Can anyone explain why a T wave is not inverted?

[grw0o]

This is another thing that has been bothering me for quiet some time. I thought I understood it at one time why the T wave was not "negative" but for our cardiovascular block the doctor couldn't explain it.

I know it has to do with the charges and how the electrodes of the ECG is set up. So an upstroke is depolarization from say the base to the apex of the heart. Then when the ventricles re polarize the the dipole is reversed - so I keep wanting to think uptroke of the right ventricle overpowers the downstroke of the left ventricle... or something to that effect.

I am not sure if this is right or not - anyone have a quick explanation?

Thanks!

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[SeventhSon]

This is another thing that has been bothering me for quiet some time. I thought I understood it at one time why the T wave was not "negative" but for our cardiovascular block the doctor couldn't explain it.

I know it has to do with the charges and how the electrodes of the ECG is set up. So an upstroke is depolarization from say the base to the apex of the heart. Then when the ventricles re polarize the the dipole is reversed - so I keep wanting to think uptroke of the right ventricle overpowers the downstroke of the left ventricle... or something to that effect.

I am not sure if this is right or not - anyone have a quick explanation?

Thanks!

i never understood why the early precordial leads don't show concordance, but in general, the repolarization is essentially a "double negative equals a positive".

The surface of the heart in depolarization is going from more positive to more negative along the axis of depolarization.

In repolarization, the surface of the heart goes from more negative to more positive. This fact alone would invert the T-wave precisely on all leads if the geometry of the heart stayed the same throughout the contraction of the heart (which it obviously doesn't, and is probably the basis for lack of concordance in the early precordial leads). HOWEVER, the direction of repolarization moves (generally) from apex to base, so you get a "double negative".

 

[indo]

I wrestled with this concept until I created an explaination I could live with.

During the T wave the ventricle repolarizes backwards. The most lateral (highest) portion of the ventricular wall's outer surface becomes positive again, then the apex, then the interventricular area and the magnitude "arrow" points toward the positive charge. So, at the peak of the T wave the apex has become externally + and the superior septum is still negative.

Hopefully this and the post above help you put it into your own terms.



Why is Q inverted on the qrs complex?

 

[goodies]

man, am i in big trouble if i dont understand any of this.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

god no.

What you need to know about EKG's for step 1 is to be able to:

1) look at them and pick up the patterns in Firstaid(Vtach, afib, etc)
2) know what is occuring during each part of it(for example vent depolarization in QRS) and how to correlate this with what ions would be going in or out at that moment
3) understand what some of the changes in a normal cycle are and what they mean(PR interval increased due to what and why, how hypokalemia affects it, ischemia, etc)

worrying about anything beyond that is ridiculous. yeah there is always a chance they can ask you something about the electromagnetic orientation of leadX in relation to whatever....but they are far more likely to require that you know the PR interval will be increased with digoxin use due to AV block.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

i never understood why the early precordial leads don't show concordance, but in general, the repolarization is essentially a "double negative equals a positive".

The surface of the heart in depolarization is going from more positive to more negative along the axis of depolarization.

In repolarization, the surface of the heart goes from more negative to more positive. This fact alone would invert the T-wave precisely on all leads if the geometry of the heart stayed the same throughout the contraction of the heart (which it obviously doesn't, and is probably the basis for lack of concordance in the early precordial leads). HOWEVER, the direction of repolarization moves (generally) from apex to base, so you get a "double negative".

The endocardium depolarizes first and repolarizes last. So the depolarization and repolarization are moving in opposite directions. They show up as similar deflections on an ECG because repolarization moving toward the lead produces the same voltage change as a depolarization moving away from the lead. Therefore, a QRS (depolarization) directed away from the apex will appear upright, as will a T-wave (repolarization) directed toward the apex.

Source: Lilly

 

[Idiopathic]

'Double negative' giving a positive (i.e. in the same direction as the QRS) is the best answer. It depolarizes in the opposite direction, but also outside in, so the net effect of its ECG depiction is in line with the QRS.

 

[DocMorris]

I wrestled with this concept until I created an explaination I could live with.

During the T wave the ventricle repolarizes backwards. The most lateral (highest) portion of the ventricular wall's outer surface becomes positive again, then the apex, then the interventricular area and the magnitude "arrow" points toward the positive charge. So, at the peak of the T wave the apex has become externally + and the superior septum is still negative.

I know this is an old thread, but I had to complete the thought:

This answer is correct: The missing piece however is why does depolarization move in the opposite direction? The septum and deep endocardial areas do depolarize first but they have a longer period of contraction. Therefore most of the outer surface of the ventricles, especially near the apex are the first to replolarize.

 

[g8orlife]

I know this is an old thread, but I had to complete the thought:

This answer is correct: The missing piece however is why does depolarization move in the opposite direction? The septum and deep endocardial areas do depolarize first but they have a longer period of contraction. Therefore most of the outer surface of the ventricles, especially near the apex are the first to replolarize.

OMG! I'm several months removed from cardio, but this question drove me crazy every.single.day!
I finally understand Thanks DocMorris for bumping this.

 

[Ravi Chaudhary]

Sorry if it appear ridiculous, but if the repolarization starts first from the cell which is last to depolarize and in opposite direction then why the T wave is not the exact mirror image of QRS complex??

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