Electrodes – The Premier EKG Resource for Medical Professionals

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LECTURES:
1. Electrodes
2. Vectors & Electrodes
3. Complete ECG Course
4. The EKG Guy Videos

Overview

Electrodes sense electrical activity in heart (ie, impulses traveling below them) => EKG machine registers activity at electrodes & converts impulses to waves on EKG paper
Standard 12-lead ECG: 10 electrodes (4 on limbs + 6 on precordium) monitor 12 leads
“Cameras” providing 3-D image of heart’s electrical activity => EKG
Electrical impulse moving:

AWAY from electrode => downward (negative) deflection
TOWARD electrode => upward (positive) deflection
PERPENDICULAR to electrode => isoelectric deflection

Multiple electrodes around heart => 3-D picture of heart’s electrical axis = EKG

Extremity Electrodes

L-arm, R-arm, N (neutral, R leg), F (foot, L-leg)
Does not matter if electrodes attached proximal or distal on extremity (best to be uniform)

Chest Electrodes

V1: 4th intercostal space, R of sternum
V2: 4th intercostal space, L of sternum
V3: b/t V2 & V4
V4: 5th intercostal space in midclavicular line (under L-breast in women)
V5: b/t V4 & V6
V6: same height as V4 in midaxillary line; horizontal to V4, so not necessarily 5th intercostal space
V3R-V6R: right-sided chest leads (on R-chest; mirror to normal L-side placement)

V3R: R-midclavicular line
V4R: V4, but R-sided
V5R: b/t V4R & V6R
V6R: same height as V4R in midaxillary line; horizontal to V4R, so not necessarily 5th intercostal space

V7-V9: posterior leads (on back)

V6 => V7
V5 => V8
V4 => V9

Abbreviations: L, left; R, right; b/t, between

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DID YOU KNOW?

Dr. Anthony Kashou (The EKG Guy) is a physician resident at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is on a mission to transform ECG education and filling the gap exists around the world. Dr. Kashou has taught and developed curriculum for medical students, including 500+ lectures and 100+ hours of adult and pediatric ECG lessons.

At the Mayo Clinic, he pursues innovative ECG research and was awarded first place for his research at the Minnesota American College of Cardiology Conference 2018. His passion for medical education and innovation led to the development of EKG.MD, which provides a convenient and accessible forum to learn the fundamentals and foundations of ECG interpretation. He has also authored dozens of peer-reviewed articles for medical journals and textbooks, along with multiple ECG books for learners at all levels.

Dr. Kashou continues to lead and teach weekly ECG sessions and weekend seminars for residents, nurses, ECG interpreting technicians, and physician assistants at the Mayo Clinic. He has been asked and is currently developing an ECG board review course for cardiology fellows. He has an online following of over 275,000 individuals and is the founder of the largest, fastest growing ECG community in the world. His clinical research focuses on developing innovative ECG algorithms that can be integrated and implemented into clinical practice.

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