Electrocardiogram


Diagram of electrocardiogram

P wave- represents atrial depolarization which spreads from the SA node through contractile fibers in both atria.

QRS complex- represents rapid ventricular depolarization, as the action potential spreads through ventricular contractile fibers.

T wave- indicates ventricular repolarization as the ventricles are starting to relax.

Video of Normal electrocardiogram

An electrocardiogram is a composite record of action potentials produced by all the heart muscle fibers during each heartbeat. The instrument used to record the changes is an electrocardiograph.In reading an ECG, the size of the waves can provide clues to abnormalities. Larger P waves indicate enlargement of an atrium; an enlarged Q waves indicates a myocardial infarction; an enlarged R wave indicates enlarged ventricles. The T waves is elevated in hyperkalemia.


Analysis of an ECG also involve measuring the time spans between waves which are called intervals. The P-Q interval is the time from the beginning of the P wave to the beginning of the QRS complex. It represents the conduction time from the beginnning of atrial excitation to the beginning of ventricular excitation. Put another way, the P-Q interval is the time required for the action potential to travel through the atria, atrioventricular node and the remaining fibers of the conduction system. As the action potential is forced to detour around scar tissue caused by disorders like coronary artery disease and rheumatic fever. the P-Q interval lengthens.


The S-T segment which begin at the end of the S wave and end at the beginning of the T wave, represent the time when the ventricular contractile fibers are depolarized during the plateau phase of the action potential. The S-T segment is elevated in acute myocardial infarction and depressed when the heart muscle receive insufficient oxygen.


The Q-T interval extends from the start of the QRS complex to the end of  the T wave. I t is the time from the beginning of ventricular depolarization to the end of ventricular repolarization. The Q-T interval may be lengthened by myocardial damage and myocardial ischemia.


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