Which of the following is true regarding all 6 chest leads?

Which of the following is true regarding all 6 chest leads?

• A. They are all unipolar
• B. They are all positive
• C. They are all bipolar
• D. They are all negative

Answer: (B)

All 6 chest leads, which consist of V1 through V6, are designed to be unipolar leads. Each lead primarily focuses on a different aspect of the heart's electrical activity from a singular viewpoint. They are set up to measure the electrical potential at a specific point on the chest relative to a reference point, typically the Wilson central terminal. This characteristic defines them as unipolar leads.

While only V2 through V6 are commonly considered to provide a positive recording since they are placed over the left side of the chest, which is where the heart's electrical activity is strongest, this does not accurately represent all chest leads. V1, placed on the right side of the sternum, does not produce a positive recording in the same manner as the others. Therefore, stating that they are all positive does not hold true for V1 specifically.

In summary, the correct assertion about the chest leads focuses on their unipolar nature, making the first statement accurate while negating the idea that all leads are uniformly positive.