The term fibrillation is explained as a very rapid irregular contractions of the muscle fibers of the heart resulting in a lack of synchronism between heartbeat and pulse. There are two common fibrillations in the heart known as atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation. While they are both fibrillations, ventricular fibrillation poses a far more fatal outcome than atrial fibrillation. This paper will be used to examine what causes the difference in these fibrillations and the difference in health risks resulting from them.
To understand the difference in atrial and ventricular fibrillation one must first understand the cardiac cycle and how a properly functioning heart works. The heart itself is one large organ that functions like …show more content…
Once filled, the right atrium contracts and pumps its contents into the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve. Once the right atrium is drained completely, the tricuspid valve will close to prevent blood from flowing back into the right atrium. Next, the right ventricle contracts, causing the pulmonary valve to open and forcing blood into the pulmonary artery. Once the blood is emptied, the pulmonary valve will close to prevent backflow. The deoxygenated blood will travel to the lungs through the pulmonary artery to pick up oxygen and release carbon …show more content…
Atrial Fibrillation In a healthy heart, blood is pumped from the atrium into the ventricle through a valve by way of contraction. Another contraction sweeps the blood out of the lower chamber and into the body. However, when atrial fibrillation affects a heart, the heart stops beating in sync and the blood in the atria may not completely empty from the uncoordinated contraction. When blood doesn’t completely empty from the atria, it can begin to pool. Pooled blood can clot, and blood clots that block entire blood vessels or arteries can cause a stroke. (Holland, 2014).
Atrial fibrillation is typically is not immediately life threatening. However, it’s a serious medical condition that can lead to life-threatening complications if it goes untreated.
Ventricular
To understand the difference in atrial and ventricular fibrillation one must first understand the cardiac cycle and how a properly functioning heart works. The heart itself is one large organ that functions like …show more content…
Once filled, the right atrium contracts and pumps its contents into the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve. Once the right atrium is drained completely, the tricuspid valve will close to prevent blood from flowing back into the right atrium. Next, the right ventricle contracts, causing the pulmonary valve to open and forcing blood into the pulmonary artery. Once the blood is emptied, the pulmonary valve will close to prevent backflow. The deoxygenated blood will travel to the lungs through the pulmonary artery to pick up oxygen and release carbon …show more content…
Atrial Fibrillation In a healthy heart, blood is pumped from the atrium into the ventricle through a valve by way of contraction. Another contraction sweeps the blood out of the lower chamber and into the body. However, when atrial fibrillation affects a heart, the heart stops beating in sync and the blood in the atria may not completely empty from the uncoordinated contraction. When blood doesn’t completely empty from the atria, it can begin to pool. Pooled blood can clot, and blood clots that block entire blood vessels or arteries can cause a stroke. (Holland, 2014).
Atrial fibrillation is typically is not immediately life threatening. However, it’s a serious medical condition that can lead to life-threatening complications if it goes untreated.
Ventricular