EKG

Bipolar leads are

Leads I, II, and III

The unipolar leads are

AVL, AVR, AVF

Lead I records the electrical activity between the...

RA to LA

Lead III records electrical activity between the...

Left Leg and Left Arm

Lead II records the electrical activity between the...

Right arm to Left leg

aVL lead

left arm

aVR lead

right arm

aVF lead

left leg

Universal leads

RA, LA, LL, RL

precordial leads

V1-V6

V1 lead placement

right side of sternum, 4th intercostal space

V2 lead placement

Left side of sternum, 4th intercostal space

V3 lead placement

Between V2 and V4

V4 lead placement

left midclavicular line, 5th intercostal space

V5 lead placement

Left anterior axillary line at same level as V4

V6 lead placement

Left midaxillary line at same level as V4

P wave represents

atrial depolarization (atrial contraction)

QRS wave represents

ventricular depolarization

T wave represents

ventricular repolarization or relaxation

U wave represents

repolarization of the purkinje fibers & bundle of His

P-R interval

Begins at P wave & ends at the beginning of the Q wave

QT interval

Begins at Q wave & ends at the END of the T wave

ST segment

Begins at the END of the S wave & ends at the beginning of the T wave

Sinus Bradycardia

less than 60 bpm

Sinus Tachycardia

greater than 100 bpm

Sinus Arrest

SA node doesn't fire

Atrial Flutter

The atria is beating at an extremely rapid rate

Atrial Fibrillation

No organized contractions

Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricles don't contract but quiver, no waves noted

Somatic Tremor (artifact )

Muscle movement (shivering, Parkinson's disease)

AC interference (artifact)

electrical interference

Wandering baseline (artifact)

may be caused by: loose electrode; body creams, oils or lotions

Interrupted baseline (artifact)

may be caused by the metal tip of a lead wire becoming detached or by a broken pt. cable

EKG ratio

10:12

Widened QRS complex

PVC's

Polarization

Resting state of the myocardial wall, resulting in flatline or pause in EKG

25mm/sec

The normal running speed of the EKG paper

Heart rate calculation

divide 1500 by the number of small boxes between two R waves

Tabs downward on the arm to reduce tension & pulling on the electrodes