ECG - Electrocardiogram
Guaranteed for 5 years.
What Is an Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)?
The (ECG or EKG) is a diagnostic tool that is routinelyused to assess the electrical and muscular functions of the heart. While it isa relatively simple test to perform, the interpretation of the ECG tracingrequires significant amounts of training. Numerous textbooks are devoted to thesubject.
The heart is a two stage electrical pump and theheart's electrical activity can be measured by electrodes placed on the skin.The electrocardiogram can measure the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat, as wellas provide indirect evidence of blood flow to the.
A standardized system has been developed for theelectrode placement for a routine ECG. Ten electrodes are needed to produce 12electrical views of the heart. An electrode lead, or patch, is placed on eacharm and leg and six are placed across the chest wall. The signals received fromeach electrode are recorded. The printed view of these recordings is theelectrocardiogram.
By comparison, a heart monitor requires only threeelectrode leads – one each on the right arm, left arm, and left chest. It onlymeasures the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. This kind of monitoring does notconstitute a complete ECG.