VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION Meaning and
Definition
-
Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia characterized by chaotic and irregular contractions of the heart's ventricles, the lower chambers responsible for pumping blood to the body. It is a medical emergency that can lead to rapid loss of consciousness and prompt death if left untreated.
During ventricular fibrillation, the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's contractions become disorganized, causing the ventricles to quiver instead of contracting effectively. As a result, blood circulation throughout the body is severely compromised, leading to inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to vital organs, including the brain.
The exact cause of ventricular fibrillation can vary, but it is often associated with heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction (heart attack), or heart muscle abnormalities. Other risk factors include certain medications, electrolyte imbalances, cardiac procedures, and structural heart defects.
Clinically, ventricular fibrillation is typically identified by the absence of a palpable pulse and loss of consciousness. It may be accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or sudden collapse. Immediate treatment is vital, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a defibrillator to deliver an electric shock to the heart are critical interventions to restore a normal heart rhythm.
In summary, ventricular fibrillation is a severe cardiac arrhythmia characterized by chaotic and ineffective contractions of the heart's lower chambers. Its prompt recognition and appropriate intervention are essential to prevent irreversible damage and save lives.
-
• Delirium cordis due to irregular fibrillary contraction of the wall of the cardiac ventricle.
• See under fibrillation.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION
- centricular fibrillation
- bentricular fibrillation
- gentricular fibrillation
- fentricular fibrillation
- vwntricular fibrillation
- vsntricular fibrillation
- vdntricular fibrillation
- vrntricular fibrillation
- v4ntricular fibrillation
- v3ntricular fibrillation
- vebtricular fibrillation
- vemtricular fibrillation
- vejtricular fibrillation
- vehtricular fibrillation
- venrricular fibrillation
- venfricular fibrillation
- vengricular fibrillation
- venyricular fibrillation
- ven6ricular fibrillation
Etymology of VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION
The word "ventricular fibrillation" can be broken down into its components to understand its etymology:
1. Ventricular: This term is derived from the Latin word "ventriculus", meaning "belly" or "stomach". In the medical context, ventricular refers to the ventricles, which are the two lower chambers of the heart.
2. Fibrillation: This term comes from the Latin word "fibra", meaning "fiber" or "thread". Fibrillation is a medical term used to describe a rapid and irregular contraction of muscle fibers or cells.
Therefore, the etymology of "ventricular fibrillation" refers to the rapid and irregular contraction of the muscle fibers in the ventricles of the heart.
Similar spelling word for VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION
