Where should ECG leads be placed?
Apply lead 1 to the left arm. We suggest the front of the left shoulder in a place where there is little muscle or muscle movement, to avoid any EMG signal disturbance. Next, apply lead 2 to the right arm. Again, the front of the shoulder is suggested here, in a place with little or no muscle or movement.
Where are the 12 leads placed on a patient for an ECG?
Electrode placement for a 12-lead ECG is standard, with leads placed on the left and right arm and left and right leg. Another pair of electrodes is placed between the fourth and fifth ribs on the left and right side of the sternum.

How do you know if ECG leads are incorrectly placed?
Lead reversals do happen; the most common is right and left arm reversals. Your first clue is a negative QRS complex in lead I. A predominantly upward P-QRS-T complex in aVR is another big clue. When in doubt, repeat the ECG!
Where are leads I II and III placed?
Leads I, II, III, aVF, aVL and aVR are all derived using three electrodes, which are placed on the right arm, the left arm and the left leg. Given the electrode placements, in relation to the heart, these leads primarily detect electrical activity in the frontal plane.
In which anatomical location should the limb leads be placed?

Limb leads are made up of 4 leads placed on the extremities: left and right wrist; left and right ankle. The lead connected to the right ankle is a neutral lead, like you would find in an electric plug.
Why is an ECG called 12-lead when there are only 10 electrodes placed on the patient?
The 12-lead ECG displays, as the name implies, 12 leads which are derived by means of 10 electrodes. Three of these leads are easy to understand, since they are simply the result of comparing electrical potentials recorded by two electrodes; one electrode is exploring, while the other is a reference electrode.
What does a 12-lead ECG tell you?
The 12-lead EKG provides more information on the diagnosis of your cardiac arrhythmia than an outpatient Holter or Event monitor, as it represents information recorded from a larger surface area surrounding the heart.
Why is aVR inverted?
There are three advantages of inverting aVR into –aVR: –aVR fills the gap between lead I and lead II in the coordinate system. –aVR facilitates calculation of the hearts electrical axis. –aVR improves diagnosis of acute ischemia/infarction (inferior and lateral ischemia/infarction).
Can an ECG give a false reading?
The study of 500 patients found a false positive reading between 77 and 82 percent in patients screened by electrocardiogram, and a false negative reading between 6 percent to 7 percent in the same patient population.
Where is V5 lead placed?
Follow the 5th intercostal space to the left until your fingers are immediately below the beginning of the axilla, or under-arm area. This is the position for V5. Follow this line of the 5th intercostal space a little further until you are immediately below the centre point of the axilla, (mid-axilla).
How do you place a 3 lead ECG?
Position the 3 leads on your patient’s chest as follows, taking care to avoid areas where muscle movement could interfere with transmission:
- WHITE.
- RA (right arm), just below the right clavicle.
- BLACK.
- LA (left arm), just below the left clavicle.
- RED.
- LL (left leg), on the lower chest, just above and left of the umbilicus.
When recording an ECG Where is the LA lead placed?
12-Lead ECG Placement
Code (AHA) | Code (IEC) | Location |
---|---|---|
RA | R | Right arm (inner wrist) |
LA | L | Left arm (inner wrist) |
RL | N | Right leg (inner ankle) |
LL | F | Left leg (inner ankle) |
What are the best tips for EKG lead placement?
Place patient in a supine position if the patient will tolerate.
When preparing a patient for an EKG leads should be placed?
Lead placement – Place all leads on the patient’s back directly opposite their typical anterior position.
Where to put EKG leads?
Place the lead at roughly the same location as you placed the lead on their right side to ensure that both arm leads give accurate readings. Press down firmly on the lead to fix it in place. If the patient has a defibrillator on their chest or has a pacemaker, do not place the ECG lead on the electrical device.
Where do you place a 5 lead ECG?
Where do you place a 5 lead ECG? GREEN. RL (right leg), on the lower chest, just above and to the right of the umbilicus. BROWN. (representing any of the six precordial leads ), generally in the V 1 position at the fourth intercostal space, right sternal border. Click to see full answer. Herein, where should heart monitor leads be placed?