Alternating Current (AC) interference

Electrical interference that looks like small uniform spikes on an ECG

Amplifier

Device on an ECG that magnifies the heart's electrical impulses so they can be recorded

Arrhythmia

Abnormal heart rate/rhythm

Artifact

Changes caused on on ECG because of movement, machine malfunction, or other outside influence

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

Produces the heart's electrical impulses

Augmented Leads

Measure Cardiac activity from one electrode on the body at a time.

(aVR, aVL, aVF)

Baseline

Line that separates cardiac waves on an ECG

Bipolar Lead

Standard Limb Leads

(I, II, III)

Cardiac Cycle

One complete heartbeat.

Contraction & Relaxation of the heart.

Depolarization

Discharge of electrical activity that causes contraction.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Record of the heart's electrical activity

Electrocardiograph

Machine that records the electrical activity of the heart.

Electrocardiography

Process of recording the electrical activity of the heart.

Electrodes

Sensors used to pick up electrical activity from the heart.

Ischemia

Poor blood supply to body tissue causing a lack of oxygen to the tissue.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Heart Attack

Normal Sinus Rhythm

Heart rhythm that follows an expected/normal pattern.

Pacemaker

Delivers electrical impulses to the hart muscle with the SA node cannot.

Premature Atrial Contraction

Electrical impulse in the atria starts before the next expected heartbeat.

Polarization

Phase when the heart is in a ready state to contract.

Pulmonary Function Tests

Tests done to assess lung function.

Pulse Oximetry

Method to measure the amount of oxygen in a patient's blood.

Repolarization

Rest phase of the ECG cycle.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

Pacemaker of the heart

Sinus Bradycardia

Heart rate less than 60 beats per minute

Sinus Tachycardia

Rapid heart rate of 100-180 beats per minute

Spirometry

Test that measures lung volume and capacity over time

Standardization

Process that ensures that an ECG taken on one machine will compare to an ECG taken on another machine.

Standardization Mark

Mark on ECG paper that indicates ECG is standardized.

(10mm)

Stylus

Heated device that records the heart's activity on heat-sensitive graph paper.

Tracing

Recording of the ECG cycle

Treadmill Test

Cardiac Stress Test

Exercise Stress Test

U Wave

Normal small upward curve on an ECG that follows a complete ECG cycle

Unipolar Leads

Augmented Leads

Ventricular Tachycardia

(V tach)

Three or more PVCs w/heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute

Wandering Baseline

Shift on the ECG tracing from the center of the paper