Question

When placing electrodes on the patient for telemetry, in which of the following locations should an EKG technician place the ground electrode?

1) On the right upper arm
2) On the left upper arm
3) On the left lower leg
4) On the right lower leg

Answer 1

The ground electrode for a 12-lead ECG should be placed on the right lower leg. This placement is part of the standard protocol which places six electrodes on the chest and four on the limbs, ensuring a comprehensive recording of heart electrical activity.

Step-by-step explanation:

When placing electrodes on the patient for telemetry in a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), the ground electrode should be placed on the right lower leg. This follows the standard protocol for the placement of ECG electrodes where six electrodes are placed on the chest (precordial leads) and four electrodes (limb leads) are placed on the limbs. The electrode placement on the limbs for a standard ECG includes electrodes on both arms and both legs.

In the older system of a three-electrode ECG, electrodes were placed on the left and right arms, and the left leg, with lead II potential being the voltage between the right arm and left leg. This lead II potential is still a commonly used reference in modern ECG interpretation. However, today's ECG procedures typically involve a 12-lead setup providing comprehensive heart activity information using 10 electrodes placed at standardized locations on the patient's body.