EKG Final

Vocabulary flashcards for EKG technician exam review, covering key terms and definitions from the lecture notes.

Homeostasis

The process by which the body maintains a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Mediastinum

Space in the chest cavity, behind the sternum and slightly to the left, where the heart is located.

Plasma

Liquid component of blood, primarily water, carries blood cells, nutrients, and waste.

Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)

Transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and carbon dioxide back to the lungs.

White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)

Part of the immune system, fight infections and diseases.

Platelets (Thrombocytes)

Small cell fragments that help in blood clotting.

Arteries

Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues.

Veins

Carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Capillaries

Tiny blood vessels that connect arteries and veins, facilitating the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrients between blood and tissues.

Nose

Warms, moistens, and filters inhaled air.

Pharynx

Passageway for air and food.

Larynx

Voice box, contains vocal cords.

Trachea

Windpipe, carries air to the lungs.

Bronchi

Branches of the trachea that lead to the lungs.

Bronchioles

Smaller branches of the bronchi.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)

Activated during stressful or dangerous situations, triggering the "fight-or-flight" response. Also stimulated by physical activity, illness, and strong emotions.

Stimulation of the Heart by the Sympathetic Nervous System

Heart rate increases, contractility increases, and blood vessels constrict, redirecting blood flow to muscles and vital organs.

Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) Stimulation

Releases acetylcholine, slowing down the heart rate and promoting relaxation; the "rest and digest" response.

Heart Valves

Act as one-way doors, ensuring that blood flows in the correct direction through the heart's chambers, preventing backflow.

Oxygen Supply to the Heart Muscle

Through the coronary arteries, which branch off the aorta.

Diastole

The heart muscle relaxes, and the heart chambers fill with blood.

Systole

The heart muscle contracts, and the heart chambers pump blood out to the lungs and the rest of the body.

Path of Blood Through the Heart

Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium, flows to the right ventricle, and then to the lungs to get oxygen. Oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium, flows to the left ventricle, and then is pumped out to the body via the aorta.

Thrombus

A stationary blood clot.

Embolus

A clot that has broken free and is traveling through the bloodstream.

Myocardial Infarction

Occurs when a blood clot blocks a coronary artery, cutting off the oxygen supply to the heart muscle.

Chest Pain Urgency

May indicate a heart attack, and prompt treatment is crucial to minimize damage and improve the patient's outcome.

Possible Symptoms of a Myocardial Infarction

Can include chest pain, shortness of breath, upper body discomfort, nausea, and lightheadedness.

pulmonary edema

Weakens the heart, causing blood to back up and increase pressure in the pulmonary vessels, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs (orthopnea) and tissues (edema).

Pulmonary edema

Fluid can leak into the alveoli, impairing gas exchange due to the increased pressure in the pulmonary vessels.

Regurgitation

When blood flows backward through the heart, making the heart work harder and can lead to heart failure.

Factors Determining Blood Clot Seriousness

Where the clot is, how big it is, and if it moves to places like the brain, lungs, or heart.

Risk Factors for Hypertension

Poor diet, no exercise, being overweight, smoking, drinking alcohol, family history.

Outpatient vs. Inpatient Treatment

Go home the same day versus stay in the hospital.

Ambulatory Care Center

Another name for outpatient facility.

Examples of Ambulatory Care Centers

Urgent care, imaging center, surgery center.

Importance of Scope of Practice for an EKG Tech

Keeps patients safe and helps techs know what they are allowed to do.

Types of Patient History

Past illnesses, drugs taken, health issues in the family.

Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills

Personal traits (e.g., teamwork, kindness, communication) versus learned tasks (e.g., doing EKGs, using machines, taking vitals).

Ways EKG Techs Show Initiative

Help without being asked, learn new things, keep work area clean.

Importance of Cultural Sensitivity for an EKG Tech

Helps give respectful and fair care to all patients.

Finding Certification Test Requirements

Check the certifying organization’s website or ask a teacher.

CPR Certification for EKG Techs

BLS (Basic Life Support) for Healthcare Providers.

Why Techs Should Know the Chain of Command

So they know who to report to and how to handle problems.

HIPAA Penalties

Fines (money) and jail time (for serious violations).

HITECH Act of 2009

Required health records to be stored electronically.

Objective vs. Subjective Info

Facts (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, temperature) versus what the patient says (e.g., pain, nausea, dizziness).

Government Agencies for Infection Control and Safety

CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

Types of PPE

Gloves, gown, mask, goggles.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Contact (MRSA), Droplet (Flu), Airborne (Tuberculosis).

Disposal of Disposable Equipment

Should be thrown away in the proper biohazard or sharps container right after use.

First Step When Taking Vital Signs

Wash your hands and explain the procedure to the patient.

Factors Causing Inaccurate Temperature Reading

Drinking hot or cold fluids before the test, improper thermometer placement, faulty or uncalibrated thermometer.

Pulse Measurement Locations

Chest, over the heart with a stethoscope; wrist, felt with fingers; upper arm, used for blood pressure or infant pulse.

Choosing the Right Size Sphygmomanometer

By measuring the patient’s arm circumference and choosing a cuff that fits properly—not too tight or too loose.

