What is the normal electrical activity of the heart represented by on an EKG?

The normal electrical activity of the heart is represented by electrical waves on an EKG. These waves are crucial as they reflect the depolarization and repolarization of the heart muscle during each heartbeat. Specifically, the P wave indicates atrial depolarization, the QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, and the T wave signifies ventricular repolarization. By observing these electrical waves, healthcare professionals can assess the heart's rhythm, identify various cardiac conditions, and determine if the heart is functioning properly.

While cardiac output is a measure of the volume of blood the heart pumps, heart rate reflects how many times the heart beats in a minute, and action potentials refer to the changes in electrical potential that occur during the depolarization and repolarization phases, none of these directly represent the overall electrical activity as shown on the EKG like the electrical waves do. Thus, the representation of heart activity on an EKG fundamentally encompasses the electrical waves generated during the cardiac cycle.