Atrial fibrillation is characterized by which of the following?

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Multiple Choice

Atrial fibrillation is characterized by which of the following?

Explanation:
In atrial fibrillation, the atria fire electrical impulses in a chaotic, disorganized way, so they lose the coordinated squeeze. The atrial rate becomes very fast and irregular, and because the AV node only partially filters these impulses, the ventricles respond in a variable, often rapid manner. That combination—rapid, irregular atrial activity with a ventricles’ response that is out of sync—describes an “irregularly quickly” atrial beat that is not in sync with the ventricles. The other patterns don’t fit: normal rhythm has the atria and ventricles beating together in a regular pattern, and AFib specifically involves rapid, irregular atrial activity that disrupts coordination with the ventricles.

In atrial fibrillation, the atria fire electrical impulses in a chaotic, disorganized way, so they lose the coordinated squeeze. The atrial rate becomes very fast and irregular, and because the AV node only partially filters these impulses, the ventricles respond in a variable, often rapid manner. That combination—rapid, irregular atrial activity with a ventricles’ response that is out of sync—describes an “irregularly quickly” atrial beat that is not in sync with the ventricles. The other patterns don’t fit: normal rhythm has the atria and ventricles beating together in a regular pattern, and AFib specifically involves rapid, irregular atrial activity that disrupts coordination with the ventricles.

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