A disorder characterized by a long standing and persistent uncoordinated atrial myocardium activation due to multiple reentry circuits with consequent deterioration of atrial mechanical function. instead of intermittently contracting, the atria quiver continuously in a chaotic pattern, causing a totally irregular, often tachycardia ventricular rate. on the ecg it is characterized by the replacement of consistent p waves by rapid oscillations or fibrillatory waves that vary in size, shape, and timing, associated with an irregular, frequently rapid ventricular response when atrioventricular conduction is intact.