True or False? The ECG monitor displays the conduction of the electrical impulses through the heart, NOT the actual contraction of the heart muscle.

The statement is true. An ECG monitor records the electrical activity of the heart, specifically the conduction of electrical impulses that initiate each heartbeat. These impulses trigger the heart muscle to contract but do not directly show the muscle contractions themselves. Instead, the ECG provides a graphical representation of the heart's electrical events, such as depolarization and repolarization, through the different waves and intervals displayed on the monitor.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for interpreting ECG results. While you can observe patterns that correlate with cardiac contractions, the ECG itself is an analysis of the heart's electrical rhythm rather than a direct measurement of mechanical activity or muscle contractions.