Electrocardiogram The tracing made by an electrocardiograph Electrocardiograph an instrument for recording the changes of electrical potential occurring during

the heartbeat used especially in diagnosing abnormalities of heart action

Cardiac conduction system

Sinoatrial Node (SA)

the impulse generating tissue located in the right atrium of the heart

Atrioventricular Node (AV)

the tissue between the atria and the ventricles of the heart, conducts the normal electrical impulse from the atria to the ventricles SA AV His bundle Purkinje fibers
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Electrocardiogram (ECG) (cont.)

ECG Waves and Intervals

P wave: the sequential activation (depolarization) of the right and left atria QRS complex: right and left ventricular depolarization ST-T wave: ventricular repolarization U wave: probably represents "afterdepolarizations" in the ventricles PR interval: time interval from onset of atrial depolarization (P wave) to onset of ventricular depolarization (QRS complex) QRS duration: duration of ventricular muscle depolarization QT interval: duration of ventricular depolarization and repolarization RR interval: duration of ventricular cardiac cycle (an indicator of ventricular rate) PP interval: duration of atrial cycle (an indicator of atrial rate)
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ECG Signal Characteristics

Signal is generated in the heart Amplitude range: -5 mV to +5 mV (usually the packed up signal on the body surface is 1 mV) Frequency range: 0.05 to 1500 Hz Acquisition by surface electrodes

Lead configurations for ECG Acquisition

1. Bipolar limb leads (Einthoven) 2. Unipolar limb leads or Augmented limb leads (Goldberg) 3. Unipolar chest leads (Wilson)

Bipolar limb leads (Einthoven)

Lead I

Lead II

Lead III

Signal shape of Bipolar limb leads (Einthoven)

Lead I

Lead II

Lead III
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Unipolar limb leads or Augmented limb leads (Goldberg)

Lead aVR

Lead aVL

Lead aVF

Signal shape of Unipolar limb leads

Lead aVR

Lead aVL

Lead aVF

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Signal processing of ECG

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