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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
UNDERSTANDING THE ECG
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UNDERSTANDING THE ECG
by aron, Dec 25, 1999 12:00AM
I am trying to understand why the ECG does what it does. can someone email me a response to the following questions:
1. What is a positive electrode? What is the difference between it and a negative electrode?
2. Does an electrode sense the charge OUTSIDE the myocardial cells or INSIDE them. In other words...why is it that when a wave of depolarization sweeps towards an electode, a POSITIVE deflection is recorded? Does that mean that relative to the outside charge at the wave front, that the charge where the electrode is, is more positive? (did that make sense)
3. What is a lead? Why do you only have 4 frontal electrodes (2 on the ankles and 2 on the wrists) but get out of them 6 limb leads? What does it mean to "make" one electrode negative relative to another?
Id really appreciate your help!!!!! You can email me a response to: ***@****
THANK YOU
1. What is a positive electrode? What is the difference between it and a negative electrode?
2. Does an electrode sense the charge OUTSIDE the myocardial cells or INSIDE them. In other words...why is it that when a wave of depolarization sweeps towards an electode, a POSITIVE deflection is recorded? Does that mean that relative to the outside charge at the wave front, that the charge where the electrode is, is more positive? (did that make sense)
3. What is a lead? Why do you only have 4 frontal electrodes (2 on the ankles and 2 on the wrists) but get out of them 6 limb leads? What does it mean to "make" one electrode negative relative to another?
Id really appreciate your help!!!!! You can email me a response to: ***@****
THANK YOU
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC, Dec 26, 1999 12:00AM
Thanks for your questions. You obviously have a mechanical interest in ECG recording. I would recommend the book by D. Dubin "Electocardiography". This is a easy to read book that will answer all you questions. Good luck.
I am in the medical field and an EKG tech, and I think that with all the info out there and the amount of questions you have, it might be best to get a book at the library, or the book store. Here is a site that may help too. There is a ton of information on the web. If the wonderful doctors have the time to answer all your questions, GOD BLESS them !
http://www.cardioassoc.com/patient_pgs/procedures/ekg.asp
Take care.
"Normal sinus rhythm, left anterior fascicular block, moderate voltage criteria for LVH, T-wave abnormality, and lastly:
consider lateral ischema."
I am diabetic, hypertensive, 52 year old woman.
I would appreciate your comments, as I don't see my doctor until 2/25 (unless more problems occur). Thanks so much!