What does a murmur during cardiac auscultation typically indicate?

A murmur during cardiac auscultation typically indicates turbulent blood flow, which often suggests underlying valvular heart disease. When the heart valves are functioning normally, blood flows smoothly and produces no sound. However, if there is a problem with one or more heart valves—such as stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage)—the flow becomes disturbed. This turbulence creates vibrations that are heard as a murmur through a stethoscope.

In the context of valvular heart disease, murmurs can provide critical information about the type and severity of the condition affecting the heart. For example, aortic stenosis may cause a systolic ejection murmur, while mitral regurgitation typically produces a holosystolic murmur. Recognizing the characteristics of these murmurs can aid in diagnosing specific conditions, addressing potential treatments, and monitoring progress.

Because murmurs indicate some form of abnormality in blood flow, they are not associated with clear and laminar blood flow, low heart function as a direct cause, or the absence of structural heart problems. In fact, the presence of a murmur often prompts further investigation to determine the specific cause of the turbulence and its clinical significance.