Murmur Health Dictionary

A sound caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart, as heard through a stethoscope.

Heart murmurs are regarded as an indication of possible abnormality in the blood flow. Apart from “innocent” murmurs, the most common cause of extra blood turbulence is a disorder of the heart valves. Murmurs can also be caused by some types of congenital heart disease (see heart disease, congenital) or by rarer conditions such as a myxoma in a heart chamber.

The uneven, rustling sound heard by AUSCULTATION over the HEART and various blood vessels in abnormal conditons. For example, murmurs heard when the stethoscope is applied over the heart are highly characteristic of valvular disease of this organ.

n. a noise, heard with the aid of a stethoscope, that is generated by turbulent blood flow within the heart or blood vessels. Turbulent flow is produced by damaged valves, *septal defects, narrowed arteries, or arteriovenous communications. Heart murmurs can also be heard in normal individuals, especially those who have hyperactive circulation, and frequently in normal children (innocent murmurs). Murmurs are classified as systolic or diastolic (heard in ventricular *systole or *diastole respectively); continuous murmurs are heard throughout systole and diastole (also known as *machinery murmurs because of their characteristic sound).