Skip to main content

Understanding ECG and Cardiac Physiology Study Guide

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the cardiac cycle, covering the electrical conduction system (SA node, AV node, Purkinje fibers), the generation of action potentials (depolarization and repolarization), the influence of extrinsic innervation (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems), and the mechanical events driven by pressure gradients. It explains the phases of the cardiac cycle (isovolumic contraction, systole, isovolumic relaxation, diastole) and their correlation wi

Save this study guide to your study set

Sign up free

Your learning path

Cardiac Physiology, Innervation, and ECG Fundamentals

Cardiac Physiology and Innervation

The cardiac cycle consists of mechanical and electrical events involving myocardial cells, conduction cells, and pressure gradients.

  • cardiac cycle
  • myocardial cells
  • conduction cells
  • endocardial cells
  • action potential
  • depolarization
  • repolarization
  • intrinsic innervation
  • SA node
  • AV node
  • Bundle of HIS
  • Purkinje fibers
  • extrinsic innervation
  • sympathetic nervous system
  • parasympathetic nervous system
  • pressure gradients

Basic ECG and Cardiac Physiology

An electrocardiogram is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart that monitors rate, rhythm, axis, hypertrophy, and infarction through the movement of ions.

  • electrocardiogram
  • myocardium
  • depolarization
  • repolarization
  • P wave
  • PR segment
  • PR interval
  • QRS complex
  • ST segment
  • T wave
  • QT interval
  • atrial depolarization
  • ventricular depolarization
  • ventricular repolarization
  • isoelectric line

Introduction to Cardiac Cycle and Conduction

This material covers the cardiac cycle, Wiggers Diagram, cardiac innervation, and the electrical conduction system.

  • Cardiac cycle phases
  • Wiggers Diagram
  • Cardiac conduction system
  • Action potential
  • Depolarization
  • Repolarization
  • SA Node
  • AV Node
  • Bundle of HIS
  • Right and Left Branch Bundles
  • Purkinje fibers
  • Extrinsic innervation
  • Sympathetic Nervous System
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System

ECG Electrical Activity and Lead Positioning

An ECG is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes and leads.

  • electrical activity of the heart
  • ECG electrodes
  • ECG leads
  • Einthoven's Triangle
  • cardiac monitoring electrode positioning

ECG Components and Cardiac Cycle

This content illustrates cardiac electrical activity through ECG components including the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave to define systole and diastole.

  • P wave
  • Atrial depolarization
  • Atrial contraction
  • QRS complex
  • Ventricular depolarization
  • Ventricular contraction
  • T wave
  • Ventricular repolarization
  • Ventricular relaxation
  • Diastole
  • Wiggers diagram

Cardiac Cycle and Conduction System

  • Cardiac cycle
  • Electrical conduction system
  • SA node
  • AV node
  • Bundle of His
  • Purkinje fibers
  • Depolarization
  • Repolarization
  • Action potential
  • Extrinsic innervation
  • Sympathetic nervous system
  • Parasympathetic nervous system
  • Pressure gradients
  • Wiggers Diagram
  • ECG correlation
  • P wave
  • QRS complex
  • T wave
  • Diastole

Fundamentals of Cardiac Hemodynamics and Physiology

Introduction to Cardiac Hemodynamics and Preload

This content explores cardiac hemodynamics focusing on preload, venous return, and factors influencing cardiac output.

  • Preload
  • Afterload
  • Cardiac Output
  • Continuity Equation
  • Venous Return
  • Filling Time
  • Tachycardia
  • Intrathoracic Pressure
  • Valsalva maneuver

Fundamentals of Cardiac Hemodynamics

Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped out of the heart in one minute, determined by stroke volume and heart rate.

  • Cardiac Output (CO)
  • Heart Rate (HR)
  • Stroke Volume (SV)
  • Cardiac Reserve
  • Cardiac Index (CI)
  • Sympathetic nervous system (SNS)
  • Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)
  • End-diastolic LV Volume (EDV)
  • End-systolic LV Volume (ESV)
  • Body Surface Area (BSA)

Cardiac Hemodynamics and Cardiac Output

The Frank-Starling principle, preload, afterload, and contractility influence stroke volume and cardiac output.

  • Frank-Starling Principle
  • length-tension relationship
  • preload
  • afterload
  • cardiac output
  • stroke volume
  • contractility
  • inotropic force
  • force-velocity relationship
  • sympathetic nervous system
  • congestive heart failure

Cardiac Hemodynamics and Echo Equations

  • Right Ventricular Systolic Pressure (RVSP)
  • Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure (SPAP)
  • Pressure gradient
  • Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity
  • Continuity principle
  • Stroke volume (SV)
  • Velocity time integral (VTI)
  • Valve area calculation
  • Preload and afterload

Cardiac Physiology and Pressure Dynamics

This content explores cardiac cycle pressures, blood pressure definitions, and the relationship between electrical innervation and mechanical action.

