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Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of artifact on an ECG tracing?
Abnormal cardiac electrical activity
Excessive movement of the patient
Incorrect placement of the leads
Irregular patient pulse
The correct answer is: Abnormal cardiac electrical activity
Artifact on an ECG tracing typically occurs due to external interference that distorts the electrical signal being recorded from the heart. This interference can be caused by various factors such as patient movement, poor lead placement, or outside electrical sources. While excessive movement of the patient, incorrect placement of the leads, and irregular patient pulse can contribute to artifacts, the most likely cause among the options provided is abnormal cardiac electrical activity. This abnormal activity can result in irregular signals being picked up by the ECG machine, leading to artifacts on the tracing.