Polarity Patterns for Chest Leads

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Abstract
Thoraces of normal young men have been mapped into a grid and numerous "unipolar" ecg''s recorded. Galvanometer connections for the entire series were maintained at the convention for wiring always accepted for leads 1, 2, and 3. Over some areas on each thorax, simultaneously recorded leads present an initial upstroke and over other areas an initial downstroke, signalling the onset of the ventricular complex. A smooth line can be drawn separating these two types of wave direction. Anatomical and physiol. reasons are presented to establish that upstrokes and also downstrokes are caused by potentials from limited areas and that the reason fro bi-directional waves depends on whether a particular depolarization wave is travelling toward or receding from a particular electrode. The demarcation pattern is characteristic for the habitus of the individual. There are similar demarcation lines for P and for T waves. In those neither sthenic or asthenic, the 3 demarcation lines have very similar positions. Under certain conditions, including infarction, the lines separate. Where muscular damage is progressive, successive changes occurred with each new lesion. An exptl. study establishing this concept appeared in the Jour. Appl. Physiol. 3(1) 1950.