Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

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Which leads are considered bipolar leads?

Lead I, II, and III
Lead aVL, aVR, and aVF
Lead V1, V2, and V3
Lead II, III, and aVF

The correct answer is: Lead I, II, and III

Bipolar leads are those that measure the electrical activity of the heart between two points, allowing for the detection of potential differences. In the context of electrocardiography, Lead I, Lead II, and Lead III are defined as bipolar leads because they utilize two electrodes placed on the body to record the heart's electrical activity. Lead I measures the voltage difference between the right arm and left arm electrodes; Lead II measures the difference between the right arm and left leg; and Lead III measures the difference between the left arm and left leg. Each lead captures a unique angle of the heart's electrical activity, helping in assessing various cardiac functions and diagnosing conditions. The other options consist of unipolar leads (such as aVL, aVR, and aVF), which measure the voltage at one electrode compared to a central point created by averaging the voltage from the other two limbs. Additionally, V1, V2, and V3 are precordial leads that provide a different type of view, primarily focusing on the anterior and septal walls of the heart, rather than functioning as bipolar leads. Therefore, the identification of Lead I, II, and III is crucial for understanding the fundamental components of the cardiac electrical activity assessment.