ECG/EKG (Electrocardiogram) Measures electrical activity of the heart to detect cardiac problems.
Lets See some important concepts about ECG from the figures below:
Figure 1. Electrode positions on an ECG (EKG).
Figure 2. The electrical activity on an ECG (EKG).
Figure 3. The electrical activity on an ECG (EKG).
The areas represented on the ECG are summarized below:
- V1, V2 = RV
- V3, V4 = septum
- V5, V6 = L side of the heart
- Lead I = L side of the heart
- Lead II = inferior territory
- Lead III = inferior territory
- aVF = inferior territory (remember ‘F’ for ‘feet’)
- aVL = L side of the heart
- aVR = R side of the heart
Figure 4. The segments of the ECG.
What do the segments of the ECG represent?
- P-wave: Atrial contraction
- PR interval: Represents the time taken for excitation to spread from the sino-atrial (SA) node across the atrium and down to the ventricular muscle via the bundle of His.
- QRS: Ventricular contraction
- ST segment: Ventricular relaxation
- T-wave: Ventricular repolarisation
Normal duration of ECG segments:
- PR interval: 0.12 – 0.2 secs (3-5 small squares)
- QRS: <0.12 secs (3 small squares)
- QTc: 0.38 – 0.42 secs
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