Willem Einthoven developed the first instrument that could consistently measure the electrical activity of the heart with precision. Initially, he used the electrometer developed by Augustus Waller. The output of this instrument formed curved lines (waves) that had points labeled A, B, C, D, E. The electrometer, however, was very difficult to use; therefore, Einthoven began to develop the electrocardiogram in order to measure the electrical activity of the heart more easily. This instrument also produced waves, and Einthoven named them P, Q, R, S, T. He did this because the points on curved lines in geometry are labeled beginning with the letter P. To this day, the labels Einthoven developed are used to identify the waves of the electrocardiogram. The P wave reflects stimulation of the atria (upper chambers of the heart). The QRS complex reflects stimulation of the ventricles (lower chambers). The QRS complex is much larger than the P wave because the ventricles are bigger and have more muscle mass than the atria. During ventricular recovery, the T wave forms. The atria also must recover, but this happens at the same time that the ventricles are stimulated, so no wave is seen. If there is a problem with the atria, the P wave will look abnormal; if there is a problem with the ventricles, the QRS complex will look abnormal. The type of changes in the waves tells the clinician what is wrong, if anything, with the heart.

The electrocardiogram changed the way heart problems were diagnosed. It is easy to perform the test, and it is noninvasive. Since Einthoven's time, many other instruments and procedures have been developed for the heart, such as the echocardiogram and cardiac catheters, but the electrocardiogram is ubiquitous in hospitals because it is quick, simple, inexpensive, and noninvasive. If a patient comes to the hospital with chest pains, one of thefirst procedures performed is an ECG.

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