Lead Morphology and Placement

The proper function of the heart muscle is essential to all other systems of the body. The electrocardiogram (EKG) is a painless, noninvasive way to diagnose many common types of heart problems.

An essential part of EKG analysis, healthcare professionals examine various lead morphologies that can surface with this test. Each heart beat can be observed as a series of deflections away from the baseline on an EKG, which is captured by healthcare professionals through the analysis of lead morphology. As a complement to this analysis, healthcare staff also ensure ideal placement of the different EKG electrodes on the body in order to get the most accurate data from these tests.

After completing this resource, learners will be able to:

• Distinguish between an electrocardiograph and an electrocardiogram
• Identify the proper placement of bipolar leads and augmented leads
• Explain the effect augmentation has on an EKG
• Explain Einthoven's law and Einthoven's triangle
• Identify the leads composing the hexiaxial diagram
• Identify the proper location of the precordial leads
• Explain the electrocardiographic truths
• Describe the normal QRS complex deflections in each of the 12 leads on an EKG