ECG Test UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Absolute refractory period - CORRECT ANSWER - corresponds with the onset of the
QRS complex to approximately the peak of the t-wave; cardiac cells can't be stimulated to
conduct an electrical impulse, no matter how strong the stimulus
Action potential - CORRECT ANSWER - a five-phase cycle that reflects the difference in
the concentration of charged particles across the cell membrane at any given time
altered automaticity - CORRECT ANSWER - a disorder of impulse formation in which
cardiac cells fire and initiate impulses before a normal SA node impulse
Amplitude - CORRECT ANSWER - Height (voltage) of a waveform on the ECG
Arrhythmia - CORRECT ANSWER - Abnormal heart rhythm
Artifact - CORRECT ANSWER - Distortion of an ECG tracing by electrical activity that
is non cardiac in origin (ex: electrical interference, poor electrical conduction, patient movement)
Atrioventricular bundle - CORRECT ANSWER - The bundle of HIS
Atrioventricular node - CORRECT ANSWER - A group of cells that conduct an electrical
impulse through the heart; located in the floor of the right atrium immediately behind the
tricuspid valve and near the opening of the coronary sinus
Augmented limb lead - CORRECT ANSWER - Leads aVR, aVL, and aVF; these leads
record the difference in electrical potential at one location relative to zero potential rather than
relative to the electrical potential of another extremity
, Automaticity - CORRECT ANSWER - Ability of cardiac pacemaker cells to
spontaneously initiate an electrical impulse without being stimulated from another source (such
as a nerve)
AV bundle - CORRECT ANSWER - The bundle of HIs
AV node - CORRECT ANSWER - Specialized cells located in the lower portion of the
right atrium; delays the electrical impulse in order to allow the atria to contract and complete
filling of the ventricles
Axis - CORRECT ANSWER - Imaginary line joining the positive and negative electrodes
of a lead
Baseline - CORRECT ANSWER - Straight line recorded on ECG graph paper when no
electrical activity is detected
Biphasic - CORRECT ANSWER - Waveform that is partly positive and partly negative
Bipolar limb lead - CORRECT ANSWER - ECG lead consisting of a positive and
negative electrode
Bundle of HIs - CORRECT ANSWER - Fibers located in the upper portion of the inter
ventricular septum that receive an electrical impulse from the AV node and conduct the impulse
to the right and left bundle branches
Complex - CORRECT ANSWER - Several waveforms
Conduction system - CORRECT ANSWER - A system of pathways in the heart
composed of specialized electrical (pacemaker) cells
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Absolute refractory period - CORRECT ANSWER - corresponds with the onset of the
QRS complex to approximately the peak of the t-wave; cardiac cells can't be stimulated to
conduct an electrical impulse, no matter how strong the stimulus
Action potential - CORRECT ANSWER - a five-phase cycle that reflects the difference in
the concentration of charged particles across the cell membrane at any given time
altered automaticity - CORRECT ANSWER - a disorder of impulse formation in which
cardiac cells fire and initiate impulses before a normal SA node impulse
Amplitude - CORRECT ANSWER - Height (voltage) of a waveform on the ECG
Arrhythmia - CORRECT ANSWER - Abnormal heart rhythm
Artifact - CORRECT ANSWER - Distortion of an ECG tracing by electrical activity that
is non cardiac in origin (ex: electrical interference, poor electrical conduction, patient movement)
Atrioventricular bundle - CORRECT ANSWER - The bundle of HIS
Atrioventricular node - CORRECT ANSWER - A group of cells that conduct an electrical
impulse through the heart; located in the floor of the right atrium immediately behind the
tricuspid valve and near the opening of the coronary sinus
Augmented limb lead - CORRECT ANSWER - Leads aVR, aVL, and aVF; these leads
record the difference in electrical potential at one location relative to zero potential rather than
relative to the electrical potential of another extremity
, Automaticity - CORRECT ANSWER - Ability of cardiac pacemaker cells to
spontaneously initiate an electrical impulse without being stimulated from another source (such
as a nerve)
AV bundle - CORRECT ANSWER - The bundle of HIs
AV node - CORRECT ANSWER - Specialized cells located in the lower portion of the
right atrium; delays the electrical impulse in order to allow the atria to contract and complete
filling of the ventricles
Axis - CORRECT ANSWER - Imaginary line joining the positive and negative electrodes
of a lead
Baseline - CORRECT ANSWER - Straight line recorded on ECG graph paper when no
electrical activity is detected
Biphasic - CORRECT ANSWER - Waveform that is partly positive and partly negative
Bipolar limb lead - CORRECT ANSWER - ECG lead consisting of a positive and
negative electrode
Bundle of HIs - CORRECT ANSWER - Fibers located in the upper portion of the inter
ventricular septum that receive an electrical impulse from the AV node and conduct the impulse
to the right and left bundle branches
Complex - CORRECT ANSWER - Several waveforms
Conduction system - CORRECT ANSWER - A system of pathways in the heart
composed of specialized electrical (pacemaker) cells
