Mitral regurgitation produces which murmur description?

Mitral regurgitation produces which murmur description?

• A. Harsh systolic ejection murmur at left sternal border
• B. Diastolic decrescendo murmur at apex
• C. Blowing holosystolic murmur at the apex radiating to the axilla
• D. Continuous murmur best heard at the left infraclavicular area

Answer: (C)

Mitral regurgitation presents with a holosystolic, high-pitched blowing murmur that is loudest at the cardiac apex and often radiates to the axilla. This pattern reflects blood being forced backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium throughout the entire systole, from S1 to S2. The apical location and axillary radiation are classic clues because the mitral valve is located at the apex and the regurgitant jet commonly projects toward the left atrium and axilla. The murmur may become louder with handgrip, which increases afterload and thus the amount of regurgitation. In contrast, other descriptions point to different lesions: a harsh systolic murmur at the left sternal border suggests aortic or other outflow tract disease; a diastolic decrescendo murmur at the apex would indicate a diastolic lesion such as regurgitation elsewhere or stenosis patterns; and a continuous murmur best heard under the left clavicle indicates a patent ductus arteriosus.

Mitral regurgitation presents with a holosystolic, high-pitched blowing murmur that is loudest at the cardiac apex and often radiates to the axilla. This pattern reflects blood being forced backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium throughout the entire systole, from S1 to S2. The apical location and axillary radiation are classic clues because the mitral valve is located at the apex and the regurgitant jet commonly projects toward the left atrium and axilla. The murmur may become louder with handgrip, which increases afterload and thus the amount of regurgitation. In contrast, other descriptions point to different lesions: a harsh systolic murmur at the left sternal border suggests aortic or other outflow tract disease; a diastolic decrescendo murmur at the apex would indicate a diastolic lesion such as regurgitation elsewhere or stenosis patterns; and a continuous murmur best heard under the left clavicle indicates a patent ductus arteriosus.