In atrial fibrillation, which statement about QRS duration is true?

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Multiple Choice

In atrial fibrillation, which statement about QRS duration is true?

Explanation:
QRS duration reflects how long the ventricles take to depolarize. In atrial fibrillation, the atria buzz with rapid, irregular activity, but the ventricular activation path—the His-Purkinje system—usually remains normal. That keeps the QRS complexes narrow and within normal limits, typically less than 0.10 seconds. The irregular rhythm you see in AF comes from variable AV nodal conduction, not from a change in ventricular depolarization time. Only if there’s an additional conduction abnormality, like a bundle branch block, would the QRS widen.

QRS duration reflects how long the ventricles take to depolarize. In atrial fibrillation, the atria buzz with rapid, irregular activity, but the ventricular activation path—the His-Purkinje system—usually remains normal. That keeps the QRS complexes narrow and within normal limits, typically less than 0.10 seconds. The irregular rhythm you see in AF comes from variable AV nodal conduction, not from a change in ventricular depolarization time. Only if there’s an additional conduction abnormality, like a bundle branch block, would the QRS widen.

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