CPFT Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Test Prep Guide

A 12-lead ECG actually utilizes 10 electrodes to acquire its 12 electrical leads. The configuration includes 4 limb electrodes (placed on both arms and legs) and 6 precordial (chest) electrodes placed across the chest area. By combining signals from these electrodes, the ECG machine can generate 12 different views (or leads) of the electrical activity of the heart.

Understanding the function of these electrodes is essential for accurately interpreting the heart’s electrical activity. Each of the 12 leads represents a different perspective of the heart, capturing its electrical impulses as they spread through the heart muscle, which is fundamental for diagnosing various cardiac conditions.