Electrocardiogram Review

Question 1

arrhythmia

Answer 1

irregular heart activity resulting in loss of a rhythm

Question 2

artifacts

Answer 2

interruptions or disturbances in the ECG strip resulting from activity outside the heart

Question 3

asystole

Answer 3

absence of a heart rate, no complexes; represented by a flat line; cardiac arrest

Question 4

atrial fibrillation

Answer 4

atrial rate of 250 to 350 beats per minute; P waves not distinct because of rapid rate; R to R waves usually irregular , often with a rapid ventricular rate

Question 5

atrial flutter

Answer 5

atrial rate of 250 to 350 beats per minute; a “sawtooth” pattern on ECG; the ventricular rate is dependent on the number of nonconducted beats

Question 6

atrial tachycardia (AT)

Answer 6

atrial rate of 150 to 250 beats per minute; P waves are often unidentifiable or hidden in previous T wave

Question 7

bigeminy

Answer 7

every other beat is ectopic or premature

Question 8

bradycardia

Answer 8

a heart rate slower than 60 beats per minute

Question 9

depolarization

Answer 9

charged and contracting cardiac muscle cells; systole

Question 10

ECG complex

Answer 10

a full cardiac electrical cycle (one heartbeat) represented by the PQRST (and sometimes U) waves

Question 11

echocardiogram

Answer 11

reflected sound waves used to test the heart for structural or functional abnormalities

Question 12

ectopic beat

Answer 12

a beat originating outside the sinoatrial (SA) node, the pacemaker of the heart

Question 13

Einthoven triangle

Answer 13

the views of the heart from the placement of lead 1, lead 2, and lead 3, which form a triangular shape

Question 14

electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

Answer 14

the graphic representation of the heart’s electrical activity monitored at the skin surface with sensors called electrodes

Question 15

electrodes

Answer 15

skin sensors used to capture or monitor electrical activity of various organs (the heart, the brain)

Question 16

Holter monitor

Answer 16

a portable ECG device worn by a patient for 24 hours; heart activity is monitored during normal activities of daily living

Question 17

lead

Answer 17

a standard combination of electrode placements that designates a specific view of the heart

Question 18

normal sinus rhythm (NSR)

Answer 18

a standard cardiac cycle that begins in the SA node

Question 19

paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT)

Answer 19

atrial tachycardia that starts, and often stops, suddenly

Question 20

polarization

Answer 20

resting cardiac muscle cells

Question 21

premature atrial contraction (PAC)

Answer 21

a contraction of the atria occurring early

Question 22

premature ventricular contraction (PVC)

Answer 22

a contraction of the ventricle occurring early; may be life threatening, depending on the ratio of PVCs o normal ventricular contractions

Question 23

repolarization

Answer 23

recovering cardiac muscle cells; diastole; returning to equilibrium

Question 24

sinoatrial (SA) node

Answer 24

pacemaker of the heart

Question 25

stress test

Answer 25

ECG recordings taken while the patient exercises on a treadmill, stationary bicycle, or stair climber

Question 26

stylus

Answer 26

a heated penlike instrument of the ECG machine that receives impulses via electrodes and moves on ECG paper, recording the electrical activity of the heart

Question 27

tachycardia

Answer 27

a heart rate faster than 100 beats per minute

Question 28

ventricular fibrillation

Answer 28

uncoordinated and ineffective ventricular contractions, “quivering of the heart”, displayed on the ECG as coarse or fine trembles with no identifiable waves or complexes, considered a life threatening arrhythmia

Question 29

ventricular flutter

Answer 29

ventricular rate of 150 to 300 beats per minute; considered a life threatening arrhythmia

Question 30

ventricular tachycardia

Answer 30

ventricular rate of more than 100 to 150 beats per minute, wide QRS complex, considered a life threatening arrhythmia