An electrocardiogram aka ECG but I know it better as an EKG is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. With each beat, an electrical wave moves through the heart. The wave causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart.
My understanding of the diagnostic importance is that a doctor can determine how long the electrical wave takes to pass through the heart. Figuring out how long a wave takes to travel from one part of the heart to the next shows if the electrical activity is normal or slow, fast or irregular. Also, by measuring the amount of electrical activity passing through the heart muscle, a doctor may be able to find out if parts of the heart are too big or is working to hard. The above picture gave me an understanding of what goes on in a heartbeat.
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