Heart sounds are the noises created by the beating of the heart. The word is spelled as /hɑrt/ /saʊnds/. The first syllable 'hart' starts with the voiceless glottal fricative /h/ sound, followed by the diphthong /ɑ/ and the alveolar consonant /r/. The second syllable 'sounds' contains the diphthong /aʊ/ followed by the alveolar nasal /n/ and the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/, ending with the voiceless alveolar stop /d/. Overall, the word 'heart sounds' is pronounced as "hart-sounds".
Heart sounds refer to the audible sounds produced by the functioning of the heart during each cardiac cycle. These sounds are an essential part of a medical examination and provide valuable information about the overall health and condition of the cardiovascular system. The primary heart sounds, commonly known as S1 and S2, are heard as "lub-dub" sounds.
The first heart sound, S1, is heard as a "lub" sound and is caused by the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves of the heart at the beginning of ventricular systole. It indicates the start of a new cardiac cycle and the contraction of the heart's chambers. The second heart sound, S2, is heard as a "dub" sound and is produced by the closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves at the beginning of ventricular diastole. It signifies the end of the cardiac cycle and the relaxation of the heart's chambers.
These heart sounds are often accompanied by additional sounds known as heart murmurs. Heart murmurs can be indicative of abnormal blood flow within the heart, such as a malfunctioning or leaking valve, or a structural defect. They may be harmless or require further investigation and treatment depending on their characteristics.
Heart sounds are typically auscultated using a stethoscope placed on specific areas of the chest where the heart's valves can be best heard. They provide essential information to healthcare professionals for diagnosing and monitoring various cardiac conditions and are an integral part of a thorough cardiovascular examination.
The word "Heart Sounds" originated from the combination of the Old English word "heorte" meaning "heart" and the Old English word "sund" meaning "sound" or "noise". Over time, these two words merged to create the term "heart sounds" specifically referring to the sounds heard during a cardiac examination using a stethoscope.