Understanding the role of ECG in cardiac conduction and perfusion disorders: A vectorial approach

Electrical events of the heart can be graphically recorded as a voltage versus time wave. The process is known as electrocardiography, the record is called electrocardiogram (ECG), and the machine is called Electrocardiograph. Study of ECG is a non-invasive method to study electrical activities of the heart. The uses of ECG are not limited to the diagnosis of disturbances in generation and conduction of electrical impulse in heart. It provides equally important diagnostic aid to alterations in cardiac chamber size (hypertrophy), coronary artery insufficiency (myocardial ischemia and infarction), electrolyte imbalance and drug toxicity.