28 Questions
What is the primary purpose of electrocardiography?
To record the heart's electrical activity
Which device is capable of recording an ECG, according to the text?
Smartwatch
What does ECG stand for?
Electrocardiogram
In a conventional 12-lead ECG, where are the electrodes placed?
On the patient's limbs and chest
What do the electrodes in electrocardiography detect?
Small electrical changes due to cardiac muscle activity
When discussing ECG, what does 'ECG' usually refer to?
12-lead ECG taken while lying down
What is the main purpose of an ECG?
Assessing heart structure and electrical function
What are the three main components of an ECG?
Atrial depolarization, ventricular depolarization, ventricular repolarization
What follows an orderly pattern starting from the sinoatrial node and spreading throughout the heart?
Electrical depolarization
Which of the following is not a medical indication for an ECG?
Low risk of cardiovascular disease
What type of patients is continuous ECG monitoring used for?
Critically ill patients and those undergoing anesthesia
Why is screening with an ECG not recommended for adults without symptoms or at low risk of cardiovascular disease?
Risk of false positives
What do ECG machines consist of?
Set of electrodes connected to a central unit
How did early ECG machines print signals?
On paper using an electric motor
What do modern ECG machines use to print signals?
Analog-to-digital converters
What safety features do ECG machines include?
Low voltage circuitry
What type of devices can record single lead I ECGs?
Fitness trackers and smartwatches
What is the power source for portable twelve-lead devices?
Batteries
What is the purpose of the Holter monitor?
To record ECG signals using electrodes with patches on the skin
Which device is capable of measuring a 'far field' signal between the leads in the heart and the implanted battery/generator?
Artificial cardiac pacemaker
What is the purpose of Wilson's central terminal (WCT)?
To define the potential measured by three limb electrodes attached to the body
What is the primary difference between limb, augmented limb, and precordial leads in an ECG?
Type of electrical potential difference measured
What is technically incorrect but sometimes used in medical settings to refer to the electrodes?
Leads
Which device is capable of recording an ECG signal without the need for wires?
Zio XT
What is developed by Zio, TZ Medical, Philips, and BardyDx to stick to the chest as a single patch without need for wires?
'Zio XT'
'Electrodes' are best described as:
Conductive pads attached to body surface
'Leads' in ECG can be formed between:
'Physical electrode and a virtual electrode'
'Artificial cardiac pacemaker' and 'implantable cardioverter-defibrillator' are capable of measuring:
'Far field' signal between the leads in the heart and the implanted battery/generator
Study Notes
- An ECG is a test used to measure the electrical activity of the heart, recorded from twelve different angles (leads) over a period of time.
- The three main components of an ECG are the P wave (atrial depolarization), QRS complex (ventricular depolarization), and T wave (ventricular repolarization).
- The heart's electrical depolarization follows an orderly pattern starting from the sinoatrial node and spreading throughout the heart.
- An ECG is used to assess the heart's structure and electrical function, providing information about heart rate and rhythm, chamber size, damage to muscle cells or conduction system, drug effects, and pacemaker function.
- Medical indications for an ECG include chest pain, shortness of breath, arrhythmias, medication monitoring, electrolyte abnormalities, perioperative monitoring, stress testing, CTA and MRA, and clinical cardiac electrophysiology.
- Continuous ECG monitoring is used for critically ill patients, those undergoing anesthesia, and those with infrequent arrhythmias.
- Screening with an ECG is not recommended for adults without symptoms or at low risk of cardiovascular disease due to the risk of false positives.
- ECG machines consist of a set of electrodes connected to a central unit, which can be analog or digital.
- Early ECG machines printed signals on paper using an electric motor.
- Modern ECG machines use analog-to-digital converters and include features like portability, simultaneous lead recordings, and automated interpretation.
- Safety features of ECG machines include defibrillation protection, electrostatic discharge protection, and low voltage circuitry.
- Small devices like fitness trackers and smartwatches can record single lead I ECGs.
- Portable twelve-lead devices powered by batteries are also available.
- Recording an ECG is a painless procedure.
- Modern ECG machines include automated interpretation algorithms to analyze the ECG trace for various features.
Test your knowledge about electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) and learn more about the process of producing an electrocardiogram, which is a recording of the heart's electrical activity through repeated cardiac cycles.
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