Murmurs are blowing, whooshing, or rasping sounds produced by turbulent blood flow through the heart valves or near the heart.
Alternative Names
Chest sounds - murmurs; Heart sounds - abnormal
Considerations
A doctor can check heart sounds by listening with a stethoscope over the surface of the chest. An echocardiogram can find the exact cause of the murmur.
The heart has four chambers: two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). The heart has valves that close with each heart beat, causing blood to flow in only one direction. The valves are located between the atria and ventricles, and between the ventricles and the major vessels from the heart.
Normal heart sounds are called S1 and S2. They are the "lubb-dupp" sounds that are thought of as the heartbeat. These sounds occur when the heart valves close. Normally, there is no sound when the heart valve opens. In a person with congenital heart disease or heart valve disease, a "click" sound may be heard during a physical exam.
Because the heart is also divided into a "right side" and a "left side," sometimes these sounds may be divided. Most commonly noted is a "split S2." This is caused when the right and left ventricles relax and the valves close at slightly different times. It is normal.
Cyanotic heart disease (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cyanotic heart disease is a heart defect, present at birth(congenital), that results in low blood oxygen levels. There may be more than one defect. Reviewer: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.; and Mark A Fogel, MD, FACC, FAAP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Radiology, Director of Cardiac MR, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.Date: 12/10/2007
Pulmonary valve stenosis (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Pulmonary valve stenosis is a condition in which the flow of blood from the heart(right ventricle, or lower chamber) is blocked at the valve that separates the heart from the pulmonary artery(pulmonic valve). This narrowing is usually present at b...Reviewer: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
Heart disease (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Heart disease is any disorder that affects the heart''s ability to function normally. Various forms of heart disease include:.The most common cause of heart disease is a narrowing of or blockage in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart...Reviewer: David C. Dugdlae, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 10/05/2008
Print
