Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) Glossary of TermsThe following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) article.
Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient. Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th... See the entire definition of AcuteAcute myocardial infarction: A heart attack. Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be... See the entire definition of AnatomyAngina: Chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The pain is ... See the entire definition of AnginaAnxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa... See the entire definition of AnxietyAorta: The largest artery in the body, the aorta arises from the left ventricle of the he... See the entire definition of AortaArtery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far... See the entire definition of ArteryAtherosclerosis: A process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium-... See the entire definition of AtherosclerosisAtria: The plural of atrium. Atrial: Pertaining to the atria, the upper chambers of the heart, as in atrial fibrillatio... See the entire definition of AtrialAtrial fibrillation: An abnormal and irregular heart rhythm in which electrical signals ar... See the entire definition of Atrial fibrillationAtrial flutter: Well-organized but overly rapid contractions of the atrium of the heart (u... See the entire definition of Atrial flutterAtrioventricular node: The electrical relay station between the upper and lower chambers o... See the entire definition of Atrioventricular nodeAtrium: An entry chamber. On both sides of the heart, the atrium is the chamber that leads... See the entire definition of AtriumAV node: Atrioventricular node. Axilla: Armpit. Baseline: Information or data gathered at the beginning of a period from which variations ... See the entire definition of BaselineBlood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is... See the entire definition of Blood pressureBradycardia: A slow heart rate, usually defined as less than 60 beats per minute. Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func... See the entire definition of BrainBreast bone: Familiar name for the sternum, the long flat bone in the middle of the front ... See the entire definition of Breast boneCarbon dioxide: A gas which is the byproduct of cellular metabolism and which collects in ... See the entire definition of Carbon dioxideChest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t... See the entire definition of ChestChest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart... See the entire definition of Chest painCirculatory: Having to do with circulation, the movement of fluid in a regular or circuito... See the entire definition of CirculatoryContraction: The tightening and shortening of a muscle. Defibrillator: A device that corrects an abnormal heart rhythm by delivering electrical sh... See the entire definition of DefibrillatorECG: Electrocardiogram. Electrocardiogram: A recording of the electrical activity of the heart. Abbreviated ECG an... See the entire definition of ElectrocardiogramFibrillation: In cardiology, an abnormal and erratic twitching of the heart muscle. Flutter: Flutter is a rapid vibration or pulsation. The difference between flutter and fib... See the entire definition of FlutterHeart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ... See the entire definition of HeartHeart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo... See the entire definition of Heart attackHeart block: A blockage in the conduction of the normal electrical impulses in the heart. ... See the entire definition of Heart blockHeart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ... See the entire definition of Heart diseaseHeart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically... See the entire definition of Heart failureHeart muscle: A type of muscle with unique features only found in the heart. The heart mus... See the entire definition of Heart muscleHeart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ... See the entire definition of Heart rateHeart rhythm disorders: Abnormal rhythm of the heartbeat due to irregularities in transmis... See the entire definition of Heart rhythm disordersInfarction: The formation of an infarct, an area of tissue death, due to a local lack of o... See the entire definition of InfarctionInferior: In anatomy, below or toward the feet. As opposed to superior. The liver is infer... See the entire definition of InferiorLeft atrium: The upper right chamber of the heart. The left atrium receives oxygenated blo... See the entire definition of Left atriumLeft ventricle: The left lower chamber of the heart that receives blood from the left atri... See the entire definition of Left ventricleLeg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an... See the entire definition of LegLightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinc... See the entire definition of LightheadednessLimb: An arm or a leg. Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon... See the entire definition of LungsMetabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ... See the entire definition of MetabolismMPH: Master of public health, a degree designating successful training in analyzing past, ... See the entire definition of MPHMuscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T... See the entire definition of MuscleMuscular: Having to do with the muscles. Also, endowed with above average muscle developme... See the entire definition of MuscularMyocardial infarction: A heart attack. Abbreviated MI. Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in... See the entire definition of NauseaNode: Literally a knot, a node is a collection of tissue. For example a lymph node, is a ... See the entire definition of NodeNurse: 1) A person trained, licensed, or skilled in nursing. 2) To feed an infant at the ... See the entire definition of NurseOxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen... See the entire definition of OxygenPacemaker: A system that sends electrical impulses to the heart in order to set the hear... See the entire definition of PacemakerPain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa... See the entire definition of PainPalpitations: Unpleasant sensations of irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart. In ... See the entire definition of PalpitationsPulmonary: Having to do with the lungs. Pulmonary artery: One of the two vessels which are formed as terminal branches of the pulm... See the entire definition of Pulmonary arteryQRS complex: The deflections in an electrocardiogram (EKG) tracing that represent the vent... See the entire definition of QRS complexRight atrium: The right upper chamber of the heart. The right atrium receives deoxygenated... See the entire definition of Right atriumRight ventricle: The lower right chamber of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood fro... See the entire definition of Right ventricleSA node: The SA node (SA stands for sinoatrial) is one of the major elements in the cardi... See the entire definition of SA nodeShock: In medicine, a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow... See the entire definition of ShockShortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ... See the entire definition of Shortness of breathShoulder: A structure made up of two main bones: the scapula (shoulder blade) and the hume... See the entire definition of ShoulderSinoatrial node: The heart's natural pacemaker, one of the major elements in the cardiac c... See the entire definition of Sinoatrial nodeSinus: 1. An air-filled cavity in a dense portion of a skull bone. The sinuses decr... See the entire definition of SinusSinus bradycardia: A regular but unusually slow heart beat (50 beats/minute or less at res... See the entire definition of Sinus bradycardiaSinus node: The sinus node is one of the major elements in the cardiac conduction system, ... See the entire definition of Sinus nodeSinus rhythm: The normal regular rhythm of the heart set by the natural pacemaker of the h... See the entire definition of Sinus rhythmSinus tachycardia: Fast heartbeat (tachycardia) that occurs because of overly rapid firing... See the entire definition of Sinus tachycardiaStage: As regards cancer, the extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spre... See the entire definition of StageSyncope: Partial or complete loss of consciousness with interruption of awareness of one... See the entire definition of SyncopeSyndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process. Tachycardia: A rapid heart rate, usually defined as greater than 100 beats per minute. Vena cava: The superior vena cava is the large vein which returns blood to the heart from ... See the entire definition of Vena cavaVentricle: A chamber of an organ. For example, the four connected cavities in the central ... See the entire definition of VentricleVentricles: 1, The right ventricle and the left ventricle, the lower two chambers o... See the entire definition of VentriclesVentricular: Pertaining to the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart, as in ventricu... See the entire definition of VentricularVentricular fibrillation: An abnormal and irregular heart rhythm in which there are rapid ... See the entire definition of Ventricular fibrillationVentricular tachycardia: An abnormal heart rhythm that is rapid and regular and that origi... See the entire definition of Ventricular tachycardia
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