EXS 212 Lab 2: Electrocardiogram

The purpose of our lab this week is to develop an understanding of electrocardiography and to
learn Biopac data collection and analysis.

Objectives:
1. Describe the microscopic structure of cardiac muscle tissue.
2. List the components of the intrinsic conduction system and describe their function.
3. Learn the significance of ECG waves, segments, and intervals.
4. Observe and explain changes to the ECG associated with posture (supine vs. sitting),
breathing (inhalation vs. exhalation), and exercise.

Cardiac Muscle Histology

Muscle tissue consists of fibers (cells) that are specialized for contraction. There are three types
of muscle tissue in the body: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. Cardiac muscle tissue is found only
in the myocardium of the heart wall. It is striated and involuntary. Cardiac muscle fibers are
branched and fit together tightly at unique structures called intercalated discs. Intercalated discs
allow actions potentials to travel rapidly between adjacent cardiac muscle fibers.

Observe a slide of cardiac muscle tissue and identify the following structures:
 Cardiac muscle fiber
 Nucleus
 Striation
 Intercalated disc

Make a drawing of the slide and label each of the structures.

Intercalated discs are particularly important to the electrical activity of the heart. Why?

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Intrinsic Conduction System: Consult your text for a detailed explanation of the intrinsic
conduction system and its components.

The heart contains a network of non-contractile cells that are responsible for initiating and
distributing impulses throughout the myocardium. The table below lists the components of this
intrinsic conduction system. Please take the time to describe the function of each component.

Component Function

1. SA Node

2. AV Node

3. Bundle of His (AV

Bundle)

4. Bundle Branches

5. Purkinje Fibers
(subendocardial
conducting network)

ECG Form: Consult your text to review ECG waves, intervals, and segments.

The intrinsic conduction system initiates impulses and distributes them to the contractile cells of
the myocardium. The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a composite record of depolarization
and repolarization of these contractile cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) of the atria and
ventricles; it is not a single action potential from any one cell. The three waves of the ECG are
the P, QRS, and T. These waves appear as positive and negative voltage changes that fluctuate
above and below a baseline called the isoelectric line. The characteristics and physiological
significance of these waves are described on the next page.

Wave Significance
P Depolarization of atria; activates atrial systole
QRS Depolarization of ventricles (concealing repolarization of atria); activates
ventricular systole
T Repolarization of ventricles; activates ventricular diastole

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We can also get important clinical information from the duration of certain portions of the ECG.
These include:

Name Definition Significance

P-R segment From end of P to start of Q Duration of atrial systole
P-R interval From start of P to start of Q Time from onset of atrial excitation to onset of
(sometimes called P-Q) ventricular excitation; consists mostly of time
required for signal to travel from SA node to
AV node.
Q-T interval From start of Q to end of T Duration of ventricular systole
T-Q interval From the end of T to the Duration of ventricular diastole
start of the next QRS
R-R interval Peak of one QRS to the Can be used to measure HR between two
peak of the next QRS consecutive beats

The figure below shows ECG waveforms for two consecutive cardiac cycles. The segment and
intervals described above are clearly marked for your convenience.

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Experimental Protocol
1. In groups of 3-4 students, follow the directions in the provided Biopac procedure packet for
setup, calibration, data recording, and data analysis.
2. Record data in the tables below.

Subject Information Age: Gender:

Heart Rate- Record data and calculate the mean.

Cardiac Cycle Mean
Recording: Condition
1 2 3 (calculate)
1: Supine
2: Seated
3: Start of inhale
3: Start of exhale
4: After exercise

Ventricular Systole and Diastole

Duration (ms)
Condition
Ventricular Systole Ventricular Diastole
1: Supine
4: After exercise

Review Questions
1. What changes to HR were observed when the subject(s) changed from a supine to a seated
position? What change to HR was observed following exercise? What causes each of these
changes?

2. Are there differences in HR associated with the respiratory cycle? Explain.

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3. What changes occurred in the duration of ventricular systole and diastole between resting and
post-exercise conditions? Explain this.

4. List in the proper sequence, the components of the intrinsic conduction system.

5. Which electrical event of the ECG is associated with contraction of the atria? Does this
occur before or after contraction of the ventricles?

6. What is the significance of the delay created by the AV node?

7. Compare your results to that of another group. Are there would be any significant
differences between data collected from your subjects? Is so, what may account for these
differences?

8. Explain the difference between the significance of an ECG waveform and an ECG
segment/interval.