EKG Tech vocab

auscultation

listening to body sounds using stethoscope

baseline

neutral on an ekg

cyanosis

skin turns blue

diaphoresis

excessive sweating

diastolic pressure

when the heart relaxes

electrocardiogram (EKG)

a test done to measure the electric impulses of the heart

electrogradiographic machine

instrument showing the representation of the electrical activity of the heart

event recorder

form of outpatient cardiac resting, involving patient triggering the machine to record when experiencing cardiac interest

health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA)

act that established guidelines for protected health care information

healthcare-associated infection

infection caught in a clinical setting

holter monitor

device that monitors heart activity for 24 hours, ambulatory monitor

implied consent

patients actions implying consent

leads

wires that collect electrical impulses from electrodes to an EKG machine

medical asepsis

standard method of cleanliness

palpation

using hands to examine the body

personal protective equipment (PPE)

protective gear

PQRST waves

standard waves found on an EKG

protected health information (PHI)

documents that can be linked to an individual

safety data sheet (SDS)

document listing hazards of chemical components

sphygmomanometer

measures blood pressure

standard precautions

basic level of precautions healthcare workers must do before, during, and after care

stenotic

narrowed

stress test

provokes ischemia to aid in diagnosing cardiac abnormalities

syncope

fainting

systolic pressure

when the heart is contracting

therapeutic communication

use of strategies incorporated through verbal and nonverbal techniques to insure info is correctly interpreted

aorta

largest artery in the human body which carries oxygenated blood away from the heart

apex

the lower pointed end of the heart

artifact

electrical or magnetic interference that alters the EKG tracing

atrioventricular (AV) node

specialized tissue that is able to regulate the impulses between atria and ventricles

atrium

a small muscular pouch-like structure that fills the ventricles with blood

augmented leads

unipolar leads created by combining 2 of the 3 limb leads to create a positive electrode

automaticity

the ability of the cardiac cells to spontaneously generate electrical activity

Bachmann’s bundle

component of the heart’s electrical conduction system responsible for ensuring the near simultaneous depolarization of both atria

bradycardia

slow heart rate

bundle branch

part of the conduction system responsible for transmitting electrical impulses from the AV node to the purkinje fibers to trigger ventricular depolarization

bundle of His

a part of the conduction system responsible for receiving electrical impulses from the AV node and transmitting the impulses to the bundle branches

contract

decrease in length

coronary arteries

the arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium

depolarization

complex process involving the opening of sodium and potassium channels on the surface of the cardiac cells results in the loss of polarity. depolarization of muscle tissue generally causes the muscle to contract

ectopic

originating in an area of the heart other than SA node

endocardium

the innermost layer of the heartt

epicardium

the outermost layer of the heart

intercostal

space between the ribs

mediastinum

1 of 3 compartments inside the chest, contains the heart and great vessels

midaxillary

an imaginary line through the axillary region that separates the front and back of the body

midclavicular

an imaginary line through the middle of the clavicle that extends vertically

myocardium

the middle muscular layer of the heart responsible for heart contraction

negative deflection

the downward presentation of waveform on EKG tracing that is located below the isoelectric

pericardium

a sac that encases the heart consisting of 2 layers and filled with a small amount of fluid that prevents friction with heart muscular action

positive deflection

the portion of waveforms on the EKG tracing located above the isoelectric line

precordial leads

6 EKG leads placed on the anterior chest to record the unipolar electrical activity of the heart at a specified location

pulmonary arteries

the only arteries that carry deoxygenated blood; transports blood from the right ventricle to the lungs

pulmonary veins

the only veins to carry oxygenated blood; transport oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium

purkinje fibers

fibers that serve to conduct electrical impulses through the right and left ventricles causing ventricular depolarization

repolarization

the relaxation of the heart

septum

a dividing wall

sinoatrial (SA) node

a small mass of tissue serves as the heart’s primary pacemaker, produces the p wave

tachycardia

rapid heart rate

amplitude

gain or voltage

arrhythmia

an abnormal heart rhythm also called dysrhythmia

asystole

the absence of any electrical activity

atrial kick

the excitement of the atria with a rise in internal pressure to forcefully push blood into the ventricles

bundle branch block

damage to the electrical pathway through the septum

caliper

an instrument that is useful in measuring distances on an EKG

cardiac arrest

the absence of cardiac activity

complexes

the part of an EKG that demonstrates

fibrillation

state of quivering without organized contraction

flutter

rapid wave-like contractions

infarction

death of tissue due to lack of oxygen

interval

the period of time between electrical activity

ischemia

decrease in oxygenation to tissue

isoelectric line

the straight line on an EKG tracing between cardiac cycles

myocardial infarction

ischemia leading to death of muscle tissue

segment

section or part of the electrical activity