All positive deflections within the QRS complex are called which waves? If there are two of them in the same complex, the second is named prime.

All positive deflections within the QRS complex are called which waves? If there are two of them in the same complex, the second is named prime.

• A. R waves
• B. Q waves
• C. S waves
• D. T waves

Answer: (A)

In the QRS complex, ventricular depolarization shows up as deflections, and the positive (upward) deflections within that complex are called R waves. The first upright peak after the P wave is the R wave, and if there’s another upright peak within the same QRS, that second one is labeled R prime (R′). Q waves are the small initial negative deflections, S is the downward deflection after the R, and T is the ventricular repolarization wave. So the question’s focus on all positive deflections within the QRS points to the R waves, with a possible second one named R prime if present.