Tracings (views) of cardiac electrical activity

taken from electrodes are called leads

however, in daily language lead is usually
used to describe a wire. In this article, leads are
used to describe views of electrical activity and
electrodes to identify sites on the body from
which wires transmit electrical information to
E! machines.
"n E! is a time#voltage gra$h of electrical
activity in the heart.
%olarisation &uscular electrical activity occurs
through the movement of ions (sodium, calcium,
$otassium) across cell membranes.
'e$olarisation ( electrical activity.
)e$olarisation ( end of electrical activity.
*ym$athetic
stimulation increases the heart rate, while
$arasym$athetic stimulation decreases it.
*inoatrial node +ormally, the sinoatrial (*")
node is the $acemaker , it initiates electrical
im$ulses and sets the heart rate.
"trioventricular node The atrioventricular ("-)
node acts like a gateway into the ventricular
conduction system, delaying im$ulses
for a$$ro.imately /.01/.2 seconds
If the "- node does not receive im$ulses,
it might become the $acemaker, ty$ically with
rates of 3/14/b$m
-entricular conduction Im$ulses travel
5uickly from the "- node through s$ecialised
conduction $athways6 the bundle of 7is, which
s$lits into the left and right bundle branches.
The left bundle branch further s$lits into anterior
and $osterior fasicles. 8rom the three fasicles
(right bundle branch, left anterior hemibranch,
left $osterior hemibranch) im$ulses s$read into
the ventricular muscle mass through the %urkin9e
If no im$ulses are received from the "-
node, the ventricular conduction $athway can
become the $acemaker, but its rate is often about
:/b$m, which is likely to com$romise the $atients
blood $ressure and might lead to cardiac arrest