EKG test study
A medical assistant is preparing a patient for an EKG. Which of the following instructions should the medical assistant provide?
"remove all clothing from the waist up."
What is the ratio of applied leads to recorded leads for a standard EKG machine?
10:12
How many leads are there on a standard electrocardiogram?
12
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75
Which of the following statements is true?
Place limb leads on soft tissue surfaces rather than the bone
How many leads does a Holter monitor have?
up to 5
^^^^^^^
ventricular tachycardia
Which of the following is the correct placement for V1 electrodes?
4th intercostal space, right of the sternum
Which of the following is the correct placement for V4 electrodes?
5th intercostal space at the junction of the left midclavicular line
A medical assistant is preparing a patient for an EKG. In which of the following locations should the assistant place the V4 lead?
5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line
What is the formula for calculating heart rate using the QRS complexes?
Count the number of QRS complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 10.
A heart attack is an "electrical" problem and sudden cardiac arrest is a "circulation" problem.
False
If there are artifacts seen on the EKG tracing on Leads I and III, check the left leg electrode.
False
With a ventricular pacemaker, a spike is seen after the QRS complex.
False
What does a stress test measure?
How the heart reacts to the increased need for oxygen during exercise.
A provider requests a rhythm strip in addition to a regular EKG tracing for a patient. The medical assistant should identify that which of the following leads provides the clearest recording of the heart rhythm?
II
Which chamber of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?
Left atrium
Which chamber of the heart contracts to send oxygenated blood through the aortic valve and out to the body's cells?
Left ventricle
What should the assistant do after seeing an urgent problem on an EKG tracing?
Notify the physician right away.
Which of the following color is associated with the V5 chest or precordial lead?
Orange
Which component of the ECG cycle shows ventricular depolarization?
QRS
If ECG artifacts are seen on Leads I and II, what is the likely source of interference?
Right arm electrode
Which limb electrode is used as a reference point and is not part of the ECG recording?
Right leg (RL)
Which of these tissues is known as the body's "natural pacemaker?"
SA node
What is the term for a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute?
Sinus bradycardia
An EKG tracing shows an expected P wave, QRS complex, and T wave configuration. There are eleven complete cardiac cycles on a 6-second strip. This represents which of the following cardiac rhythms?
Sinus tachycardia
What type of ECG artifact is caused by muscle movement, such as shivering?
Somatic tremor
What is the contraction phase of a heartbeat?
Systole
A medical assistant notes a wandering baseline throughout an EKG tracing. Which of the following electrocardiograph issues could have resulted in this occurrence?
The electrode pads were defective or poorly attached.
An atrial pacemaker will generate a spike followed by a P wave and a normal QRS complex.
True
Which of the following best describes electrocardiogram?
Used to record electrical activity of the heart.
Which of the following are precordial leads?
V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6
After the first precordial electrode is placed, what is the correct order for the next three electrodes?
V2, then V4, then V3.
Which of the following options is a correct chest electrode placement?
V3 electrode is placed midway between V2 and V4 on the 5th rib.
Which of these arrhythmias will result in death without immediate treatment?
Ventricular Fibrillation
When does cardiac arrest occur?
When the heart stops beating unexpectedly
electrocardiogram
a cardiac test that records electrical activity of the heart, provides information about heart rate and rhythm, and can show evidence of a previous heart attack
holter monitor
a portable device for cardiac monitoring that is worn for at least 24 hours
premature atrial contraction
a premature contraction that results when the atria are triggered to contract earlier than they should
ventricular tachycardia
a regular, fast rhythm characterized by large, irregular, wide QRS complexes on the EKG.
atrial flutter
a single area within the atrial tissue firing at a faster rate than the rate the ventricles are responding to
ventricular fibrillation
a type of abnormal heart rhythm in which ventricles twitch or quiver, not pumping blood to the rest of the body
artifact
alteration or interference on the EKG that is not related to cardiac electrical activity; appears as distorted lines or waves
The stiffening of blood vessels due to fatty plaque build up is called ____________.
atherosclerosis
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atrial fibrillation
Atrial tachycardia is a regular, fast rhythm characterized by large, irregular, wide QRS complexes on the EKG.
false
Which of the following symptoms does not warrant an order for EKG?
headache
A medical assistant notices rhythmic sharp spikes throughout an EKG tracing. Which of the following artifacts is occurring?
interference
Which of the following locations is the red wire connected?
left leg
stress testing
monitoring the heart during exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike to evaluate how the heart responds to stress
A reduction in blood flow to the heart is called _________________.
myocardial ischemia
premature ventricular contraction
premature contraction in the ventricles
When performing an EKG, a medical assistant notices a widened QRS complex on the patient's EKG strip. Which of the following is a possible cause of this type of artifact?
premature ventricular contraction
sinus rhythm
rhythm that originates from the sinus (SA) node and describes the characteristic rhythm of the human heart.
Which of the following locations is the white wire connected?
right arm
A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has shortness of breath for an EKG. In which of the following positions should the assistant place the patient?
semi-fowlers
The lines between which leads form Einthoven's triangle?
standard
All of the following are guidelines for electrode use and maintenance, except:
store electrodes in a refrigerator
