Electrocardiograms

• Can be used to monitor the electrical activity of the heart.
• Some of the electrical activity that is generated by the heart spreads through tissue surrounding the heart and the skin.
• A healthy trace consists of a series of waves and has a particular shape. 
• The waves are labelled P,Q,R,S and T. 

- Wave P shows excitation of the arita, when thyey begin to contract and therefore represents atrial systole.

-Wave QRS indicates exciation of the ventricles, when they begin to contract and therefore represent ventricular systole. 

-Wave T shows diastole, when the heart chambers are relaxing. 

The shape of an ECG can indicate that there is a problem with the heart muscle. It can detect various…