The T wave on an EKG represents which of the following?

The T wave on an EKG represents which of the following?

• A. Ventricular contraction
• B. Ventricular repolarization
• C. Atrial repolarization
• D. Atrial contraction

Answer: (B)

The T wave represents ventricular repolarization. After the ventricles depolarize and contract (shown by the QRS complex), they must reset their electrical state to be ready for the next beat, and this recovery shows up as the T wave. The P wave corresponds to atrial depolarization (atrial contraction occurs with the next rhythm), and atrial repolarization is not seen as a separate wave because it is masked by the QRS complex. The QT interval spans from the start of ventricular depolarization to the end of ventricular repolarization, tying together the entire electrical reset of the ventricles.

The T wave represents ventricular repolarization. After the ventricles depolarize and contract (shown by the QRS complex), they must reset their electrical state to be ready for the next beat, and this recovery shows up as the T wave. The P wave corresponds to atrial depolarization (atrial contraction occurs with the next rhythm), and atrial repolarization is not seen as a separate wave because it is masked by the QRS complex. The QT interval spans from the start of ventricular depolarization to the end of ventricular repolarization, tying together the entire electrical reset of the ventricles.