Abstract
The term “axis” as related to electrocardiograms usually means the QRS axis, but the P wave and the T wave axis can also be determined. The axis is the general direction of the electrical event in question, which is atrial depolarization (P waves), ventricular depolarization (QRS complexes), and ventricular repolarization (T waves). Axis is not a vector—axis only has direction, while a vector has both direction and amplitude. The normal direction of all the axes is inferior and left, between 0° and +90°. Changes in the direction of each axis can be meaningful in identifying the presence or progression of cardiac diseases in patients.
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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Petty, B.G. (2016). Axis. In: Basic Electrocardiography. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2413-4_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2413-4_2
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2412-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2413-4
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