Heart sounds

The heart sounds are the noises (sound) generated by the beating heart and the resultant flow of blood through it. In cardiac auscultation, an examiner uses a stethoscope to listen for these sounds, which include heart tones, or sounds, produced by heart valves closing, heart murmurs, and adventitious sounds, or clicks.

Related Topics:
Sound - Stethoscope - Heart valve

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Heart sounds are usually divided into the normal heart sounds and the pathological sounds which indicate disease. The two distinct normal heart tones are often described as a lub and a dub (or dup), and occur in sequence with each heart beat. Murmurs are generated by turbulent flow of blood within the heart. Stenosis, or impaired opening of a heart valve, causes turbulence as blood flows through it. Valve insufficiency, or regurgitation, allows backflow of blood when the valve is supposed to be closed. In these situations, murmurs will be heard in the corresponding part of each cardiac cycle.

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