What mechanism involves the creation of daughter wavelets to promote the continuity of AF after the initial trigger?

Prepare for the Atrial Fibrillation Test with engaging flashcards and multiple choice questions, all with hints and detailed explanations. Master the material and succeed in your exam!

The mechanism that involves the creation of daughter wavelets to sustain atrial fibrillation after an initial trigger is known as multiple wave reentry. This phenomenon occurs when a single wave of electrical activity splits into multiple daughter wavelets, which can circulate independently throughout the atrial tissue.

In atrial fibrillation, this chaotic generation and re-entry of electrical impulses create a disorganized rhythm, allowing the atria to contract irregularly and rapidly. The presence of multiple wavelets contributes to the maintenance of the arrhythmia, as they continuously initiate new depolarization events, thereby perpetuating the fibrillatory process.

This process is crucial for understanding the dynamics of atrial fibrillation, as it highlights how a single trigger can evolve into a persistent condition through the proliferation of wavelets. Other mechanisms listed, like focal tachycardia, localized sources, and non-PV disturbances, do not involve the coordinated self-sustaining aspect of multiple wave reentry in maintaining atrial fibrillation.

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