Waves & Complexes
This wave represents atrial depolarization (contraction).
What is the P Wave
The total number of leads used in a standard resting EKG?
What is 12
This type of artifact appears as jagged peaks throughout the tracing, usually caused by patient movement or shivering.
What is a somatic tremor.
This rhythm features a heart rate of 60-100 bpm with a P wave before every QRS.
What is Normal Sinus Rhythm
The number of seconds in one small square on EKG paper.
What is 0.04 seconds
This complex represents ventricular depolarization (contraction)
What is the QRS complex
The V1 electrode is placed in this intercostal space.
What is the 4th intercostal space?
This artifact, characterized by the stylus moving off the paper, is usually caused by a detached or broken lead wire.
What is a wandering baseline (or interrupted base line)
This rhythm is defined as a heart rate less than 60 bpm.
What is Sinus Bradycardia
The standard number of large squares (0.20 sec each) between R waves in a 300 bpm rhythm.
What is one large square
This wave represents ventricular repolarization (relaxation)
What is the T wave
This anatomical landmark is used to place V4.
What is the 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line?
When waveforms are too close together, you adjust the machine to this paper speed.
What is 50 mm/s
This irregular rhythm is characterized by no identifiable P waves and a wavy baseline.
What is Atrial Fibrillation
This method is the only one to be used for calculating heart rate in irregular rhythms.
What is the 6-second method
This wave represents ventricular repolarization (relaxation)
What is the PR interval
If a patient is female, V3-V6 electrodes must be placed under this anatomical feature.
What is the breast
Before performing an EKG, you must ask the patient to remove these, which can cause poor electrode contact.
What are lotions, oils, or powders.
This life-threatening rhythm shows no organized electrical activity, only quivering.
What is Ventricular Fibrillation
The normal duration for a QRS complex is this many seconds.
What is 0.06 - 0.12 seconds
A prolonged QRS complex (greater than 0.12 seconds) usually indicates a delay in this part of the heart.
What are the ventricles (or bundle branches)?
These are known as the augmented leads.
What are aVR, aVL, and aVF
If the EKG shows a sinus rhythm but the P wave is inverted in Lead II, this is a sign of this type of rhythm.
What is a junctional rhythm
This type of heart block is identified by a progressive lengthening of the PR interval until a QRS is dropped.
What is Second Degree Type 1 (Wenckebach)
To calculate the rate using the "countdown method" for 2 large boxes between R waves, you start at 300, then move to this number.
What is 150