EKG vocab

Question 1

Angina pectoris

Answer 1

Pain or discomfort in the chest

Question 2

Stable angina

Answer 2

Occurs with exercise and is relieved with rest and meds (less than 20 mins.)

Question 3

Unstable angina

Answer 3

Occurs suddenly without warning (more than 20 mins.)

Question 4

Aorta

Answer 4

Largest artery in the body, carries oxygenated blood away from the heart

Question 5

Apex

Answer 5

Lower pointed end of heart

Question 6

Arrhythmia

Answer 6

An abnormal heart rhythm

Question 7

Arteriosclerosis

Answer 7

A chronic disease characterized by hardening and thickening of the arteries

Question 8

Artifact

Answer 8

Electrical or magnetic interference that alters the EKG tracing

Question 9

Asystole

Answer 9

Absence of any electrical activity of the heart

Question 10

Atherosclerosis

Answer 10

Plaque build up on the inner lining of the blood vessels

Question 11

AV node (atrioventricular node)

Answer 11

Consists of specialized tissue that is able to regulate impulses between atria and ventricular

Question 12

Augmented leads

Answer 12

Leads created by combining two of the three limb leads to create a positive electrode. The 3rd creates a negative electrode.

Question 13

Baseline

Answer 13

An electrically neutral area on an EKG

Question 14

Bradycardia

Answer 14

Slow heart rate

Question 15

Bundle branch

Answer 15

Part of the conduction system responsible for triggering ventricular muscle contractions

Question 16

Bundle of HIS

Answer 16

Part of conduction system responsible for conducting a stimulus to the septum and bundle branches

Question 17

Cardiac arrest

Answer 17

The absence of cardiac activity

Question 18

Coronary arteries

Answer 18

Arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium

Question 19

Depolarization

Answer 19

Loss of polarization resulting from a loss of sodium (Na) ions into the cardiac muscle. This results in contraction.

Question 20

Ectopic

Answer 20

Originating in the heart other than the SA node (sinoatrial node)

Question 21

EKG

Answer 21

(Electrocardiograph) a graphic representation of the electrical activity of the heart

Question 22

Electrode

Answer 22

A specialized interface between the body and EKG machine

Question 23

Endocardium

Answer 23

Innermost layer of the heart

Question 24

Epicardium

Answer 24

Outermost layer of the heart

Question 25

Myocardium

Answer 25

Middle muscular layer of the heart

Question 26

IVC

Answer 26

(Inferior vena cava) largest vein in body; returns deoxygenated blood to the heart

Question 27

Intercostal

Answer 27

Between ribs

Question 28

Ischemia

Answer 28

Insufficient oxygen of tissue

Question 29

Mediastinum

Answer 29

1 of 3 compartments in chest; encapsulated the heart and great vessels

Question 30

Mid Axillary

Answer 30

Imaginary line through Axillary region, separates front and back of body

Question 31

Midclavicular

Answer 31

Imaginary line through middle of clavicle

Question 32

MI (Myocardial infarction)

Answer 32

Death of heart muscle

Question 33

Pacemaker

Answer 33

A device that provides artificial stimulation to the heart muscles to trigger contraction

Question 34

PQRST Waves

Answer 34

The standard waveform found on an EKG tracing, each wave corresponds to a specific event in the cardiac cycle

Question 35

Purkinje fibers

Answer 35

Fibers that conduct electrical impulses through the right and left ventricles

Question 36

Repolarization

Answer 36

The process of moving sodium (Na) from inside the cell to outside and potassium (K) from outside the cell to inside - represented by relaxation

Question 37

Sinoatrial node (SA node)

Answer 37

Pacemaker of the heart; in right atrium; where the heartbeat originates