Action potential & ECG

8 important questions on Action potential & ECG

What is the difference between action potentials in the heart, and the ECG?

- In the clinic, the action potentials of different parts of the heart are not measured,
- but the difference in electrical activity between different parts of the heart is measured, which is the ECG.

What does it mean when the ECG shows a difference of electrical activity of 0?

It can mean that no cells are excited (have undergone an action potential), or that all cells are excited.

Which interval in the ECG shows the delay of the AV node?

The PR interval.
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Which interval in the ECG shows both depolarization and repolarization of the ventricles?

The QT interval.

What are the three things that determine the ECG?

1. The position the electrodes are placed in (signals vertical of the axis are not measured as strongly)
2. The distance between the electrodes
3. The mass of the heart

How does a transmural infarct influence the ECG?

- Not all parts of the heart receive oxygen and react normally to the electrical signal,
- which causes not all cells to be depolarized at the end of the QRS wave,
- which causes a signal between S and T (where you would expect 0)

What are the two kinds of ectopic beats?

1. Origin is extraventricular (= from the atria)
2. Origin is ventricular

How can the origin of ectopic beats be determined from the ECG?

By the width of the QRS, because
- when the origin is extraventricular, the QRS wave is normal, because the ventricles react to whatever signal comes through, so there is no difference with a normal signal
- when the origin is ventricular, the QRS wave is wider, because the normal conduction system is not used, so it is less efficient

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