Introduction
“An Electrocardiogram, or ECG or EKG, is a recording of the hearts electrical activity as a graph over a period of time, as detected by electrodes attached to the outer surface of the skin and recorded by a device external of the body”(Boundless). The graph of an ECG can identify various things initiated by the heart, such as its rate, rhythm, a decrease in blood flow, and a possible enlargement. For a healthy individual, a typical ECG shows the whole cardiac cycle or heart beat which includes a P wave (Atrial depolarization), a QRS complex (Ventricular depolarization), and a T wave (Ventricular repolarization). The ECG’s first spike or P wave is triggered by the Sinoatrial node (SA node), which is also known as the pacemaker and the electrical impulse from the atria to the ventricles is conducted by the atrioventricular node (AV node). During each heart beat the heart muscle depolarizes, this is detected on the skin where the ECG electrodes are placed by the machine and then translated into a linear representation (Boundless). The resting membrane potential of a heart cell is -60mv, when an influx of positive ions enter the cell (NA+ and CA++) depolarization takes place causing the heart to contract. This action takes place during the peak of the P wave (Atria systole). The QRS complex represent when the left and right ventricles contract and depolarize, also called ventricular systole. This action normally takes place at the highest amplitude in the complex,
At the latter end of the p-q interval, atrial contraction occurs forcing additional blood into the ventricles. At the beginning of the QRS interval on an ECG reading, the mitral valve closes and the ventricles are at EDV (135ml). During the QRS interval, ventricular contraction occurs increasing the pressure in the ventricle and the aorta. When the pressure continues in the ventricle exceeds the pressure in the arteries, the aortic valve opens and blood is ejected. The increased pressure continues through the t peak. The ventricles are now in ESV (65ml) and the aortic valve is closed. Now the ventricles are relaxed causing pressure to fall and the cardiac cycle starts over again. This ECG reading was from a normal tracing. Keep in mind that an ECV is easy to obtain, but there are some subtleties that are very complex.
4. Atrial hypertrophy would probably have what effect on an electrocardiogram? *spike the p wave
Electrodes must be placed in the correct landmarks to prevent misinterpretation of the ECG. If the electrodes are placed incorrectly, the ECG may read as ST changes, electrical axis, location of bundle branch blocks and location of infarcts (Riddle, 2008, para. 5). During the ECG, a total of 10 electrodes are applied to the patient. Six electrodes (V1-V6) are placed on the anterior chest in the proper anatomical landmarks, and these leads must be placed precisely for an accurate ECG interpretation. Electrodes V1 and V2 are placed on the fourth intercostal space with V1 on the right and V2 on the left (Riddle, 2008). Electrodes V3-V6 are placed on the left chest wall on the fifth intercostal space in the following order: V3 to the right of V4, V4 at the midclavicular line, V5 to the right of V6, V6 to the midaxillary line (Riddle, 2008). The remaining four electrodes are placed on both upper and lower extremities without touching the chest.
An electrical stimulus was applied to the heart; the following graph shows the refractory period of the frog’s heart when an extra-systole was induced. It can be seen that right after the recording was marked “Refractory 3,” an extra-systole was detected.
In a normal human being the heart correctly functions by the blood first entering through the right atrium from the superior and inferior vena cava. This blood flow continues through the right atrioventricular valve into the right ventricle. The right ventricle contracts forcing the pulmonary valve to open leading blood flow through the pulmonary valve and into the pulmonary trunk. Blood is then distributed from the right and left pulmonary arteries to the lungs, where carbon dioxide is unloaded and oxygen is loaded into the blood. The blood is returned from the lungs to the left
In normal heart activity, the ventricles are depolarized by the depolarization wave spreading from the atria.
electrocardiograph. The lead that related most closely to the mean QT (highest correlation coefficient) was deemed most accurate. The results concluded that the most accurate lead was lead V6, followed by II and V2, respectively.
The atrial contraction is represented by the P wave. This is an upward, or positive wave of the line on the graph. The ventricular contraction is displayed by the QRS complex. The QRS
Early repolarization pattern (ERP) is an enigmatic common electrocardiographic (ECG) finding,occurring in 1% to 2% of the general population (1). ERP prevalence is decreasing with advancing age (2) This ECG pattern is frequently observed in healthy persons,particularly young,male (3,4,5), athletic (6,7), and of African-American origin (4,5,6,7,8).On the 12-lead ECG the ERP is characterized as “notching” or “slurring” of the terminal portion of the R wave and beginning of the ST-segment that produces a positive hump known as J wave. The J wave is a deflection with a dome that appears immediately after the end of QRS complex followed by ST-segment elevation ≥ 0.1 mV (or 1 mm, varying from 1 to 4 mm) above isoelectric line
Dr. Smith had ordered The ECG due to Mr. Adam complains about chest pain and pain radiating to his left arm and back. The ECG supports Mr. Adam’s diagnosis of MI because according to his ECG result, the ST segment does not look normal and it is raised or elevated. The ST segment is the time between the end of the QRS complex and the start of the T wave which represents the period of zero potential between ventricular depolarization and repolarization. The ST segment is used as baseline reference by both the PQ and TP segments. The PQ and the TP are diastolic potentials.
Regular electrical impulses are sent within the conduction system of the heart prompting contraction (Marieb, 2015). These electrical signals can be identified and documented by the use of an electrocardiography (ECG) machine. In a familiar ECG recording, three waves will occur; The P wave, QRS complex and
The heart is one of the most important organs in an organism’s body, no matter if they are aquatic, amphibian, or a mammal. This super organ works automatically, able to pump massive amounts of oxygen rich blood through the body by means of electrical impulses and the opening and closing of valves within its many layers. It is what keeps us and every other creature on this earth alive; so it is only natural for one to fear when there might be a problem with one’s heart. A cardiac arrhythmia can happen to anyone, no matter the age, race, or gender, and as such, doctors and scientist have spent years trying to better understand the heart and the way it functions so that they can try to prevent these problems and save millions of lives.
The electrocardiogram (EKG) is a simple test that measures the heart's electrical activity (Donahue p. 35). The most widely used screening test is the exercise EKG, or stress test.
An electrocardiogram can be used to record activity during the cardiac process of pumping and returning blood to the body and heart because of the electric current that spreads through the tissue of the heart and to the surface of the body. By
While contraction in skeletal muscle is triggered by motor neurons under central control, certain cardiac muscle variants exhibit autorhythmicity. This means that that they are capable of producing their own depolarizing electrical potential. The cardiomyocytes that are capable of producing their own electrical potentials are found in what is referred to as the electrical condition system of the heart. This system is comprised of specializes cardiomyocytes that are autorhythmic and are able to conduct electrical potentials rapidly. These specialized structures include the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node and bundle, and Purkinje fibers.