Basics: Difference between revisions

24 bytes added ,  15 January 2010
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* Finally we have the ECG leads themselves.These will be discussed below.
* Finally we have the ECG leads themselves.These will be discussed below.


Note that the layout is different for every machine, but most machines will show the information above somewhere.
Note that the layout is different for each machine, but most machines will show the information above somewhere.
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==The electric discharge of the heart==
==The electric discharge of the heart==
[[Image:conduction_system_en.png|thumb|300px|The conduction system of the heart]]
[[Image:conduction_system_en.png|thumb|300px|The conduction system of the heart]]
'''The sinoatrial node (SA node) contains the fastest physiological pacemaker cells of the heart, therefore they determine the [[Rate|heart rate]].'''
'''The sinoatrial node (SA node) contains the fastest physiological pacemaker cells of the heart; therefore they determine the [[Rate|heart rate]].'''
'''First the [[heart|atria]] depolarise and contract, after that the [[heart|ventricles]]'''
'''First the [[heart|atria]] depolarize and contract. After that the [[heart|ventricles]]''' depolarize and contract.
The electrical signal between the atria and the ventricles goes from the sinus node via the atria to the AV-node (atrioventricular transition) to the His bundle and subsequently to the right and left bundle branch, which end in a dense network of Purkinje fibers.
The electrical signal between the atria and the ventricles goes from the sinus node via the atria to the AV-node (atrioventricular transition) to the His bundle and subsequently to the right and left bundle branch, which end in a dense network of Purkinje fibers.
The depolarization of the heart results in an electrical force which has a direction and magnitude: an electrical vector. This vector changes every millisecond of the depolarization. In the animation vectors for atrial depolarization, ventricular depolarization and ventricular repolarization are shown.
The depolarization of the heart results in an electrical force which has a direction and magnitude: an electrical vector. This vector changes every millisecond of the depolarization. In the animation vectors for atrial depolarization, ventricular depolarization and ventricular repolarization are shown.
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