Electrocardiogram
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Electrocardiogram
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Healthwise
Test Overview
An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a test
that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart. An EKG
translates the
heart's electrical activity into line tracings on
paper. The spikes and dips in the line tracings are called waves. See a picture
of the EKG
components and intervals
.
The heart is a muscular pump made
up of four chambers. The two upper chambers are called
atria, and the two lower chambers are called ventricles. A natural electrical
system causes the heart muscle to contract and pump blood through the heart to
the lungs and the rest of the body. See a picture of the
heart and
its electrical system.
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Last Updated:
March 26, 2008- Author:
- Robin Parks, MS
- Medical Review:
- E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
George Philippides, MD - Cardiology
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