These reflect turbulence that can be caused by high flow rates, damaged valves, dilated chambers or vessels, or backward flow through a regurgitant valve. _____ are described by timing, intensity, quality, pitch and radiation.

These reflect turbulence that can be caused by high flow rates, damaged valves, dilated chambers or vessels, or backward flow through a regurgitant valve. _____ are described by timing, intensity, quality, pitch and radiation.

• A. Murmurs
• B. Rubs
• C. Clicks
• D. Bruits

Answer: (A)

Turbulent blood flow in the heart produces murmurs. These sounds are described by timing, intensity, quality, pitch, and radiation. The timing tells you when the murmur occurs in the cardiac cycle (for example, systolic or diastolic), the intensity ranges from faint to loud, the quality can be blowing, harsh, or musical, the pitch is high or low, and the radiation shows where the sound travels (such as to the carotids or axilla). Turbulence can arise from high flow states, damaged valves, dilated chambers or vessels, or regurgitation, all of which fit the classic discussion of murmurs.

Pericardial friction rubs are scratchy sounds related to inflammation of the pericardium and are described more by their triphasic nature and how they change with respiration and posture, not by a set combination of timing, intensity, quality, pitch, and radiation. Clicks stem from valve opening mechanics or prolapse and are best described by their timing and origin rather than the full murmur profile. Bruits are vascular sounds from turbulent flow in arteries, heard over the chest or neck, but they pertain to vessels rather than heart valve–related turbulence.

So the description that matches turbulence within the heart and its attributes—timing, intensity, quality, pitch, and radiation—is murmurs.