electrocardiograms
Cardiac electrical recordings
Electrocardiograms are graphic recordings of the heart's electrical activity, produced by a machine that detects and traces the tiny voltage changes accompanying each heartbeat.
Doctors use them to diagnose irregular rhythms, heart attacks, and other cardiac conditions.
Often abbreviated EKG or ECG: The electrocardiogram showed an abnormal pattern.
Pattern of heartbeats
- arrhythmiaAbnormal cardiac rhythm
- atrial fibrillationDisorganized cardiac rhythm disorder
- myocardial infarctionCardiac tissue death event
- tachycardiaExcessively fast pulse
bradycardia · ischemia · heart block · ventricular fibrillation · angina · cardiac arrest · palpitations · murmur
Goes in front
- electrodesElectrical contact points
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- baselineStandard for comparison
tracing · voltage · millivolts · deflection · calibration · graph paper · bipolar · unipolar
Evaluating performance under strain
- cardiac monitoringObserving heart function continuously
- treadmill testCardiac evaluation during exertion
- ambulatoryAble to walk
- telemetryDistant automated data collection
vital signs · bedside · emergency room · ICU · preoperative · screening · routine checkup · cardiologist
Power-driven working device
- recorderEnd-blown wooden flute
- printoutPhysical copy from device
- gelWobbly semi-solid substance
- cablesHeavy ropes or wires
portable device · wireless · digital · analog · wearable · Apple Watch · defibrillator · monitor
heart rhythm
Pattern of heartbeats
- arrhythmiaAbnormal cardiac rhythm
- atrial fibrillationDisorganized cardiac rhythm disorder
- myocardial infarctionCardiac tissue death event
tachycardia · bradycardia · ischemia · heart block · ventricular fibrillation · angina · cardiac arrest · palpitations · murmur · hypertrophy
leads
Goes in front
- electrodesElectrical contact points
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
baseline · tracing · voltage · millivolts · deflection · calibration · graph paper · bipolar · unipolar · precordial
stress test
Evaluating performance under strain
- cardiac monitoringObserving heart function continuously
- treadmill testCardiac evaluation during exertion
- ambulatoryAble to walk
telemetry · vital signs · bedside · emergency room · ICU · preoperative · screening · routine checkup · cardiologist · technician
machine
Power-driven working device
cables · portable device · wireless · digital · analog · wearable · Apple Watch · defibrillator · monitor · chest strap
electrocardiogramsCT scans
Computed tomography imaging
X-rays · ultrasounds · PET scans · angiograms · echocardiograms