| A | B |
|---|
| artifact | unwanted marks on the ECG tracing caused by activity other than the heart's electrical activity |
| electrodes | small sensors placed on the skin to detect the electrical activity from the heart |
| leads | covered wires that conduct the electrical impulse from the electrodes to the ECG machine |
| Einthoven triangle | a triangle formed by three of the limb electrodes, the left and right arms and the left leg |
| limb lead | lead that attaches to the arms or legs |
| bipolar lead | a type of ECG lead that measures the flow of electrical current in both directions |
| augmented lead | normally small ECG lead tracings that are increased in size by the ECG machine in order to be interpreted |
| unipolar lead | a type of ECG lead that measures the flow of electrical current in one direction only |
| precordial lead | a type of lead placed on the chest in front of the heart; known as a V lead |
| multichannel recorder | an ECG machine that monitors all 12 leads but records three leads at a time and switches automatically, recording each of the four sets of three leads |
| input | data entered into an ECG machine, usually through electrodes on the skin surface |
| signal processing | the process within the ECG machine that amplifies the electrical impulse and converts it to a mechanical action that appears as a waveform on the output display |
| output display | the part of the ECG machine that displays the tracing for the electrical activity of the heart, usually electronic or printed form of the 12 lead EKG |
| serial ECG comparison | multiple and frequent ECG tracings recorded at intervals based on the patient's condition and compared to monitor changes |
| speed control | a control on the ECG machine that regulates how fast or slow the paper runs during the tracing |
| millimeter (mm) | a unit of measurement to indicate the time of the ECG tracing. Time is measured on the horizontal axis |
| gain | a control on the ECG machine that increases or decreases the size of the deflections on the ECG tracing |
| millivolt (mV) | a unit of measurement to indicate voltage on the ECG tracing. Voltage is measured on the vertical axis |
| hertz | a unit of frequency that indicates cycles or events per second |
| bradycardia | heart rate that is less than 60 bpm |
| tachycardia | heart rate that is greater than 100 bpm |
| cardi/o | heart |
| -ologist | specialist |
| -ology | study of |
| arteri/o | artery |
| ather/o | plaque; fatty deposits |
| endo- | internal; within |
| -pnea | breathing |
| dys- | difficult; bad |
| my/o | muscle |
| a&w | alive and well |
| AAA | abdominal aortic aneurysm |
| ABG | arterial blood gas |
| A&Ox3 | alert and oriented to person, place, and time |
| AC; ac | before meals |
| ACLS | advanced cardiac life support |
| ad lib | as desired |
| ADAT | advance diet as tolerated |
| AEA | above the elbow amputation |
| AF | atrial fibrillation |
| agit; Agit | agitation |
| Afl or a flutter | atrial flutter |
| AHHD | arteriosclerotic hypertension heart disease |
| AICD | automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator |
| AIDS | acquired immunodefiency syndrome |
| AIMI | anteroinferior myocardial infarction |
| AIVR | accelerated idioventricular rhythm |
| AKA; a k amputation | above the knee amputation |
