ECG PartWhat It ShowsSignificance
P WaveAtrial contraction beginsSA node is working
PR SegmentAtria done contracting, signal travels to AVShows time delay
QRS ComplexVentricular contractionBig heartbeat; should be strong
ST SegmentEnd of contractionCheck for heart attack/ischemia
T WaveVentricles resettingReady for next beat
QT IntervalTotal action time of ventriclesIf long, may be dangerous

  • The heart’s rate is normally controlled by the pacemaker but influenced by the brain.
  • An ECG shows how the heart is functioning electrically, just like how a sound wave shows how someone is speaking.
  • Each wave in an ECG tells us what part of the heart is working and if there is any problem.
  • ECG is a non-invasive, painless test used every day to save lives.

🩸 11.2 – Blood Vessels: Transport System of the Body

Think of your body as a city and your blood as vehicles carrying food, oxygen, and waste. Just like a city has roads, your body has blood vessels. These vessels transport blood everywhere—from the tips of your toes to the top of your head.

🚗 Three Main Types of Blood Vessels

Your circulatory system has three types of roads (vessels):

  1. Arteries – Carry blood away from the heart.
  2. Capillaries – Connect arteries and veins; allow exchange of materials.
  3. Veins – Carry blood back to the heart.

Let’s now understand each of these in detail.

📌 What are arteries?

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. Almost all arteries carry oxygen-rich blood, except pulmonary arteries, which carry oxygen-poor blood to the lungs.

💡 Real-life example: Imagine you fill a balloon and squeeze it—water gushes out with pressure. The heart also pumps blood out with high pressure, so arteries must be strong and elastic to handle that pressure.