Question

Which of the following factors can produce an artifact that appears as uniform, small spikes on an EKG tracing?

a) Muscle tremors
b) Loose electrode connections
c) Sweating
d) Patient's respiratory rate

Answer 1

Muscle tremors are a primary cause of artifacts on an EKG tracing, which manifest as uniform, small spikes, due to the additional electrical activity interference.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the factors that can produce an artifact that appears as uniform, small spikes on an EKG tracing, muscle tremors are a common cause. These involuntary muscle movements can create additional electrical activity that interferes with the EKG signal, resulting in these characteristic spikes. Loose electrode connections can also contribute to artifacts by causing intermittent signal interference. Although sweating might affect electrode adhesion and potentially cause signal disruption, it generally does not cause the small, uniform spikes associated with muscle tremors. The patient's respiratory rate may create variations in the baseline of the EKG tracing but not the small spikes.