ECG

Just a quick note to Ian. Not just in UK, but we here in Australia also use the initials ECG, as in ElectroCardioGraph. In America, what does the K stand for?
Alma Annie

8 Comments

Hi Alma

by IAN MC - 2013-08-17 08:08:12

Thanks for reminding me that Oz ,too, is a civilised country. I THINK our American friends use of the letter "K" comes from the Greek word Kardia meaning heart but I haven't a clue why they do that.

Cheers

Ian

ha!

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-17 09:08:19

from answers.wiki.com
EKG and ECG both mean the exact same thing. ECG stands for electrocardiogram. While EKG stands for electrocardiogram, which is in German.


At one time pre WWII German was the lingua franca of medicine. After the war most nations chose English. I suspect that another reason it is EKG and not ECG is that if the "C" were used in might be mistaken for EEG (Electroencephalogram) or brain wave study. Although this explanation kind of bothers me because of what it implies about the competence of the person reading the physician's order.

So, that one says both. Yahoo Answers says it's the German kardio and Wikipedia says it's the Greek kardio.

Americans

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-17 09:08:30

I always thought it was changed to K to differentiate from EEG, which is still not ECG and it definitely stands for electrocardiograph so who knows. If anyone can butcher the English language, you know it's gonna be us, right?

off to ask my friend Mr. Google...

Hi Lubro

by IAN MC - 2013-08-18 02:08:01

I koncede defeat !

IANMK

using the letter K...

by lubro - 2013-08-18 02:08:32

c'mon Ian...you say you haven't a clue as to why we use the letter K on this side of the pond...duh...it's because we're AmeriKans...

cheers backatcha...

Lubro

Thanks Tracey

by IAN MC - 2013-08-18 04:08:31

or as you would say your side of the pond " Thanks Trakey "

Cheers

Ian

C or K

by Alma Annie - 2013-08-18 06:08:53

Thanks for the laughs guys, makes one feel good. Ceep it up.
Alma Annie

YtheK

by donr - 2013-08-20 12:08:12

Believe it or not, the abbreviation started out ECG. The inventor of the device was a Dutchman, named Einthoven & he spelled the long word "Elektrocardiogramm" w/ a "C." He published his work in German in about 1900 & changed the spelling to "ElektroKardiogram" for that publication, the spelling, but more importantly, the abbreviation EKG stuck in most places, including the US.

Those who suspect that we got the K here in the US from anywhere but Germany have watched the chickflick "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" too many times.

Don



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