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Multiple Choice

Which statement describes reciprocal changes in STEMI?

Reciprocal changes describe how the heart’s electrical vectors shift during STEMI: the region of infarction shows ST elevation while the electrically opposite region shows ST depression. This happens because the current of injury is directed toward the infarct, so leads facing that area record elevation, and leads facing the opposite wall reflect a relative ischemic effect as depression. For example, a front‑wall (anterior) infarct typically has ST elevation in the anterior leads (like V1–V4) with reciprocal ST depression in the inferior leads (II, III, aVF). If the infarct is in the inferior wall, you’ll often see ST elevation in II, III, aVF with reciprocal depression in the lateral or anterior leads. The statement describing ST depression in leads opposite the infarcted region captures this pattern. Tall T waves or delta waves in V4R aren’t part of reciprocal change patterns.

Reciprocal changes describe how the heart’s electrical vectors shift during STEMI: the region of infarction shows ST elevation while the electrically opposite region shows ST depression. This happens because the current of injury is directed toward the infarct, so leads facing that area record elevation, and leads facing the opposite wall reflect a relative ischemic effect as depression. For example, a front‑wall (anterior) infarct typically has ST elevation in the anterior leads (like V1–V4) with reciprocal ST depression in the inferior leads (II, III, aVF). If the infarct is in the inferior wall, you’ll often see ST elevation in II, III, aVF with reciprocal depression in the lateral or anterior leads. The statement describing ST depression in leads opposite the infarcted region captures this pattern. Tall T waves or delta waves in V4R aren’t part of reciprocal change patterns.