What it means
A sound caused by blood flowing roughly through the heart, often across a narrowed or leaking valve or a hole between chambers. Some murmurs are harmless (innocent murmurs, common in children and pregnancy). Murmurs are described by when they occur (systolic or diastolic), where they are loudest and how loud they are, graded I (faint) to VI (heard with the stethoscope just off the chest).
For the nurse
A new murmur, especially with fever, shortness of breath or chest pain, is reported. Listen in a quiet room with the bell and diaphragm at each valve area.
At a glance
| Spanish | soplo |
|---|---|
| Also written | murmurs |
Related terms
atrial septal defect
A hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart.
auscultation
Listening to the sounds inside the body, usually with a stethoscope.
stethoscope
A tool used to listen to sounds inside the body, such as the heart, lungs and bowel.
echocardiogram
An ultrasound picture of the heart that shows its chambers, valves, walls and how well it pumps.