____ are the pads in contact with a patient's skin that allow electrical impulses to be read by a heart monitor, and allow the delivery of an electrical defibrillation if necessary.

The correct answer is electrodes. Electrodes are essential components used in monitoring the heart's electrical activity and delivering electrical impulses for defibrillation. When placed on a patient’s skin, electrodes detect the electrical signals generated by the heart, transmitting these signals to a heart monitor. This enables healthcare providers to assess the patient's heart rhythm accurately.

Additionally, in the case of a life-threatening arrhythmia, electrodes can also facilitate the delivery of an electrical shock via a defibrillator, which can restore a normal heart rhythm. Their ability to both read the electrical impulses and deliver energy makes electrodes critical in emergency situations involving cardiac arrest or other cardiac dysrhythmias.

Dysrhythmias refer to irregular heartbeats, electrocardiograms are the graphical representations of the heart's electrical activity, and contraindications are conditions or factors that serve as reasons to withhold a certain medical treatment or procedure. While all these terms are related to cardiac care, none describe the specific function of the pads that contact the patient’s skin to monitor heart activity and administer defibrillation.