EKG vocab Flashcards
Angina pectoris
Pain or discomfort in the chest
Stable angina
Occurs with exercise and is relieved with rest and meds (less than 20 mins.)
Unstable angina
Occurs suddenly without warning (more than 20 mins.)
Aorta
Largest artery in the body, carries oxygenated blood away from the heart
Apex
Lower pointed end of heart
Arrhythmia
An abnormal heart rhythm
Arteriosclerosis
A chronic disease characterized by hardening and thickening of the arteries
Artifact
Electrical or magnetic interference that alters the EKG tracing
Asystole
Absence of any electrical activity of the heart
Atherosclerosis
Plaque build up on the inner lining of the blood vessels
AV node (atrioventricular node)
Consists of specialized tissue that is able to regulate impulses between atria and ventricular
Augmented leads
Leads created by combining two of the three limb leads to create a positive electrode. The 3rd creates a negative electrode.
Baseline
An electrically neutral area on an EKG
Bradycardia
Slow heart rate
Bundle branch
Part of the conduction system responsible for triggering ventricular muscle contractions
Bundle of HIS
Part of conduction system responsible for conducting a stimulus to the septum and bundle branches
Cardiac arrest
The absence of cardiac activity
Coronary arteries
Arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium
Depolarization
Loss of polarization resulting from a loss of sodium (Na) ions into the cardiac muscle. This results in contraction.
Ectopic
Originating in the heart other than the SA node (sinoatrial node)
EKG
(Electrocardiograph) a graphic representation of the electrical activity of the heart
Electrode
A specialized interface between the body and EKG machine
Endocardium
Innermost layer of the heart
Epicardium
Outermost layer of the heart
Myocardium
Middle muscular layer of the heart
IVC
(Inferior vena cava) largest vein in body; returns deoxygenated blood to the heart
Intercostal
Between ribs
Ischemia
Insufficient oxygen of tissue
Mediastinum
1 of 3 compartments in chest; encapsulated the heart and great vessels
Mid Axillary
Imaginary line through Axillary region, separates front and back of body
Midclavicular
Imaginary line through middle of clavicle
MI (Myocardial infarction)
Death of heart muscle
Pacemaker
A device that provides artificial stimulation to the heart muscles to trigger contraction
PQRST Waves
The standard waveform found on an EKG tracing, each wave corresponds to a specific event in the cardiac cycle
Purkinje fibers
Fibers that conduct electrical impulses through the right and left ventricles
Repolarization
The process of moving sodium (Na) from inside the cell to outside and potassium (K) from outside the cell to inside - represented by relaxation
Sinoatrial node (SA node)
Pacemaker of the heart; in right atrium; where the heartbeat originates
