EKG Acquisition and Physiology

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to the EKG acquisition, anatomy, physiology of the heart, and proper lead placement.

Electrocardiography

The process of producing an electrocardiogram, a recording of the heart's electrical activity.

Atria

Small, muscular, pouch-like structures in the heart that fill the ventricles with blood.

Ventricles

The lower chambers of the heart responsible for pumping blood to the lungs and the entire body.

Septum

The wall dividing the right and left sides of the heart.

Epicardium

The outer layer of the heart made of connective tissue.

Myocardium

The middle layer of the heart made of striated muscle responsible for contraction.

Endocardium

The innermost layer lining the chambers of the heart and forming the surface of the valves.

ECG Leads

Connections between the electrodes placed on the body and the ECG machine used to detect the heart's electrical activity.

Bipolar Leads

Leads measuring the electrical activity between two electrodes on the body, part of the standard 12-lead ECG.

Unipolar Leads

Leads with a single positive electrode and a composite negative electrode created by combining other electrodes.

Artifact

Unwanted electrical signals that interfere with the accurate interpretation of an EKG.

Wandering Baseline

A wavelike up and down movement on the EKG tracing, often due to misplaced electrodes or patient movement.

Somatic Tremor

Muscle movement causing jagged, irregular, or wavy baseline artifacts on an EKG.

Alternating Current Interference

Electrical interference from devices near the patient, showing as steady, sharp, and regular patterns on the EKG.

Calibration

The process of setting the ECG machine to ensure accurate measurement of electrical impulses.

Lead Placement

The systematic placing of electrodes on the body to ensure accurate electrical readings from the heart.

Collateral Circulation

Formation of collateral vessels when small arteries connect due to decreased perfusion.

Sinoatrial Node (SA Node)

The heart's natural pacemaker, located in the wall of the right atrium.

Atrioventricular Node (AV Node)

Located between the atria and ventricles, it slows the electrical impulse before it goes to the ventricles.

Einthoven's Triangle

A triangular formation created by the three limb leads (Leads I, II, and III) representing the heart's electrical activity.

Precordial Leads

Unipolar leads placed on the chest to assess electrical activity in the horizontal plane.