Ekg/ecg Terminology

Front 1

Rate

Back 1

Number of beats per minute (BPM). i.e. Tachycardic, Bradycardic, Normal

Front 2

Rhythm

Back 2

Describes the rhythm of the heart beat. i.e. Sinus arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (a-fib), normal sinus rhythm (NSR), sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, paced (pacemaker)

Front 3

ST segments

Back 3

Element interpreted by physician. i.e. Elevated ST segments, normal ST segments

Front 4

Conduction/Intervals

Back 4

Element interpreted by the physician. i.e. PR interval, QT interval, QRS interval

Front 5

T-waves

Back 5

Elemented interpreted by the physician. i.e. Inverted T-waves, peaked T-waves, flattened T-waves

Front 6

Leads

Back 6

An EKG has 12 leads corresponding to different parts of the heart. They are as follows: I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6

Front 7

Axis

Back 7

Element interpreted by the physician. i.e. Right axis deviation, Left axis deviation, normal axis

Front 8

RBBB

Back 8

Right bundle branch block (related to conduction/intervals)

Front 9

LBBB

Back 9

Left bundle branch block (related to conduction/intervals)

Front 10

PVCs

Back 10

Premature ventricular contractions (related to rhythm)

Front 11

PACs

Back 11

Premature atrial contractions (related to rhythm)

Front 12

Ectopy

Back 12

An extra beat outside of the normal heart rhythm.