Which statement about the chest leads V1 through V4 is true?

• A. They are placed on the limbs
• B. They are placed on the chest in specified positions
• C. They are optional
• D. They measure blood pressure

Answer: (B)

Chest leads V1 through V4 provide views of the heart from fixed chest locations, not from the limbs. They’re part of the standard 12-lead ECG, so they’re placed on the chest at specific anatomical landmarks to capture electrical activity from different angles. This precise placement is essential for a complete heart assessment and isn’t optional. They don’t measure blood pressure—that’s done with a cuff. In practice, V1 is placed in the 4th intercostal space at the right sternal border, V2 in the 4th intercostal space at the left sternal border, V3 is positioned midway between V2 and V4, and V4 is in the 5th intercostal space along the midclavicular line.