Home > Encyclopedia of Science > Electrocardiogram

• Normal and abnormal wave patterns
• First EKG
• Electricity in living tissue
• Words to Know
• Taking an EKG
• Other types

An electrocardiogram (pronounced ee-lek-troe-KAR-dee-oh-gram) is a recording of the electrical activity within the heart that is obtained by placing various electrodes on the skin surface. From this painless, quick, and inexpensive test, doctors are able to evaluate a person's heart rate and rhythm and to detect if something is wrong.

Normal and abnormal wave patterns

An electrocardiogram, better known as an EKG or ECG, is a common test doctors use to obtain information about the overall health of a patient's heart. Using...