Red pulse wave recorded from finger Black ECG trace record

Red = pulse wave recorded from finger Black = ECG trace recorded from electrodes Describe the relationships between the ECG and. (a) the start of the pulse wave and, (b) the maximum height of the pulse (Max 120 words)

Solution

The pulse wave is generated as the heart beats. It is measured as the arteries are filled with blood. A pulse wave can be divided into two a systolic wave and a diastolic wave. Here the start of the pulse is the ending systolic part of the wave marking the decreasing systolic pressure. The curve in the peak is the diastolic peak. This wave will descend till the diastole occurs. The ECG that corresponds with the start of the pulse wave is the TP segment which shows the isoelectric state of the heart. The diastolic peak corresponds to the P peak which marks arterial depolarization. As mentioned, the highest peak is the systolic. The part of ECG that corresponds to it is the TP silent segment. The reason for such a shape of the pulse wave is that along with the incident wave that comes from the heart certain reflected waves overlap the incident wave at aortic bifurcation. And this signal of incident pluse the reflected wave is amplified as the signal reaches wrist of the arm due to increase in aortic bifurcation. The amplitude seen in the highest peak of the pulse wave is of the reflected wave.