| A | B |
|---|
| angioplasty | surgical repair of blood vessels |
| arrhythmias | abnormal heartbeats |
| artifact | unwanted marks on the ECG tracing caused by activity other than the heart's electrical activity |
| augmented | normally small ECG lead tracings that are increased in size by the ECG machine in order to be interpreted |
| automatic external defibrillator | portable device that recognizes abnormal rhythm and determines if the rhythm is considered a "shockable rhythm" |
| bipolar | a type of ECG lead that measures the flow of electrical current in two directions at the same time |
| code blue | typically means that a patient is unresponsive and needs assistance immediately |
| defibrillator | machine that produces and sends an electrical shock to the heart which is intended to correct the electrical pattern of the heart |
| Einthoven triangle | a triangle formed by three of the limb electrodes and is used to determine the first six leads of the 12-lead ECG |
| electrocardiology | the study of the heart's electrical activity |
| electrodes | small sensors placed on the skin to detect the electrical activity from the heart |
| gain | a control on the ECG machine that increases or decreases the size of the ECG tracing |
| galvanometer | an nstrument used to detect electrocardiograph waves |
| holter monitor | instrument that records the electrical activity of the heart during a patient's normal daily activities |
| interval | the period of time between two activities within the heart |
| leads | covered wires that conductt the electricla impulse from the electrodes to the ECG machine |
| myocardial infarction | blockage of one or more of coronary arteries causing lack of oxygen to the heart and damage to the muscle tissue |
| oscilloscope | a monitor that shows the tracing of the electrical activity of the heart |
| pacemakers | device that delivers a small, measured amount of electrical energy to cause myocardial depolarization |
| precordial | a type of lead placed on the chest in front of the heart |
| segment | a protion or part of the electrical tracing produced by the heart |
| telemedicine | ECG tracings are communicated to the physician via the telephone or digital system |
| telemetry | transmission of data electronically to an unattached or distant location |
| unipolar | a type of ECG lead that measures the flow of electrical current in one direction only |
