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Electrocardiogram
Beep!…Beep!…Beep! is the audible rhythmic sound made as the strength of the heart muscle is measured. The signal cadence has a characteristic record that varies in every individual. This record is called an electrocardiogram, or ECG.
In the body, an array of systemic neural responses constantly occur, emitting electric currents. The electric currents can be detected on the surface of the body, and if a person is hooked to an amplifier, these impulses are recorded by an electrocardiograph.
Most of the information obtained is about the heart because the heart sends out electric currents in waves. This “wave of excitation” spreads through the heart wall and is accompanied by electric changes. The wave takes place in three distinct steps.
Initially, the “wave of excitation” accompanied by an electric change lasts for approximately 1 to 2 seconds after the contraction of the cardiac muscle. The electric impulses are discharged rhythmically from the sinoatrial (SA) node, the pacemaker of the heart. This spread of excitation over the muscle of the atrium indicates that the atrium has contracted.
Next, the peak of the ECG reading is due to the atrioventricular (AV) node, causing the ventricle to become excited.
Finally, the ventricles relax, and any changes in the wave indicate to trained medical staff any abnormalities within the heart.

What are the three steps of the 'wave of excitation' during an electrocardiogram?

  • A. The discharge from the SA node, the peak ECG, and the excitement of the ventricle.
  • B. The excitement of the ventricle, the relaxing of the ventricle, and the systemic neural response.
  • C. The contraction of the atrium, the relaxation of the atrium, and the contraction of the ventricle.
  • D. The excitation of the atrium, the excitement of the ventricle, and the relaxing of the ventricle.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct sequence of the 'wave of excitation' during an electrocardiogram includes the excitation of the atrium (contraction), the excitement of the ventricle (peak ECG), and the relaxing of the ventricle. This process starts with the discharge from the SA node, followed by the peak ECG due to the AV node, and ends with the relaxation of the ventricles. Understanding this sequence is crucial for interpreting ECG readings accurately and identifying any abnormalities within the heart.