answer 18

ST elevation (ST  ^)
ST depression (ST v)
No acute ST/T changes
Non-specific ST/T changes (NS ST/T Δs)
T wave inversion
T wave flattening

Question 19

What are 13 additional findings that are common EKG interpretations?

Answer 19

J point elevation
Poor baseline
Artifact present

Delta waves
U wave
Q waves

Old infarct
Normal sensing
Normal capture

Poor R wave progression (PRWP)
Right atrial enlargement (RAE)
Left atrial enlargement (LAE)
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)

(JAP DUQ ONN PRLL)

Question 20

What are the 12 leads named?

Answer 20

I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and V6