Flatline

The term flatline is usually used to describe an electrical measurement that shows no activity and therefore when represented, shows a flat line instead of a moving one. It almost always refers to either a flatlined EKG, or asystole, in which the heart shows no electrical activity, or to a flat EEG, in which the brain shows no electrical activity. (see also: Brain death.) Both of those specific cases are involved in various definitions of death.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The title of the 1990 movie Flatliners refers to its characters' experiments with this state.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

EKG: EKG may mean:...

Asystole: In medicine, asystole is a state of no cardiac electrical activity, hence no contractions of the myocardium and no cardiac output or blood flow. Asystole is one of the conditions required for a medical practitioner to certify death....

EEG: EEG can mean:...