Electrocardiogram
Does anybody know what an electrocardigram is? You may know it as an ECG or an EKG. The German version in elektrokardiogramm. Well, an electrocardiogram measures and records the heart beats. You know, if you know this instrument as an ECG, you are probably wondering why it is also known as EKG. In most countries, electrocardiogram is abbrivviated as follows:
Electro
Cardio
Gram
It makes sense, but people in the United States of America abbreviate this long word as EKG for a reason that makes quite a lot of sense. An EEG, which stands for electroencephalography, measures brainwaves. Now think about this situation:
A patient is having heart problems. The doctor writes a quick note to his assisstant for an ECG/EKG. Now, the doctor was writing quite fast, so the "c" looked a little funny. The assisstant mistook the "c" for an "e." So, the assisstant went and brought an EEG when the doctor wanted an ECG/EKG.
That wouldn't be a good situation. So, to avoid confusion, USians (people from the U.S.) decided to call the ECG an EKG. This way, the "k" cannot be mistaken for a "e."
-Me-
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