Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Definition

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time using electrodes placed on the skin. It is essential for diagnosing and monitoring heart conditions by capturing the timing and duration of each electrical phase in your heartbeat.

Related terms

Arrhythmia: An arrhythmia is an irregularity in the heart's rhythm, either due to it beating too fast, too slow, or erratically.

Electrode: In the context of an ECG, an electrode is a conductive pad placed on the skin that detects electrical activity produced by the heart muscle during each beat.

Cardiac Cycle: The cardiac cycle refers to the sequence of mechanical and electrical events that repeat with every heartbeat, including contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) phases