Physiology Lessons Lesson 6 Data Report

for use with the ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY II

Biopac Student Lab
PC under Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 Pro
or Macintosh 8.6 – 9.1
Manual Revision
PL3.6.7-ML3.0.7/061903
Bipolar Leads (Leads I, II, III)
Einthoven’s Law
Mean Electrical Axis on the Frontal Plane

Richard Pflanzer, Ph.D.

- Lead I +
Associate Professor - -
Indiana University School of Medicine
L
Le

ead

Purdue University School of Science

ad

III
II

+ +
William McMullen
Vice President RA LA
BIOPAC Systems, Inc.

BIOPAC Systems, Inc.

42 Aero Camino, Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 685-0066, Fax (805) 685-0067 LL
Email: info@biopac.com
Web Site: http://www.biopac.com
Page 2 Lesson 6: ECG II Biopac Student Lab

Lesson 6

ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY II
Bipolar Leads (Leads 1, II, III), Einthoven’s Law, and
Mean Electrical Axis on the Frontal Plane

DATA REPORT
Student’s Name:
Lab Section:
Date:
Subject Profile
Name Height
Age Weight
Gender: Male / Female

I. DATA
A. Direction of R waves for different leads
Put a check in the column to indicate whether the R wave is positive “+” or negative “−” for
each Lead configuration:
Table 6.1
R Wave
Lead + −
Lead I
Lead II
Lead III

B. Mean Electrical Magnitude and Axis — Graphical Estimate

Use Table 6.2 to record measurements from the Data Analysis section:
Table 6.2
CONDITION QRS
Lead I [CH 1] max Lead III [CH 3] max
Lying Down
Sitting Up
Breathing In
Breathing Out
Biopac Student Lab Lesson 6: ECG II Page 3

One way to approximate the mean electrical axis in the frontal plane is to plot the magnitude of
the R-wave from Lead I and Lead III, as shown in the Introduction (Fig. 6.4).
1. Draw a perpendicular line from the ends of the vectors (right angles to the
axis of the Lead) using a protractor or right angle guide.
2. Determine the point of intersection of these two perpendicular lines.
3. Draw a new vector from point 0,0 to the point of intersection.
The direction of this resulting vector approximates the mean electrical axis of the heart. The
length of this vector approximates the mean potential of the heart.
Create two plots on each of the following graphs, using data from Table 6.2. Use a different
color pencil or pen for each plot.
Graph 1: Lying down and Sitting Up

0,0 mV
-.1 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 1 1.5 2
0° Lead I

10°
.5

20°
1

30
°
mV .5
1

40
°
50
2 120°

°
60
° L
110

70°
2
100°

ead
80°
L

90°
ead

II
III

From the above graph, find the following values:

Condition Mean Electrical Magnitude Mean Electrical Axis
Lying Down
Sitting Up
Page 4 Lesson 6: ECG II Biopac Student Lab

Explain the difference (if any) in Mean Electrical Magnitude and Axis under the two conditions:

Graph 2: Breathing In /Breathing Out

0,0 mV
-.1 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 1 1.5 2
0° Lead I

10°
.5

20°
1

30
°
mV .5
1

40
°

50
2 120°

°
60
° L
110

70°
2
100°

ead
80°
L

90°
ead

II
III

From the above graph, find the following values:

Condition Mean Electrical Magnitude Mean Electrical Axis
Breathing In
Breathing Out

Explain the difference (if any) in Mean Electrical Magnitude and Axis under the two conditions:
Biopac Student Lab Lesson 6: ECG II Page 5

C. Mean Electrical Axis and Magnitude — More Accurate Approximation

Add the Q, R, and S potentials to obtain net potentials.
Lying down:
Lead I Lead III
Q Q
R R
S S

QRS Net 1 QRS Net 2

Graph 3: Lying Down

0,0 mV
-.1 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 1 1.5 2
0° Lead I

10°
.5

20°
1

30°
mV .5
1

40
°
50
2 120°

°
60
° L
110

70°
2
100°

ead
80°
Le

90°
ad

II
III

From the above graph, find the following values:

Condition Mean Electrical Magnitude Mean Electrical Axis
Lying Down

Explain the difference in Mean Electrical Magnitude and Axis for the Lying Down data in this
plot (Graph 3) and the first plot (Graph 1).
Page 6 Lesson 6: ECG II Biopac Student Lab

II. QUESTIONS

D. Define ECG

E. Define Einthoven’s Law

F. Define Einthoven’s Triangle

G. What factors affect the orientation of the Mean Electrical Axis?

H. Refer to Table 6.2:

How did the amplitudes of Lead I and Lead III change between inhalation and exhalation?
Did the heart’s axis and magnitude change?

I. What factors affect the amplitude of the R wave recorded on the different leads?

J. Compare the mean electrical axis and magnitude obtained when

i. using just the amplitude measurement of the R-wave vs. net potentials

ii. lying down vs. sitting up

End of Lesson 6 Data Report