The term "systolic murmur" refers to a sound produced by the heart during contraction. The word "systolic" is spelled /sɪsˈtɒlɪk/, with the stress on the second syllable. This term derives from the Greek word "systolē", meaning "contraction". The word "murmur" is spelled /ˈmɜːmər/, with the stress on the first syllable. It derives from the Latin word "murmurare", meaning "to murmur or rumble". Proper spelling of medical terms is critical for effective communication in healthcare. Clear pronunciation and understanding of the phonetic transcription can aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment.
A systolic murmur refers to an abnormal sound produced during the contraction of the heart ventricles, known as systole. It is a type of heart murmur that occurs between the first and second heart sounds, typically heard through a stethoscope placed on the chest. This particular type of murmur arises due to disrupted blood flow within the heart or major blood vessels during ventricular systole.
The murmur sound is a result of turbulent blood flow that occurs when there is an abnormality in the heart valves or when blood passes through narrowed or leaky valves. It is characterized by a swooshing or whooshing sound and varies in intensity, pitch, and duration depending on the underlying cause.
Systolic murmurs can be classified into different types based on their timing, location, and characteristics. They are often graded on a scale from 1 to 6, with 1 being the softest and 6 being the loudest. The causes of systolic murmurs can vary and may include conditions such as aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, or ventricular septal defect.
Medical professionals use auscultation, the process of listening to the heart sounds, to identify and classify systolic murmurs. Further diagnostic tests, such as echocardiography or cardiac catheterization, may be required to determine the exact cause and severity of the murmur, as well as guide appropriate treatment and management options.
A m. heard during the ventricular systole, due to obstruction at the aortic or pulmonary orifice or to regurgitation at one of the atrioventricular orifices.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "systolic" comes from the Greek word "sustolē", meaning "a drawing together, contraction", and it is derived from the verb "systellō", which means "to draw together or contract".
The word "murmur" comes from the Latin word "murmurare", which means "to murmur, whisper". This Latin word is derived from the onomatopoeic sound "murmur".
When combined, "systolic murmur" refers to a type of abnormal heart sound that occurs during the contraction (systole) phase of the cardiac cycle.