The Mechanics of the Heart
An electrocardiogram, or EKG/ ECG, is a non-invasive test that measures the electrical activity of the heart and its electrical patterns. An electrical signal is sent through the heart to produce contractions that move the blood. This is what an EKG measures. In total that test may take from five to ten minutes and are ordered by a doctor to examine the heart more close. An EKG is done while the patient is lying down completely still (in order to reduce artifact or errors in the lines of the ECG). The patient must not have on any meatal including jewelry and piercings. Phones or others electronics should also be removed. This is best achieved if the patient removes clothes and is gowned(which is an option). The lead placements and the order for a 12 lead EKG is as follows: V1 (4th intercostal space on the right side of the chest), V2 (4th intercostal space on the adjacent left side of the chest) V4 (5th intercoastal space at the left smidclavicular line), V3 (In between V2 and V4), V6 (Midaxillary line with in left 5th intercostal space as with V4 and V5) , RA (Right arm anywhere between the shoulder and the elbow on muscle and …show more content…
The right leg is used as ground for the system, thus the overall shape should form a triangle. Although there are only 10 electrodes it is called a 12 lead test because it gives 12 pictures of the heart from different angles and viewpoints. Once all leads have been correctly placed then the ECG can be printed in order to be analyzed in which it’s
An electrocardiogram, or EKG/ ECG, is a non-invasive test that measures the electrical activity of the heart and its electrical patterns. An electrical signal is sent through the heart to produce contractions that move the blood. This is what an EKG measures. In total that test may take from five to ten minutes and are ordered by a doctor to examine the heart more close. An EKG is done while the patient is lying down completely still (in order to reduce artifact or errors in the lines of the ECG). The patient must not have on any meatal including jewelry and piercings. Phones or others electronics should also be removed. This is best achieved if the patient removes clothes and is gowned(which is an option). The lead placements and the order for a 12 lead EKG is as follows: V1 (4th intercostal space on the right side of the chest), V2 (4th intercostal space on the adjacent left side of the chest) V4 (5th intercoastal space at the left smidclavicular line), V3 (In between V2 and V4), V6 (Midaxillary line with in left 5th intercostal space as with V4 and V5) , RA (Right arm anywhere between the shoulder and the elbow on muscle and …show more content…
The right leg is used as ground for the system, thus the overall shape should form a triangle. Although there are only 10 electrodes it is called a 12 lead test because it gives 12 pictures of the heart from different angles and viewpoints. Once all leads have been correctly placed then the ECG can be printed in order to be analyzed in which it’s