ECG Basics Quiz

Measuring the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes placed on the body.

An ECG can be recorded using different types of leads. 3, 5, or 12-lead ECGs

A lead records electrical activity between specific points on the body.

Leads that look at the electrical activity from limbs.

Leads placed on the chest to record electrical activity from the heart.

The standard limb leads are labelled I, II, and III. These leads record activity between specific arms and legs.

The augmented leads (aVR, aVL, and aVF) provide additional perspectives on the heart's electrical activity.

The chest leads are labelled V1 through V6 and offer a detailed look at the heart's electrical activity.

A graphic representation of the electrical activity of the heart, displaying the heart's electrical cycle as waveforms on a graph.

An irregular heart rhythm. This could include problems with the rate (too fast, too slow) or the regularity (irregular).

This is a condition where the heart muscle isn't receiving enough oxygen. It can be temporary, causing chest pain (angina) or lasting, causing damage to the heart muscle (heart attack).

Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart. It can cause chest pain and a muffled heart sound.

An EKG can show if one or more chambers of the heart are enlarged. This is often due to high blood pressure or other heart conditions.

Electrolyte levels in the blood are crucial for heart function. Abnormal levels (too high or too low) can cause irregular heart rhythms.

Certain medications can either slow down or speed up the heart rate, or prolong the electrical cycle of the heart. This is seen on an EKG.

An EKG can be used to assess the function of a pacemaker, which is a device implanted in the chest to regulate the heart rate.

The P wave represents atrial depolarization, which is the electrical activation of the atria causing them to contract.

The PR interval represents the time it takes for electrical activity to travel from the atria to the ventricles, including the delay at the AV node.

The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, which is the electrical stimulation of the ventricles causing them to contract.

The T wave reflects ventricular repolarization, the return of the ventricles to their resting state.

The ST segment represents a period of electrical silence, as the ventricles are fully depolarized and ready to repolarize.

A standard ECG paper uses 1 mm squares for recording the electrical activity of the heart.

The standard paper speed for ECG recordings is 25 millimeters per second.

The standard voltage calibration for ECG recordings is 10 millimeters per millivolt, meaning a 10 mm deflection on the paper represents 1 millivolt of electrical activity.

Each large square on the ECG paper represents 0.2 seconds (5 small squares).

The vertical axis of an ECG graph represents voltage (millivolts) and the horizontal axis represents time (seconds).

Each small square on the ECG paper represents 0.04 seconds.

The ECG is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart, which comes from three main components: the patient, the machine, and the paper.

Factors like age, race, height, weight, body build, pulmonary diseases, medications, blood pressure, and clinical impression can influence the ECG recording.

The PR interval on an ECG measures the time it takes for the impulse to travel from the atria to the ventricles, through the AV node.

An ECG recording requires a relaxed patient, proper lead placement, and the right settings on the machine.

Artefacts are any disturbances in the ECG reading that aren't related to the heart's electrical activity. Common sources include muscle movement or loose electrodes.

An electrocardiogram reading is a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying heart conditions, but it should always be interpreted with clinical context.

ECG recordings should be thoroughly analyzed and interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional with expertise in electrocardiography.

Electrical activity of the heart is measured through electrodes placed on the body, providing a visual representation of the heart's electrical cycle.

A common artifact caused by patient movement, especially in children, resulting in baseline fluctuations on the ECG.

Muscle activity caused by tremors or limb movements, resulting in fluctuations on the ECG, which can mimic heart problems.

Electrical interference from external sources, like electrical appliances or power lines, can distort the ECG.

This refers to an ECG pattern usually seen in children, where the ST-T (J) Junction point is elevated, the T waves are tall, and the ST segment is often concave.

The process of analyzing the ECG waveform, starting with the P wave (atrial rhythm) and moving to the QRS complex (ventricular rhythm).

The ECG pattern that is considered 'normal' for children.