EKG and Electrocardiography Flashcards
6 cards from real RMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 EKG and Electrocardiography flashcards as text
What does the P wave on an EKG tracing represent?
Answer: Atrial depolarization
The P wave represents atrial depolarization — the electrical impulse that spreads across the atria, causing them to contract and push blood into the ventricles.
How many electrodes are applied to the patient's body for a standard 12-lead EKG?
Answer: 10
A standard 12-lead EKG uses 10 electrodes (4 on the limbs and 6 on the chest/precordial positions) to generate 12 different views of the heart's electrical activity.
Where is electrode V4 placed during a 12-lead EKG?
Answer: Midclavicular line, 5th intercostal space
V4 is placed at the 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line (the imaginary line that passes through the middle of the clavicle).
What EKG artifact is commonly caused by the patient's muscle movement or shivering?
Answer: Somatic tremor artifact
Somatic tremor artifact appears as an irregular, rapid baseline variation on the EKG tracing caused by skeletal muscle activity such as shivering, tremors, or patient movement.
Which EKG finding is associated with acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)?
Answer: ST segment elevation
ST segment elevation is a classic EKG finding in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), indicating ischemia and injury to the myocardium.
What is the normal duration of the QRS complex on a standard EKG?
Answer: 0.06 to 0.10 seconds
The normal QRS complex duration is 0.06 to 0.10 seconds (60 to 100 milliseconds), representing rapid ventricular depolarization through the His-Purkinje system.