Electrocardiograms

Please click on the links you’d like to learn more about. If you are a beginner, we suggest you read the content in order.

Normal EKGs

• Electrophysiology of the Heart
  • Types of Cardiac Cells: Pacemaker, Conducting, and Myocardial Cells
  • How Cardiac Cells Communicate: Ion Channels, Pacemaker Activity, Gap Junctions and Heart Rhythm
  • How Cardiac Cells Generate the Heart’s Rhythm: Interpreting EKG Waves
• The Anatomy of an EKG sheet and an EKG
  • Understanding the EKG Paper Grid
  • EKG Calibration Guide: Adjusting Speed and Amplitude for Accurate Electrocardiogram Interpretation
  • The Basic Components of an EKG: Waves, Segments and Intervals
• Electrodes and Leads
  • Understanding the Difference Between Electrodes and Leads in EKGs
  • Exploring Limb Leads: Capturing the Heart’s Vertical Plane
  • Exploring Precordial Leads: Capturing the Heart’s Anteroposterior (Horizontal) Plane
  • Understanding Vectors in Electrocardiography: A Comprehensive Guide to the Heart’s Electrical Axis
• Reading an EKG
  • Estimating the Heart Rate on an Electrocardiogram
  • Normal EKG Rhythm, Axis, Intervals, and Waves
  • Recognizing Normal Variations and Artifacts on an EKG
  • A Step-by-Step Guide to reading an EKG

Abnormal EKGs

• Abnormalities of Rhythm
  • Sinoatrial (SA) Node Rhythms
  • Supraventricular Rhythms
  • Ventricular Rhythms
  • Differentiating Ventricular rhythms from Supraventricular rhythms
• Conduction Abnormalities
  • Sinoatrial (SA) Exit Blocks: Types, EKG Patterns, and Differentiation
  • Atrioventricular (AV) Block Patterns
  • AV Dissociation vs Third-Degree Heart Block: Key Differences and Clinical Significance
  • Bundle Branch Blocks

• Diagnosing Atrial and Ventricular Hypertrophy on an EKG
• Interpreting EKG Changes in Ischemia and Infarction
• EKG Changes in Electrolyte Abnormalities and Other Medical Conditions
• Understanding EKG Lead Reversal: Identifying and Correcting Misplaced Leads for Accurate Readings
• Pacemaker Assessment on an EKG
  • Cardiac Pacing: Mechanisms, Types, and EKG Interpretations
  • Sensing and Capture in Cardiac Pacemakers: Key Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
  • Pacemaker Coding Systems And Analyzing Paced EKG strips

Summing it Up

• A 3D Analysis of the Heart on an EKG: What each lead tells us
• P-wave changes
• PR-segment and PR-Interval changes
• QRS Complex Changes
• J-point, ST Segment, QT interval Changes
• T- and U- wave Changes
• The Lead Reversal Nightmare
• Differentials for Common EKG findings