ECG Machines & ECG Electrodes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What does an ECG test for?

  An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a simple test that can be used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity.

  Sensors attached to the skin are used to detect the electrical signals produced by your heart each time it beats.

• Why does a 12 lead ECG only have 10 electrodes?

  In 12-lead ECG, there are 10 electrodes providing 12 perspectives of the heart's activity using different angles through two electrical planes - vertical and horizontal planes.

• What are ECG electrodes used for?

  It is a graph of voltage versus time of the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes placed on the skin.

  These electrodes detect the small electrical changes that are a consequence of cardiac muscle depolarisation followed by polarisation during each cardiac cycle (heartbeat).