QRS complex
The QRS complex is the combination of three of the graphical deflections seen on a typical electrocardiogram. It is usually the central and most visually obvious part of the tracing. It corresponds to the depolarization of the right and left ventricles of the heart and contraction of the large ventricular muscles.
In adults, the QRS complex normally lasts ; in children it may be shorter. The Q, R, and S waves occur in rapid succession, do not all appear in all leads, and reflect a single event and thus are usually considered together. A Q wave is any downward deflection immediately following the P wave. An R wave follows as an upward deflection, and the S wave is any downward deflection after the R wave. The T wave follows the S wave, and in some cases, an additional U wave follows the T wave.
To measure the QRS interval start at the end of the PR interval to the end of the S wave. Normally this interval is 0.08 to 0.10 seconds. When the duration is longer it is considered a wide QRS complex.
Formation
Depolarization of the heart ventricles occurs almost simultaneously, via the bundle of His and Purkinje fibers. If they are working efficiently, the QRS complex duration in adults is.Clinical significance
Any abnormality of conduction takes longer and causes "widened" QRS complexes, sometimes called cardiac aberrancy. In bundle branch block, there can be an abnormal second upward deflection within the QRS complex. In this case, such a second upward deflection is referred to as R′. This would be described as an RSR′ pattern.Ventricles contain more muscle mass than the atria. Therefore, the QRS complex is considerably larger than the P wave. The QRS complex is often used to determine the axis of the electrocardiogram, although it is also possible to determine a separate P wave axis.
The duration, amplitude, and morphology of the QRS complex are useful in diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, electrolyte derangements, and other disease states.
High frequency analysis of the QRS complex may be useful for detection of coronary artery disease during an exercise stress test.
Components
| Parameter | Normal value | Value comments | Clinical significance |
| QRS duration | 75 to 105ms | Shorter in children | Prolonged duration could indicate hyperkalemia or intraventricular conduction delay such as bundle branch block. |
| QRS amplitude |
| Increased amplitude indicates cardiac hypertrophy | |
| Ventricular activation time |
| Measured in increased QRS amplitude | |
| Q wave | Abnormality indicates presence of infarction | ||
| R wave | Large amplitude might indicate of left ventricular hypertrophyDuration longer than 45 ms might indicate left posterior fascicular block, LVH or LBBB. | ||
| S wave | Large amplitude might indicate of left ventricular hypertrophy |
Q wave
Normal Q waves, when present, represent depolarization of the interventricular septum. For this reason, they are referred to as septal Q waves and can be appreciated in the lateral leads I, aVL, V5 and V6.Pathologic Q waves occur when the electrical signal passes through stunned or scarred heart muscle; as such, they are usually markers of previous myocardial infarctions, with subsequent fibrosis. A pathologic Q wave is defined as having a deflection amplitude of 25% or more of the subsequent R wave, or being in width and in amplitude. However, diagnosis requires the presence of this pattern in more than one corresponding lead.
R wave progression
Looking at the precordial leads, the R wave usually progresses from showing an rS-type complex in V1 with an increasing R and a decreasing S wave when moving toward the left side. There is usually a qR-type of complex in V5 and V6, with the R-wave amplitude usually taller in V5 than in V6. It is normal to have a narrow QS and rSr' patterns in V1, and this is also the case for qRs and R patterns in V5 and V6. The transition zone is where the QRS complex changes from predominantly negative to predominantly positive, and this usually occurs at V3 or V4. It is normal to have the transition zone at V2 and at V5. In biomedical engineering, the maximum amplitude in the R wave is usually called "R peak amplitude", or just "R peak". Accurate R peak detection is essential in signal processing equipment for heart rate measurement and it is the main feature used for arrhythmia detection.The definition of poor R wave progression varies in the literature. It may be defined, for example, as R wave of less than 2–4 mm in leads V3 or V4 and/or presence of a reversed R wave progression, which is defined as R in V4 < R in V3 or R in V3 < R in V2 or R in V2 < R in V1, or any combination of these. Poor R wave progression is commonly attributed to anterior myocardial infarction, but it may also be caused by left bundle branch block, Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, right and left ventricular hypertrophy, or a faulty ECG recording technique.
R wave peak time
R wave peak time represents the time from the onset of QRS complex to the peak of R wave, which is usually measured in aVL and V5 or V6 leads.R-peak time for right ventricle is measured from leads V1 or V2, where upper range of normal is 35 ms. R wave peak time for left ventricle is measured from lead V5 or V6 and 45 ms is the upper range of normal. R wave peak time is considered to be prolonged if it's more than 45 ms.
J-point
The point where the QRS complex meets the ST segment is the J-point. The J-point is easy to identify when the ST segment is horizontal and forms a sharp angle with the last part of the QRS complex. However, when the ST segment is sloped or the QRS complex is wide, the two features do not form a sharp angle and the location of the J-point is less clear. There is no consensus on the precise location of the J-point in these circumstances. Two possible definitions are:- The "first point of inflection of the upstroke of the S wave"
- The point at which the ECG trace becomes more horizontal than vertical
Terminology