What does the T wave in an ECG represent?

What does the T wave in an ECG represent?

• A. Atrial depolarization
• B. Ventricular depolarization
• C. Ventricular repolarization
• D. Myocardial ischemia

Answer: (C)

The T wave in an ECG represents ventricular repolarization, which is a crucial part of the cardiac cycle. When the ventricles contract and pump blood out of the heart, they undergo depolarization, indicated by the QRS complex. Following this contraction, the ventricles need to reset their electrical state to prepare for the next heartbeat, which is represented by the T wave. During ventricular repolarization, the cardiac muscle cells recover their resting potential after having been activated. In contrast, atrial depolarization is represented by the P wave, while ventricular depolarization occurs during the QRS complex. Myocardial ischemia, which refers to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, may lead to abnormalities in the T wave, such as T wave inversion or flattening, but is not the standard representation of the T wave itself. Thus, option C accurately describes what the T wave signifies in an ECG tracing.

The T wave in an ECG represents ventricular repolarization, which is a crucial part of the cardiac cycle. When the ventricles contract and pump blood out of the heart, they undergo depolarization, indicated by the QRS complex. Following this contraction, the ventricles need to reset their electrical state to prepare for the next heartbeat, which is represented by the T wave. During ventricular repolarization, the cardiac muscle cells recover their resting potential after having been activated.

In contrast, atrial depolarization is represented by the P wave, while ventricular depolarization occurs during the QRS complex. Myocardial ischemia, which refers to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, may lead to abnormalities in the T wave, such as T wave inversion or flattening, but is not the standard representation of the T wave itself. Thus, option C accurately describes what the T wave signifies in an ECG tracing.