Faculty of Nursing

Anatomy and Physiology 2

"Lab Report "4

Experiment "6"

Recording of an Electrocardiogram

Instructor: Mu'amar Shaheen

Assistant: Bilal Arjoub

:Student Name and Number

Khaldoon Yahya (1121678), Maisa Naser Aldin (1121301), Aya Abu Farha (1121677), Hiba

Salem (1121327)
OBJECTIVES

- Identify the ECG and be able to distinguish between the normal and the abnormal

- ECG measurement for one person of each group

- Identified on the chart for ECG

- Learn installation and ECG reading

INTRODUCTION

The ECG (electrocardiogram) is a test that measures the electrical function of the heart.

The heart is a muscular organ that beats to pump blood through the body. The signals that make

the heart's muscle fibers contract come from the sinoatrial node (SA node). This is the natural

pacemaker of the heart. In an ECG test, the signals made while the heart is beating are recorded

and are shown on a piece of paper. This is known as an electrocardiogram. It shows any

problems with the heart's rhythm. The conduction of the heart beat through the heart is also

displayed. This may be affected by underlying heart disease. (Brandt, 2011) Many factors may

affect the results of the myocardium of the heart. These may include change in posture, vigorous

activity, exaggerated respiratory movements, drinking ice water, and smoking. (Hoehn &

Marieb, 2007)

Willem Einthoven is the first scientist to introduce the three limb leads that form an equilateral

triangle. (Conover, 2003) A lead is the potential difference between two electrodes.

(Electrocardiography 1 Laboratory, 2006) Lead one is between the right arm and the left arm

electrodes (the right arm is negative and the left arm is positive). Lead two is between the right

arm and left leg electrodes (the right arm is negative and the left leg is positive). Lead three is

between the left arm and the left leg electrodes (the left arm is negative and the left leg is
positive). Einthoven’s law states that the sum of the values of lead one and lead three should

equal the value of lead two. (Electrocardiography 1 Laboratory, 2006)

:RESULTS
P wave (amplitude): 1.5 mm

P wave (duration): 0.08 seconds

PQ Segment: 0.08 seconds

PR Interval: 0.16 seconds

QRS Complex: 0.06 seconds

ST Segment: 0.12 seconds

QT Interval: 0.40 seconds

T wave (amplitude): 4 mm

T wave (duration): 0.24 seconds

RR Interval: 0.88 seconds

R Peak Amplitude

Lead 1: 11 mm

Lead 2: 17.5 mm

Lead 3: 7.5 mm
DISCUSSION

:P wave

The P wave is the first hill-like structure that appears on the electrocardiogram (ECG). It

represents atrial depolarization. The electrocardiogram taken resulted in a P wave of height 1.5

mm. The normal value for the P wave height is anything less than 2.5 mm. (Watson, 2006)

Therefore, our value is considered to be normal. The normal duration for the P wave is between

0.08 seconds and 0.10 seconds. (Klabunde, 2007) The duration of the P wave in our ECG is 0.08

.seconds. Thus, our result is considered to be normal

:PR Segment

The PR segment is the distance from the end of the P wave to the beginning of the QRS

complex. (Hoehn & Marieb, 2007) During the PR segment, the electrical signals move at a slow

rate through the AV (atrioventricular) node. (Argyle, n.d.) The PR segment of our ECG is 0.08

seconds. The normal range for the PR segment is from 0.02 seconds to 0.12 seconds. (Hoehn &

Marieb, 2007)

:PR Interval

The PR interval is the distance between the beginning of the P wave and the beginning of the

QRS complex. (Hoehn & Marieb, 2007) The PR interval is the time during which the signal

passes from the SA node through the muscle of the atrium, the AV node, and the AV bundles.

(Mcinnes, 2006) The PR interval of our ECG is 0.16 seconds. The normal PR interval is

between 0.12 seconds to 0.20 seconds. (Argyle, n.d.) Therefore, our results are within the

.normal range
:QRS Complex

The QRS complex includes the Q wave, the R wave, and the S wave. It represents ventricular

depolarization. The normal duration of the QRS complex is 0.06 seconds to 0.10 seconds.

(Klabunde, 2007) The value that we obtained is 0.06 seconds. This value is considered to be

.normal

:ST Segment

The ST segment is the distance from the end of the QRS complex and the beginning of the T

wave. During this time, no electricity is flowing. The ST segment of our ECG is 0.12 seconds.

