ECG RECORDING AND INTERPRETATION INTRODUCTION Electrocardiography (ECG) records the information regarding electrical activity of the heart

during cardiac cycle over a time period as detected by electrodes attached over the surface of the skin and connected to Electrocardiography or ECG machine. It is a noninvasive procedure used to measure electrical changes including rate, rhythm and conduction of impulse of heart. ECG is used to clarify or confirm any change in cardiac conduction perceived during cardiac monitoring. IT helps in making diagnosis associated with ischemia whether new or old, hypertrophic cardiovascular changes or presence of electrolyte or drug effect. BASIC ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF HEART Heart chambers and normal blood flow The heart has four chambers: the right and left atriums and right and left ventricles. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior and inferior vena cava. The right ventricle receives deoxygenated blood through tricuspid valves and pushes deoxygenated blood forward into pulmonary arteries through pulmonary valves. The blood is oxygenated in the lungs and enters into the left atrium through pulmonary veins and further into left ventricle through mitral valve. The left ventricle pushes oxygenated blood directly into aorta which further supply oxygenated blood to the other body parts. The left ventricle is three time thicker than right ventricle and is a high pressure chamber.