What does the T wave on an ECG correlate to?

What does the T wave on an ECG correlate to?

• A. Atrial depolarization
• B. Ventricular repolarization
• C. Ventricular depolarization
• D. SA node pacemaking

Answer: (D)

The T wave represents ventricular repolarization—the ventricles resetting their electrical state after contraction to be ready for the next heartbeat. After the impulse starts at the SA node, atrial depolarization creates the P wave, then ventricular depolarization creates the QRS complex, and finally the ventricles repolarize, producing the T wave. The SA node acts as the natural pacemaker that sets the rhythm, but its activity isn’t shown as a distinct wave on the ECG. So the T wave best corresponds to the ventricles’ recovery phase.

The T wave represents ventricular repolarization—the ventricles resetting their electrical state after contraction to be ready for the next heartbeat. After the impulse starts at the SA node, atrial depolarization creates the P wave, then ventricular depolarization creates the QRS complex, and finally the ventricles repolarize, producing the T wave. The SA node acts as the natural pacemaker that sets the rhythm, but its activity isn’t shown as a distinct wave on the ECG. So the T wave best corresponds to the ventricles’ recovery phase.