Final answer:
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to assess the electrical activity of a patient's heart over a 24-hour period of normal activity. It is a diagnostic tool that records the complex, compound electrical signal of the heart and provides detailed information about heart function.
Step-by-step explanation:
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to assess the electrical activity of a patient's heart over a 24-hour period of normal activity. By careful placement of surface electrodes on the body, it is possible to record the complex, compound electrical signal of the heart. The tracing of the electrical signal is the ECG, which provides a detailed picture of both normal and abnormal heart function