Causes of Hypotension vs. Hypertension

Dehydration, blood loss, heart problems versus Stress, kidney disease, obesity.

Factors Interfering with Pulse Oximetry

Nail polish, cold fingers, poor circulation.

Signs/Symptoms of Pain

Grimacing, guarding the body, restlessness, moaning, increased heart rate.

Importance of Baseline Level of Consciousness

Because any change from their normal behavior or response could be a sign of a medical problem.

Vital Signs Requiring Immediate Reporting

Very high or low heart rate, very high or low blood pressure, low oxygen level, sudden change in consciousness, irregular heart rhythm.

Thrombus vs. Embolus

A blood clot that stays in one place versus a blood clot that travels in the bloodstream.

How a Myocardial Infarction Occurs

A heart attack happens when a blood clot blocks blood flow to part of the heart, causing tissue damage.

Why Chest Pain Must Be Treated Promptly

It could be a heart attack, and early treatment can save heart tissue and lives.

Possible Symptoms of a Myocardial Infarction

Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, jaw or arm pain.

How Cardiomyopathy Causes Orthopnea and Edema

Weak heart muscle can’t pump blood well, so fluid backs up into the lungs (causing breathing problems) and legs (causing swelling).

CHF and Alveoli

Fluid builds up in the lungs, making gas exchange hard and causing shortness of breath.

Regurgitation

Backward flow of blood through a faulty valve; reduces heart efficiency and may lead to heart failure.

Factors Determining Blood Clot Seriousness

Location, size, and whether it moves to critical areas like lungs, heart, or brain.

Risk Factors for Hypertension

Smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, high salt diet, alcohol use, family history.

What EKG Tracing Records

Electrical activity of the heart.

Depolarization vs. Repolarization

Muscle contraction versus muscle relaxation.

Why 12 Leads Are Used

To give multiple views of the heart’s electrical activity from different angles.

Purpose of the Electrode

To detect and transmit the electrical signals from the heart to the EKG machine.

Electrode Storage

Store in sealed packaging at room temperature; discard expired electrodes.

EKG Giving Extended Heart Info

Holter monitor (24–48 hours of continuous monitoring).

Fourth Row of a 12-Lead EKG

The rhythm strip, often lead II—used to analyze overall rhythm and detect abnormalities.

Einthoven’s Triangle

Leads I, II, and III (limb leads).

Electrodes for EKGs

3-lead: RA, LA, LL; 5-lead: RA, LA, RL, LL, chest lead (usually V1); 12-lead: 10 electrodes (4 limb, 6 chest) for 12 lead views.

V1–V6 Electrode Placement

V1: 4th intercostal space, right of sternum; V2: 4th intercostal space, left of sternum; V3: between V2 and V4; V4: 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line; V5: level with V4, anterior axillary line; V6: level with V4, midaxillary line.

Plugging in the EKG Machine

To make sure it has enough power and is ready for accurate recording.

EKG Paper Speed Options

25 mm/sec and 50 mm/sec.

Commonly Used EKG Paper Speed

25 mm/sec.

When to Use Different Paper Speed

50 mm/sec is used when the heart rate is very fast to spread out the waveforms for better analysis.

Changing Height of Deflections (Gain)

Adjust the gain setting (usually set at 10 mm/mV by default).

Identifying the Patient Before EKG

Ask for full name and date of birth; compare with ID and order.

Info Needed Before EKG

Doctor’s order, patient history, symptoms, and reason for test.

How Telemetry Monitor Is Used

It records the heart’s activity continuously and sends the signal to a monitor for remote observation.

Stress Test Prep

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, don’t eat or drink for a few hours before, bring a list of medications, follow doctor’s instructions on which meds to take or skip.

Signs to Terminate Stress Test

Chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting, severe fatigue, drop in blood pressure, dangerous arrhythmias, ST segment elevation or depression on the EKG.

Holter Monitor Instructions

Don’t shower or get the monitor wet, avoid magnets or metal detectors, keep a diary of symptoms and activities, do not remove electrodes or wires, wear loose clothing.

Completed EKG Handling

Label it with patient’s info, ensure quality of the tracing, submit it to the supervising provider or upload to the electronic health record (EHR).

Heart’s Electrical System Intrinsic Rates

SA Node: 60–100 bpm; AV Node: 40–60 bpm; Purkinje fibers (ventricles): 20–40 bpm.

Mechanical Actions of Electrical System

Contraction versus relaxation.

Time Periods on EKG Grid

Small block: 0.04 seconds; Large block (5 small): 0.20 seconds.

Heart Rate vs. Heart Rhythm

Speed of the heartbeat (beats per minute) versus pattern/regularity of the beats.

Methods to Determine Heart Rate from EKG

6-second method: count R waves in 6 seconds × 10; Large box method: 300 ÷ number of large boxes between R waves; Small box method: 1500 ÷ number of small boxes between R waves.

Measuring PR Interval

From the start of the P wave to the start of the QRS complex. Count small boxes × 0.04 sec.

Normal Conduction Pathway

SA Node → Atria → AV Node → Bundle of His → Bundle Branches → Purkinje fibers.

Steps to Interpret EKG Strip

1. Rate 2. Rhythm 3. P waves 4. PR interval 5. QRS complex 6. Interpret findings.