What is the purpose of electrocardiography?

The purpose of electrocardiography is to record the electrical activity of the heart. This technique captures the electrical impulses that prompt the heart to contract and pump blood, providing vital information about the heart's rhythm, rate, and overall electrical functioning. By placing electrodes on the skin, the electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) generates a graphical representation of these electrical signals, allowing healthcare professionals to diagnose various cardiac conditions, such as arrhythmias, heart attacks, and other heart diseases. This makes it a crucial tool for monitoring heart health and assessing the heart's electrical activity over time.

In contrast, visualizing heart structures would involve imaging techniques like echocardiography, which uses ultrasound to create images of the heart. Measuring blood pressure refers to assessing the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, whereas assessing cardiac output involves measuring the volume of blood expelled by the heart per minute. These functions are related to cardiovascular health but do not focus on the electrical aspect of heart function, which is the primary role of electrocardiography.