Definition

A condition where muscle fibers twitch rapidly and uncoordinatedly, often affecting the heart and leading to poor blood circulation.

Example

The doctor explained that fibrillation can lead to serious health issues if not treated promptly.

Conversation

I heard about a condition called fibrillation that affects the heart.

Yeah, it's pretty serious; it can disrupt the normal heartbeat.

What causes fibrillation?

It can be caused by stress, heart disease, or even excessive drinking.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fibrillation → It is formed from "fibrilla" (from Latin "fibrilla", meaning a small fiber) and the suffix "-tion" (meaning the action or process of). The word "fibrillation" refers to the process of small fibers contracting irregularly, particularly in the context of heart muscle fibers.

Memory Tip

Think of small 'fibers' ('fibrilla') contracting in an irregular way, which is what fibrillation describes.

Visually Confused Words