Macroshock
Encyclopedia
Macroshock is a medical term for the effects of body exposition to electrical current, which can lead to electrocution
and death. It is used regularly in electrophysiology and bioengineering.
Definitions of macroshock in the medical world are inconsistent. Some sources use the term for any electrical current in excess of 10mA passing through the skin and into the body, others require the current to pass through the trunk or the heart.
Macroshock is the most common medical cause of the effect of electrocution.
There is little inconsistency as to the sources of macroshock. See below for examples.
1 A strong electric shock resulting from current that has passed through the trunk, with contact to the source through intact skin.
2 This is defined as the passage of current from one part of the body to
another, especially from arm to arm and therefore through the heart.
The current is the most important factor. (A high-voltage low-current
shock is not dangerous.)
3 During macroshock, current passes between two different skin areas....
More examples can be found in most bioinstrumentation course books
Electrocution
Electrocution is a type of electric shock that, as determined by a stopped heart, can end life. Electrocution is frequently used to refer to any electric shock received but is technically incorrect; the choice of definition varies from dictionary to dictionary...
and death. It is used regularly in electrophysiology and bioengineering.
Definitions of macroshock in the medical world are inconsistent. Some sources use the term for any electrical current in excess of 10mA passing through the skin and into the body, others require the current to pass through the trunk or the heart.
Macroshock is the most common medical cause of the effect of electrocution.
There is little inconsistency as to the sources of macroshock. See below for examples.
1 A strong electric shock resulting from current that has passed through the trunk, with contact to the source through intact skin.
2 This is defined as the passage of current from one part of the body to
another, especially from arm to arm and therefore through the heart.
The current is the most important factor. (A high-voltage low-current
shock is not dangerous.)
3 During macroshock, current passes between two different skin areas....
Sources of Macroshock
- Direct contact with an electrified instrument chassis
- Poorly designed, or malfunctioning electrophysiologyElectrophysiologyElectrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues. It involves measurements of voltage change or electric current on a wide variety of scales from single ion channel proteins to whole organs like the heart...
equipment - Lightning
- Melted power cords
External links
- http://www.medtek.ki.se/medicaldevices/album/Ch%203%20Electricity%20safety/slides/F%203-1%20%20Macroshock.html
More examples can be found in most bioinstrumentation course books