MA TSA Review

AC interference

Electrical interference that appears as small, uniform spikes on ECG tracking

Amplifier

Device on the ECG that magnifies or enlarges the heart's electrical impulses so they can be recorded

arrhythmia

Abnormal heart rate, rhythm and conduction system

dysrhthmia

Abnormal heart rate, rhythm and conduction system

artifact

Unwanted changes in an ECG tracing caused by movement, machine malfunction or other factors

atrioventricular node (AV)

Knot of specialized cells in the lower portion of the right atrium that produces the heart's electrical impulses

augmented leads

leads that measure cardiac activity from one electrode on the body at a time; recordings are made larger so they can be read

baseline

Line that separates the various cardiac waves; representative of the space between heartbeats while the heart is "resign" AKA iosoelectric line

bipolar leads

standard limb leads

bundle banches

branches of cardiac fibers that receive electrical impulses from the bundle of His

bundle of His

small band of atypical cardiac muscle fibers that receive electrical impulses from the AV node

cardiac cycle

one heartbeat; one contraction/relaxation phase of the heart

precordial leads

chest leads that measure in only one direction

depolarization

discharge of electrical energy that causes contraction such as in heart muscle

electrocardiogram

graphic picture of the heart's electrical activity

electrocardiograph

machine that records the electrical activity of the heart

electrocardioraphy

noninvasive procedure used to detect the heart's electrical activity

electrodes

devices made of a conductive material to pick up the electrical activity of the heart; sensors

Holter monitor

ambulatory heart monitor that records heart activity during a 24-48 hour period

interval

ECG pattern that shows the length of a wave with a sigment

ischemia

poor blood supply to body tissue causing a lack of oxygen to that tissue

leads

covered wires that carry electrical impulses from the sensor to the ECG machine

MI - myocardial infactction

heart attack; death of heart tissue caused by blockage of the heart's blood vessels

Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR)

rhythm measurement that starts at the SA node, occurs within an established time frame, and follows an expected, established pattern

P wave

ECG pattern that shows atrial contraction originating at the SA notde

pacemaker

devie that delivers electrical impulses to the heart muscle when the SA node is unable to do so

PAT, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

sudden onset and ending of atrial tachycardia, 150-250 bpm

polarization

phase when the heart is in a ready state to contract

PR interval

time interval between atrial contraction and the beginning of ventricular contraction

PR segment

time interval necessary for an electrical impulse to cause contraction of the atria and begin contraction of the ventricles

PAC premature atrial contractions

condition in which an electrical impulse in the atria starts before the next expected heartbeat

PVC premature ventricular contractions

condition in which the ventricles receive an impulse prematurely and contract early

Purkinje fibers

cardiac fibers that receive impulses from the bundle branches and take them throughout the heart muscle

QRS complex

ECG pattern that shows when the impulse moves through the ventricles and reaches the Purkinje fibers, depicting contracction of both ventricles

QT interval

time interval on ECG that shows the time needed for the ventricles to contract and recover

repolarization

rest phase of the ECG cycle

rhythm strip:

lead II recording on ECG that show the heart's rhythm

segment

ECG pattern between two waves

SA node sinoatrial

Pacemaker of the heart, knot of specialized cells cells located in the upper right atrium

sinus bradycardia

slow heart rate, less than 60bpm

sinus tachycardia

rapid heart rate, 100-180bpm

somatic tremor

body tremor caused by voluntary or involuntary muscle movement

ST segment

time interval between the ventricular contraction and the beginning of ventricular relaxation

standard limb lead

insulated device that carries the electrical impulses to the ECG and traces the electrical impulse of the heart in two different directions simultaneously

standardization

process of ensuring that an ECG taken on one machine will compare to a tracing taken on another machine

standardization mark

mark made on the ECG paper that indicates the ECG is standardized

stylus

heated device that records the heart's activity on heat-sensitive graph paper

T wave

ECG pattern that shows resting of the hear; repolarization

tracing

recording of the ECG cycle

treadmill test

exercise electrocardiography that is done to determine if the heart is receiving enough blood during exercise.

cardiac stress test

exercise electrocardiography that is done to determine if the heart is receiving enough blood during exercise.

U wave

normal, small upward curve that occasionally follows a complete ECG cycle after the PQRST: has unknown indication

unipolar leads

augmented leads

V leads

chest/precordial leads

ventricular fibrillation (V fib)

life-threatening condition of ventricular twitching that causes ineffective pumping action, stopping blood circulation

ventricular tachycardia (V tach)

Three or more consecutive PVC's with heart rate exceeding 100bpm

wandering baseline

shift on the ECG tracing from the baseline or center of the paper

wave

ECG pattern that represents specific electrical heart activity

V1 placement

4th ICS Right of sternum

V2 placement

4th ICS Left of sternum

V4 placement

5th ICS, midclavicular

V3 placement

between V2 and V4

V6 placement

5th ICS midaxillary

V5 placement

5th ICS between V4 and V6

Scalpel

small, straight knife with a thin, sharp blade used for surgery and dissection

B/B scissors

cutting instrument with ring handles, both blades are dull

B/S Scissors

cutting instrument with ring handles, one tip is dull and the other is a point

S/S Scissors

cutting instrument with ring handles, both blades are at a point

Suture Scissors

an instrument used to cut sutures

Bandage Scissors

special instrument with a blunt lower end used to remove dressings and bandages

Dissecting scissors

For cutting tissue, but NEVER use for cutting sutures.

Forceps

instrument used to pick up or hold small items or tissue

Kelly Hemostatic Forceps

Provides hemostasis (teeth run 1/2 the length of jaws)

Allis Tissue Forceps

Inward curving forcing toothed blades and a ratcheted handle designed for grasping

Thumb forceps

two-pronged instrument with serrated tips to hold tissue

Tissue forceps

Instruments with teeth, used to grasp tissue

Splinter Forceps

instruments with sharp points used to remove splinters and foreign objects from the skin and tissues

Dressing Forceps

used in the application and removal of dressings

Mosquito Hemostatic Forceps

small fine tips, smaller and more delicate than standard hemostatic forceps

Sponge Forceps

instrument used for grasping or clamping surgical sponge or gauze.

Needle holders

serrated tips, ring handles, ratchets, and box locks. Used to firmly grasp curved needles for insertion

Retractors

used to hold tissue aside to improve the exposure of operative areas

Inflammation

a localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.

Abrasion

Scrape of the skin due to something abrasive

Infection

invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism

Abscess

localized collection of pus

Absorbable suture

Suture material that is gradually digested and absorbed by the body

Ligate

To tie off and close a structure, such as a severed blood vessel

Approximation

The process of bringing two edges together through the use of sutures or other materials.

Bandage

a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body

Biopsy

the removal of living tissue from the body for diagnostic examination

capillary action

The action that causes liquid to rise along a wick, tube, or gauze dressing

Colposcope

A lighted instrument used to examine the vagina and cervix

colposcopy

visual examination of the vagina and cervix using a colposcope

Contaminate

to make impure

Contusion

An injury to the tissues under the skin that causes blood vessels to rupture (bruise)

Cryosurgery

destruction of tissue by using extreme cold, often by using liquid nitrogen

Exudate

fluid that accumulates in a wound; may contain serum, cellular debris, bacteria, and white blood cells

Fibroblast

An immature cell from which connective tissue can develop

Furuncle

boil; a painful nodule formed in the skin by inflammation originating in a hair follicle; caused by staphylococcal infection