EKG Technician Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

Question 1

If the SA node fails, the AV junction can take over at an intrinsic rate of approximately:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

40 to 60 beats per minute. The AV junction is a secondary (backup) pacemaker with an intrinsic rate of about 40-60 bpm, slower than the SA node's 60-100 bpm.

Question 2

The intrinsic rate of a ventricular (Purkinje) escape pacemaker is approximately:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

20 to 40 beats per minute. Ventricular escape pacemakers are the slowest backup, firing at roughly 20-40 bpm when higher pacemakers fail.

Question 3

The thick middle muscular layer of the heart wall responsible for contraction is the:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Myocardium. The myocardium is the contractile muscle layer; the endocardium lines the inside and the epicardium covers the outside surface.

Question 4

The double-walled sac that surrounds and protects the heart is the:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Pericardium. The pericardium encloses the heart, anchors it within the chest, and contains a small amount of fluid that reduces friction during beating.

Question 5

The coronary arteries supply blood to the:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Heart muscle itself. The coronary arteries branch from the aorta and deliver oxygenated blood to the myocardium; blockage can cause ischemia or myocardial infarction.

Question 6

Most blood flow to the left ventricular myocardium through the coronary arteries occurs during which phase?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Diastole (ventricular relaxation). During systole the contracting muscle compresses the coronary vessels, so the left ventricle is mainly perfused during diastole when the muscle relaxes.

Question 7

On the EKG, the P wave represents:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Atrial depolarization. The P wave is produced by depolarization spreading through the atria, just before atrial contraction.

Question 8

On the EKG, the QRS complex represents:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Ventricular depolarization. The QRS complex reflects rapid depolarization of the ventricles; atrial repolarization occurs at the same time but is hidden within the QRS.

Question 9

On the EKG, the T wave represents:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Ventricular repolarization. The T wave corresponds to repolarization (electrical recovery) of the ventricles after they have contracted.

Question 10

The ability of certain cardiac cells to spontaneously generate an electrical impulse is called:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Automaticity. Automaticity is the property of pacemaker cells, such as those in the SA node, to depolarize on their own without outside stimulation.

EKG Technician Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

More EKG Technician practice questions

Free practice here. Timed mocks when you are ready.