The normal value for the ST segment should be between 0.12 seconds and 0.20 seconds.

.(Argyle, n.d.) Thus, our result is normal

:QT Interval

The QT interval represents the distance between the beginning of the QRS complex and the

beginning of the end of the T wave. (Argyle, n.d.) It represents the time needed for

depolarization and repolarization of the ventricles to occur. (Klabunde, 2007) The normal value

for this interval ranges from 0.40 seconds to 0.44 seconds. (ECG Tutorial, n.d.) The value that

.we obtained was 0.40 seconds. This value is considered to be normal

:T wave

The T wave is the hill-like structure that occurs after the QRS complex. It represents

ventricular repolarization. The normal value for the T wave amplitude is 5 mm or less.

(Mcinnes, 2006) The value that we obtained is 4 mm. Therefore, the amplitude that we obtained

is normal. The duration for the T wave is usually longer than the depolarization phase.
(Klabunde, 2007) In other words, it is usually longer than 0.10 seconds. Our ECG has a T wave

.duration of 0.24 seconds. Thus, this value is considered to be normal

:RR Interval

The RR interval is the distance between the beginning of one QRS complex and the beginning

of the consecutive QRS complex. However, it could be measured by taking the distance between

two R peaks. Each R peak represents a heartbeat. (Moody, n.d.) The normal RR interval is

between 0.6 seconds and 1 second. (Hoehn & Marieb, 2007) The RR interval in our ECG is 0.88

seconds. The beat is normal and regular. The regularity was determined by measuring the RR

interval between different R peaks. The RR interval was approximately the same in all cases,

.indicating a regular heartbeat

:Heart Rate

The heart rate can be calculated from an ECG. It can be determined by more than one

method. One method used is by counting the number of small boxes between two QRS

complexes and dividing that number from 1500. (Klabunde, 2013) Our ECG had approximately

22 small boxes between two QRS complexes. The quotient that results when 1500 is divided by

22 is nearly 68. Therefore, the heart rate is about 68 beats per minute. This heart rate is

considered to be normal. The normal range for the heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per

minute. (Hoehn & Marieb, 2007)

:Einthoven's Law

The sum of lead one and lead three is 18.5 mm. The value of lead two is 17.5 mm.

According to Einthoven, the sum of lead one and lead three should equal the value of lead two.
The value differs by 1.0 mm. This difference is not a major one and is considered to be normal.

(Electrocardiography 1 Laboratory, 2006)

:CONCLUSION

In conclusion, through experience, we learned how to read an ECG. We also learned how to

record the values of the different waves, segments, and intervals. We also calculated the heart

rate and applied Einthoven's law. The results that we obtained were normal and there are several

articles that prove our outcomes.

:RESOURCES

Argyle, Bruce. (n.d.). Parts Of The ECG. Retrieved March 30, 2013 from

http://www.madsci.com/manu/ekg_part.htm

Brandt, Carl J. (2011). ECG (Electrocardiogram). Retrieved March 30, 2013 from

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/examinations/ecg.htm

Conover, Boudreau M. (2006). Understanding Electrocardiography. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby,

.Inc

Electrocardiography 1 Laboratory. (2006). CleveLabs. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Medical

.Devices Inc

ECG Tutorial. Retrieved March 30, 2013 from http://www.learntheheart.com/ECG-

QRSComplex.html

Hoehn, Katja & Marieb, Elaine N. (2007). Human Anatomy And Physiology. San Francisco,

California: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company

Klabunde, Richard E. (2007). Electrocardiogram. Retrieved March 30, 2013 from

http://www.cvphysiology.com/Arrhythmias/A009.htm

Klabunde, Richard E. (2013). Determining Heart Rate From The Electrocardiogram. Retrieved

April 1, 2013 from http://www.cvphysiology.com/Arrhythmias/A020.htm

Mcinnes, Nixon. (n.d.). ECG Basics. Retrieved March 30, 2013 from

http://www.ambulancetechnicianstudy.co.uk/ecgbasics.html
Moody, George B. (n.d.). RR Intervals, Heart Rate, and HRV Howto. Retrieved March 30, 2013

from http://physionet.incor.usp.br/tutorials/hrv

Watson, Will. 2006. Systematic Analysis Of The ECG Trace. Retrieved March 30, 2013 from

http://www.n3wt.nildram.co.uk/ECG/ECG2.htm