ECGs

Question 1

What do ECGs do?

Answer 1

Measure the spread of electrical activity through the heart

Question 2

How do ECGs Work?

Answer 2

Electrodes are placed on a persons skin - chest and limbs

detects changes in polarisation in the heart by measuring the current at skin surface

Question 3

What is happening at the P wave?

Answer 3

Atrial systole
Depolarisation of the sino atrial node

Question 4

What is happening at the QRS complex?

Answer 4

Ventricular systole
Depolarisation of the atrioventricular node

Question 5

What is happening at the T wave?

Answer 5

Diastole

Question 6

Why is the QRS complex the biggest wave?

Answer 6

Ventricles have the largest muscle mass.

Question 7

What is cardiac output?

Answer 7

The volume of blood pumped out by a ventricle in 1 minute

Question 8

What is stroke volume?

Answer 8

The volume of blood ejected by a ventricle in a singular contraction

Question 9

Normal heart rhythm

Answer 9

60-100bpm

Question 10

Bradycardia heart rhythm

Answer 10

less than 60bpm

Question 11

Tachycardia heart rhythm

Answer 11

more than 100bpm

Question 12

What is atrial fibrillation?

Answer 12

Abnormal rhythm from atria causing the ventricles to lose regular rhythm

Question 13

What is an Ectopic heart beat?

Answer 13

Extra heartbeat after the normal rhythm, followed by longer than normal gap