Aortic murmur is a medical term used to describe an abnormal sound in the heart caused by the narrowing of the aortic valve. The word is spelled as "ei-awr-tik mur-mer" and can be broken down into its phonetic transcription of /eɪˈɔːrtɪk ˈmɜːmər/. The "ai" represents the long "a" sound, while the "aw" represents the "o" sound. The "tik" in aortic is pronounced with a hard "t" sound, while the "murmur" is pronounced with with a silent "b". Understanding how to properly pronounce the word aortic murmur is important for healthcare professionals and patients alike.
An aortic murmur is a medical term used to describe an abnormal sound that is heard during auscultation (listening to the internal sounds of the body using a stethoscope) of the aortic valve in the heart. The aortic valve separates the left ventricle of the heart from the aorta, which is the main artery that carries oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
Aortic murmurs are typically caused by problems with the aortic valve, such as stenosis (narrowing of the valve) or regurgitation (leakage of blood back into the left ventricle). These issues can disrupt the normal flow of blood through the valve, resulting in turbulence or abnormal sounds.
The characteristics of an aortic murmur can provide important diagnostic information. For example, the timing, intensity, pitch, and quality of the murmur can indicate the underlying cause and severity of the valve problem. Aortic murmurs may be described as systolic (occurring during the contraction phase of the heart) or diastolic (occurring during the relaxation phase of the heart). They can also be graded according to their loudness, ranging from a soft, barely audible sound to a loud, easily heard murmur.
The presence of an aortic murmur often prompts further investigation, such as echocardiography or other imaging tests, to evaluate the functioning of the aortic valve and the overall health of the heart. Treatment for aortic murmurs depends on the underlying cause and severity of the valve problem and may range from close monitoring to medication or surgical intervention.
One produced at the aortic orifice, either obstructive or regurgitant.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "aortic" in the term "aortic murmur" comes from the Greek word "aortē", meaning "aorta". The word "aortē" itself has its origins in the ancient Greek word "aírō", which means "to lift up" or "to heave". This refers to the aorta being the main artery of the body that carries blood away from the heart.
The word "murmur" comes from the Middle English word "murmur", which is derived from the Old French word "murmure" and the Latin word "murmurare", both meaning "to roar" or "to murmur". It was used to describe the sound of a soft, continuous, abnormal heart sound, which is characteristic of a condition like aortic stenosis or aortic regurgitation.