  • systolic pressure
  • diastolic pressure
  • mean pressure
  • pressure gradient
  • diastole
  • potential energy
  • kinetic energy
  • gravitational energy
  • blood pressure
  • Wiggers diagram
  • cardiac cycle phases
  • depolarization
  • repolarization

Phases of the Cardiac Cycle

The cardiac cycle consists of IVCT, systole, IVRT, and diastole, involving ventricular contraction, pressure changes, and ventricular filling.

  • Isovolumic Contraction Time (IVCT)
  • Isovolumic Relaxation Time (IVRT)
  • Diastole
  • Ventricular filling
  • Mitral valve (MV)
  • Aortic valve (AV)
  • Left ventricular (LV) pressure
  • Atrial kick
  • Diastasis
  • Early filling
  • Late filling

Phases of the Cardiac Cycle

The cardiac cycle consists of ventricular contraction period systole and ventricular relaxation period diastole driven by pressure gradients and electrical events.

  • Diastole
  • Isovolumic Contraction Time
  • Isovolumic Relaxation Time
  • Pressure Gradients
  • Ventricular Depolarization
  • Ventricular Repolarization
  • Atrial Systole
  • Wiggers Diagram
  • Heart Sounds S1 and S2
  • Valve Opening and Closing
  • Early Filling
  • Diastasis
  • Late Filling

Fundamentals of Cardiac Anatomy and Echocardiography

Parasternal Anatomy and Coronary Perfusion

This content covers parasternal anatomy, echocardiogram imaging views, and coronary artery perfusion territories.

  • Left ventricular wall motion assessment
  • Left main coronary artery (LMCA)
  • Left anterior descending artery (LAD)
  • Left ventricular perfusion territories

Introduction to Cardiac Anatomy

An overview of cardiac anatomy including directional terms, external and internal structures, coronary circulation, and cardiac flow direction.

  • Directional planes and terms
  • External cardiac anatomy
  • Coronary circulation
  • Internal cardiac anatomy
  • Cardiac chambers
  • Cardiac valves
  • Pericardium
  • Heart muscle layers
  • Interventricular and interatrial septum
  • Cardiac pressures
  • Cardiac flow direction

Internal Cardiac Anatomy and Valve Structures

This content illustrates cardiac anatomy including right and left chambers, pulmonary trunk and branches, aorta, and various cardiac valves.

  • Right Ventricle
  • Tricuspid Valve
  • Pulmonary Valve
  • Moderator band
  • Infundibulum
  • Pulmonary Trunk
  • Main Pulmonary Artery
  • Left Atrium
  • Left Ventricle
  • Mitral Valve Apparatus
  • Aortic Valve Cusps
  • Papillary muscles
  • Mitral Valve Scallops

Introduction to Cardiac Sonography Basics

An introduction to echocardiography covering ultrasound modalities, transducer components, and directional terminology used in diagnostic cardiac information.

  • Echocardiogram
  • Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)
  • 2D ultrasound
  • Color flow Doppler
  • Continuous wave (CW)
  • Pulsed wave (PW)
  • Phased-array transducer
  • Piezoelectric material (PZT)
  • Transducer frequency
  • Depth penetration
  • Transesophageal (TEE)
  • Cardiac anatomy (Base and Apex)
  • Probe manipulation (Slide, Tilt, Angle/Sweep, Rotate)
  • Patient body habitus factors

Echo Anatomy and Imaging Challenges

This content discusses anatomy challenges involving ribs and lungs, breathing techniques, and positioning techniques for echocardiography.

  • rib shadows
  • lung shadows
  • breathing techniques
  • positioning techniques
  • intercostal scanning
  • cardiac anatomy

Introduction to Echo Basics

An overview of echo imaging protocols, sonographic appearance, and optimization techniques compared to general and vascular sonography.

  • Echo vs. General/Vasc Sonography
  • Imaging Protocol
  • Cine clips
  • Cardiac cycle
  • Spectral Doppler assessment
  • Annotation
  • Optimization
  • Echo windows
  • Sonographic appearance
  • Pericardium
  • Myocardium
  • Valves
  • Anechoic blood

Make it your own.

Keep these readings and topics in a new study set, or add them to one you already use.

Get started freeLog in