Coronary Artery Disease and Its ECG Indications

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to coronary artery disease, its pathophysiology, and the implications for ECG interpretation.

Coronary Artery Disease

Narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis

Myocardial Infarction

Death of cardiac tissue caused by total and permanent loss of oxygen supply, typically due to a coronary occlusion.

Atherosclerosis

A gradual, progressive process involving fat and hardening of the arterial wall, leading to CAD.

Ischemia

blood supply to a tissue is insufficient to meet its metabolic needs

Infarction

The death of tissue due to lack of blood supply, leading to permanent damage.

T Wave Inversion

An electrocardiogram change often associated with myocardial ischemia

ST Segment Elevation

A sign of myocardial injury or acute myocardial infarction

ECG Lead Localization

Using specific ECG leads to identify the affected area of the heart during ischemic events.

Repolarization

The process of resetting the electrical state of heart cells after contraction, affected in ischemia.

Foam Cells

Lipids-filled macrophages indicative of early atherosclerosis.

Reciprocal Changes

ECG changes in leads opposite to the affected area

Pathologic Q Waves

Q waves indicating previous myocardial damage

Thrombus

A blood clot that obstructs blood flow formed due to ruptured atherosclerotic plaques

Ventricular Repolarization

ventricle returning to its resting state, often delayed in ischemia

Coronary Arteries

Arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, crucial for its oxygen supply.

septal

1st V1-V2

anterior

V1-V4

lateral

lead 1, aVL, V5-V6

inferior

lead 2, 3, aVF

posterior

2nd V1-V2

anteroseptal

V1-V3

anterolateral

lead 1, aVL, V4-V6

0.04 seconds

duration of a pathologic Q wave