EKG Acquisition - Concept of EKG
Acquisition & EKG equipment Exam
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Electrocardiogram (ECG) - CORRECT ANSWERS a tool that measures electrical
energy traveling across the surface of the human body and the electrical energy traveling
across the surface of the human body and the electrical activity of the heart
Standard grid - CORRECT ANSWERS - small boxes measure 1mm tall by 1 mm wide
- 5 small boxes across make up one large box
thicker gridlines indicate 5 mm boxes
- each mm increment vertical(y) represents 0.1 millivolt (mV)
- each mm increment horizontal(x) represents 0.04 seconds
Standard speed - CORRECT ANSWERS 25 mm/second
- never change the speed of the paper without direction from the provider
- improper paper speed can result in improper arrhythmia interpretation
Standard amplitude (gain) - CORRECT ANSWERS the standard EKG is acquired
using an amplitude (or gain) of 10 mm per 1 mV
- always provide documentation that explains change in amplitude in order to avoid
misinterpretation
Standard calibration - CORRECT ANSWERS - calibration boxes are small rectangles
occuring at the beginning of each lead
- will produce a positively deflected rectangular-shaped marking of 10mm tall by 5mm wide
- these indicate a standard speed & amplitude of 25mm/sec and 10mm/mV
Lead placement - CORRECT ANSWERS correct lead placement is critical as it serves
to measure the heart's electrical axis as the reference point of the UNIPOLAR leads
, - placement should be viewed as a conductor originating from a particular point
- however, uniformity is important to form an equilateral triangle
Wilson's central terminal (WCT) - CORRECT ANSWERS A reference point created by
the 3 limb leads
- as it is at the center of the Einthoven's triangle
- not independent but is an average of the limb potentials
- serves as a reference point for all UNIPOLAR leads
Unipolar leads - CORRECT ANSWERS leads that have only one pole
- considered the positive end of the lead system
- when recording an EKG, leads, the precordial, or chest leads, are unipolar in nature
in aVL (+), the left leg & right arm assist w/ left arm tracing
in aVR (-), the left leg & left arm assist w/ right arm tracing
in aVF (-), the right & left arms assist w/ left leg tracing
Precordial leads - CORRECT ANSWERS Chest leads V1-V6
Augmented leads - CORRECT ANSWERS Unipolar leads since there is a single
positive electrode referenced against the combination of the other limb leads
in aVL (+), the left leg & right arm assist w/ left arm tracing
in aVR (-), the left leg & left arm assist w/ right arm tracing
in aVF (-), the right & left arms assist w/ left leg tracing
Bipolar leads - CORRECT ANSWERS have two poles: one (+) & one (-)
Acquisition & EKG equipment Exam
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Electrocardiogram (ECG) - CORRECT ANSWERS a tool that measures electrical
energy traveling across the surface of the human body and the electrical energy traveling
across the surface of the human body and the electrical activity of the heart
Standard grid - CORRECT ANSWERS - small boxes measure 1mm tall by 1 mm wide
- 5 small boxes across make up one large box
thicker gridlines indicate 5 mm boxes
- each mm increment vertical(y) represents 0.1 millivolt (mV)
- each mm increment horizontal(x) represents 0.04 seconds
Standard speed - CORRECT ANSWERS 25 mm/second
- never change the speed of the paper without direction from the provider
- improper paper speed can result in improper arrhythmia interpretation
Standard amplitude (gain) - CORRECT ANSWERS the standard EKG is acquired
using an amplitude (or gain) of 10 mm per 1 mV
- always provide documentation that explains change in amplitude in order to avoid
misinterpretation
Standard calibration - CORRECT ANSWERS - calibration boxes are small rectangles
occuring at the beginning of each lead
- will produce a positively deflected rectangular-shaped marking of 10mm tall by 5mm wide
- these indicate a standard speed & amplitude of 25mm/sec and 10mm/mV
Lead placement - CORRECT ANSWERS correct lead placement is critical as it serves
to measure the heart's electrical axis as the reference point of the UNIPOLAR leads
, - placement should be viewed as a conductor originating from a particular point
- however, uniformity is important to form an equilateral triangle
Wilson's central terminal (WCT) - CORRECT ANSWERS A reference point created by
the 3 limb leads
- as it is at the center of the Einthoven's triangle
- not independent but is an average of the limb potentials
- serves as a reference point for all UNIPOLAR leads
Unipolar leads - CORRECT ANSWERS leads that have only one pole
- considered the positive end of the lead system
- when recording an EKG, leads, the precordial, or chest leads, are unipolar in nature
in aVL (+), the left leg & right arm assist w/ left arm tracing
in aVR (-), the left leg & left arm assist w/ right arm tracing
in aVF (-), the right & left arms assist w/ left leg tracing
Precordial leads - CORRECT ANSWERS Chest leads V1-V6
Augmented leads - CORRECT ANSWERS Unipolar leads since there is a single
positive electrode referenced against the combination of the other limb leads
in aVL (+), the left leg & right arm assist w/ left arm tracing
in aVR (-), the left leg & left arm assist w/ right arm tracing
in aVF (-), the right & left arms assist w/ left leg tracing
Bipolar leads - CORRECT ANSWERS have two poles: one (+) & one (-)
