Description
Electrocardiographs are medical instruments that measure the rhythm heart contractions and the relative strength of different parts of the heart muscle. The heart itself generates an electrical impulse at the sinoatrial node located in the right atrium of the organ. The sinoatrial node acts as a ‘pacemaker’ in that it sends impulses through the heart, which contracts the muscle’s fibers and pumps blood. Electrodes placed on the skin of a patient measure the voltage at different sides of the heart muscle. The electrocardiograph subsequently measures the difference in voltage between pairs of electrodes. These plate electrodes used for arm and leg connection to the electrocardiograph were applied to the patient using a jelly lubricant. The jelly reduced somatic tremor that potentially distorted electrocardiograms, or the graphs that the continuous paper camera produced. Three plate electrodes accompanied the 1939 model of the Cambridge electrocardiograph.

06/11/2013
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 06/11/2013