A report on Atrial flutter, Atrial fibrillation and Atrioventricular node

Atrial flutter with varying A-V conduction (5:1 and 4:1)
Leads aVL and aVF of an electrocardiogram showing atrial fibrillation. There are irregular intervals between heart beats. No P waves are seen and there is an erratic baseline between QRS complexes. The heart rate is about 125 beats per minute.
Image showing the conduction system of the heart. The AV node is labelled 2.
Type I atrial flutter, counterclockwise rotation with 3:1 and 4:1 AV nodal block.
Normal rhythm tracing (top) Atrial fibrillation (bottom)
Isolated heart conduction system showing atrioventricular node
Atrial flutter with a two to one block. Note the P waves hiding in the T waves in leads V1 and V2
How a stroke can occur during atrial fibrillation
Non-modifiable risk factors (top left box) and modifiable risk factors (bottom left box) for atrial fibrillation. The main outcomes of atrial fibrillation are in the right box. BMI=Body Mass Index.
A 12-lead ECG showing atrial fibrillation at approximately 132 beats per minute
Diagram of normal sinus rhythm as seen on ECG. In atrial fibrillation the P waves, which represent depolarization of the top of the heart, are absent.
ECG of atrial fibrillation (top) and normal sinus rhythm (bottom). The purple arrow indicates a P wave, which is lost in atrial fibrillation.
3D Medical Animation still shot of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion

It may also start as other forms of arrhythmia such as atrial flutter that then transform into AF.

- Atrial fibrillation

It is typically not a stable rhythm, and often degenerates into atrial fibrillation (AF).

- Atrial flutter

This is the property of the AV node that prevents rapid conduction to the ventricle in cases of rapid atrial rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

- Atrioventricular node

Impulses from the atria are conducted to the ventricles through the atrio-ventricular node (AV node).

- Atrial flutter

These disorganized waves conduct intermittently through the atrioventricular node, leading to irregular activation of the ventricles that generate the heartbeat.

- Atrial fibrillation
Atrial flutter with varying A-V conduction (5:1 and 4:1)

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Ventricular fibrillation (VF) showing disorganized electrical activity producing a spiked tracing on an electrocardiogram (ECG)

Arrhythmia

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Too fast or too slow.

Too fast or too slow.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) showing disorganized electrical activity producing a spiked tracing on an electrocardiogram (ECG)
Broad classification of arrhythmias according to region of heart required to sustain the rhythm
Normal sinus rhythm, with solid black arrows pointing to normal P waves representative of normal sinus node function, followed by a pause in sinus node activity (resulting in a transient loss of heartbeats). Note that the P wave that disrupts the pause (indicated by the dashed arrow) does not look like the previous (normal) P waves – this last P wave is arising from a different part of the atrium, representing an escape rhythm.

Supraventricular tachycardias include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

The impulse initially causes both atria to contract, then activates the atrioventricular node (AV node), which is normally the only electrical connection between the atria and the ventricles (main pumping chambers).