Controlling the heartbeat

• What piece of equipment is used to monitor heart function?

  Electrocardiograms (ECGs)
• What stages of the cardiac cycle can be shown in an ECG?

  • P wave - Atrial systole
  • QRS - Ventricular systole
  • T wave - Diastole
• What can an ECG help diagnose?

  1. Tachycardia - This is an abnormally rapid heart rate.
  2. Bradycardia - This is an abnormally slow heart rate.
  3. Ectopic heartbeats - This is extra heartbeats out of the normal rhythm.
  4. Atrial fibrillation - This is the abnormally rapid and ineffective contraction of the atria.