Which instrument is used in the detection and diagnosis of heart abnormalities and generates a record of the electrical currents associated with heart muscle activity?

• A. Blood Pressure
• B. Depth in Respiration
• C. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• D. Carotid

Answer: (C)

An electrocardiogram records the heart’s electrical activity, which is what coordinates each heartbeat. Small electrodes placed on the chest and limbs pick up the electrical signals as the heart beats, and the ECG machine turns those signals into a tracing. That trace reveals how the heart is conducting electricity and contracting, helping doctors detect irregular rhythms, signs of a past or current heart attack, and other heart problems. The other options measure different things—blood pressure checks the force of blood in arteries, depth in respiration looks at breathing, and carotid refers to the artery pulse—not the heart’s electrical activity—so they don’t provide the electrical record doctors use to diagnose heart issues.