Quiz 2 Flashcards
What are the two basic stages of the cardiac cycle?
Diastole- long. Ventricles relaxing, preparing for another pump
Systole- very short (0.12 seconds). Actual pumping of blood
What is vector?
Electrical energy generated by heart creates a path the action potential takes as it spreads through myocardium
Vector offers both magnitude and direction
What is the hearts normal conductive pathway?
Down and to the left
What is it called when the action potential moves in an abnormal direction?
Axis deviation
What are the 5 stages of cardiac polarization?
Polarized/resting potential (+ outside) > depolarizing > depolarized (- outside) > repolarization (requires ATP)
What is the electrical path of the heart?
SA node generates action potential > AV node > bundle of his > 3 bundle branches > perkinje fibres
What coronary artery feeds into the SA node?
Posterior descending artery
What happens if the SA node stops working?
AV node can take over at 40bpm (as opposed to SA 60bpm)
What is the rhythm of the heart called?
Sinus rhythm (when electrical activity is originating from SA node)
What is lead II?
Negative electrode on right arm, positive electrode on left hip
What does Lead II show?
Upright QRS and prominent p wave- used for rhythm assessment
What is baseline?
The ‘flatline’ between T and P waves
What is the P wave?
Consistent round, smooth wave in front of every QRS
Indicated atrial depolarization (blood being pumped into ventricles)
Do you see atrial repolarization on an EKG?
No. Hidden by ventricular depolarization (QRS)
What is the QRS?
Ventricular depolarization
Q down (may not be present)
R up then down
S down (may not be present)
Takes .12 seconds- longer could be lethal
What is the T wave?
Ventricular repolarization
Larger than P wave
What are 4 characteristics of myocardial cells?
Automaticity- not needing constant supervision or higher thinking
Excitability
Conductivity
Contractability
What is the normal speed of EKG graph paper?
25 mm/sec
How much time does one small box indicate on normal speed EKG paper?
0.04 seconds
Large box = 5 small boxes = 0.20 seconds
What do the two axis’ on an EKG graph mean?
y- magnitude (in mV) one small box = 0.1 mV
Also measured in mm height
X- time
What happens if you run EKG paper faster?
graph becomes more spaced out and easier to read. Goof for infants (160-180 bpm)
What halogens if you increase gain on an EKG?
Magnitude measurements become more pronounces, possibly making graph easier to read
What is PR interval?
The time between the P wave and the Q wave
Usually 0.12-0.20 seconds
Atrial depolarization
Long PR interval can mean heart block
What is the ST segment?
Isoelecetric flat between end of QRS and beginning of T
During myocardial infarction, ST will be elevated off baseline (STEMI- ST elevated myocardial infarct)