The electrocardiogram, or ECG, is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart over time using skin electrodes. An ECG provides a non-invasive method for diagnosing cardiac diseases and abnormalities. Some key events in the history of electrocardiography include Alexander Muirhead obtaining the first record of a patient's heartbeat in 1872. In 1887, Augustus Waller published the first human electrocardiogram. Willem Einthoven introduced the term 'electrocardiogram' in 1893 and distinguished the five deflections labeled P, Q, R, S and T waves in 1895. Einthoven published the first electrocardiogram recorded on a string galvanometer in 1902

1. History of Electrocardiography
 SHANMUGHAM KARTHICK RAJA
 225-B

2. INTRODUCTION
s a t hree letter acronym for ElectroCardioGraphy.
: , The wor d is derived from electro(greek for
electricity),cardio(greek for heart) and graph(Greek
root meaning "to w rite")
s a tra nsthoracic interpretation of the electrical activity
of the heart over time captured and externa lly
recorded by skin electrodes.
The device used to produce this non invasive record is
called the electrocardiograph.
G is the gold standard for the noninvasive diagnosis
of cardiac diseases and may occasiona lly be the only
marker for the presence of heart disease.

3. INDICATIONS OF ECG
Y Gold standard for diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias ,
Helps detect electrolyte distur bances (hyper- &
hypokalemia)
s for detection of conduction abnormalities
, .,Screening tool for ischemic heart disease during stress
tests
, Helpful with non-cardiac diseases (e.g. pulmona ry
embolism or hypothermia
An ECG is a diagnostic tool, NOT a treatment
No one is ever cured by an ECG!!

4. ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY TIMELINE
1872:Alexa nder Muirhead attached wires to a feverish
patient's wrist to obtain a record of the patient's
heartbeat St Bartholomew 's Hospital.
1887:British physiologist Augustus D. Waller of St
Mary's Medical School, London publishes the
human electrocardiogra m. The trace from
heartbeat was projected onto a photogra phic
first
the
plate
whic h was itself fixed to a toy tra in
1893:Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven introduces the
ter m 'electrocardiogram' at a meeting of the Dutch
Medication Association.
1895 : Willem Einthoven distinguishes five deflections
w hich he names P, Q, R, Sand T

5. 1902: Einthoven publishes the first electro
cardiogram recorded on a string galvanometer.
> 1912: Einthoven addresses the Chelsea
Clinical Society in London and describes an
equilateral t riangle formed by his standard
leads I, II
tria ngle'.
Nobel
and
,1924:
prize
I I I lat er called 'Einthoven's
W illem Einthoven w ins the
for inventing t he
electrocardiograph.

7. • Figure depicting Einthoven recording his first
ECG in 1902 by placing limbs in buckets of
conducting solution !