ECG and heart sounds

The aim of this experiment is to record and analyse an ECG from a student volunteer, and to examine the relationship between the ECG and the characteristic sounds of the heart.

In this experiment, the concepts of blood flow through the heart and around the body are explained.

It is suitable for beginning undergraduates with some knowledge of the PowerLab data acquisition system.

Click the links below to download LabChart 5 Windows and Mac versions of the Teaching Experiment. If you are using LabChart 4, please download the Teaching Experiment from the LabChart 4 Teaching Experiments page.

ECG_heart_sounds_Win.zip  (13.3 MB) ECG_heart_sounds_Mac.sit  (12 MB)

Click the links below to download a short Technique Movie in your preferred compressed format. The movie shows how to perform a Lead I ECG recording.

ECG_Lead_I.zip  (2.5 MB) ECG_Lead_I.sit  (2.5 MB)

The documentation for this experiment assumes the use of:

PowerLab 4/25T  (ML865)
3 Disposable ECG electrodes  (MLA1010) or
3 Reusable Clamp Electrodes  (MLA700) & Electrode Cream  (MLA1090)
Abrasive Gel   (MLA1093B)
Timing push-button  (MLA92)
Alcohol swabs
A pen

For equipment substitutions see Equipment.

Further Resources
  Cardiac Axis LabChart Extension (56 KB) Application Note for Mac