Components of the EKG

• PR interval goes from the beginning of the P wave to the beginning of the QRS (so not to R)
• P wave?

  represents atrial depolarization or the contraction of the atria (SA node fires and both of the atrias contract and pushing blood forward)
• P wave: electricity from the SA node is going through the ventriculars to the AV node
• PR interval: how long does it take to get from the SA node to the AV node
• PR interval: measure from the beginning of the P wave to the end of the PR segment (to the Q)
• QRS complex?

  ventricular depolarization (ventriculars are contracting pushing blood forward)
• QRS complex: electricity going through the bundle of his and the purkinje fibers and it should correlate with the pulse
• ST segment?

  beginning of ventricular repolarization (beginning of the relaxation to repeat)
• elevated or depressed ST segment is indicative of MI or damage
• T wave?

  ventricular repolarization (after ventricles have pushed blood out to the body and the heart fully relaxes)
• peaked T wave: increased potassium levels
• inverted T wave: ischemia
• T = TIME to relax
• repolarization = Relaxing, repolarizing, refilling with blood
• U wave?

  RARELY seen; repolarization of purkinje fibers and follows directly after the T wave
• QT interval?


  total time for ventricular depolarization and repolarization
• prolonged QT can be caused by medications, brain injury, and lead to torses de pointe (deadly)
• analysis of a rhythm strip?


  determine the rate, is it regular or irregular, are there P waves, are the P waves and QRS 1 to 1, PR interval (same distance), QRS interval (are all components present), name the rhythm