Definition

Noun: A cardiac murmur is an abnormal sound heard during a heartbeat cycle, typically detected with a stethoscope. It is often, but not always, a sign of abnormal function or structure of the heart valves.

Usage

A "cardiac murmur" is a medical term used to describe a specific clinical finding. It is typically classified by its timing (e.g., systolic, diastolic), location, intensity, and quality (e.g., blowing, rumbling). The term itself does not diagnose a specific disease but indicates the need for further evaluation. - The doctor detected a cardiac murmur during the routine physical examination. - Not all cardiac murmurs are indicative of serious heart disease; some are "innocent" or functional.

Advanced Usage

• "Innocent" or "functional" cardiac murmur: A murmur that occurs in a heart with normal structure and function, common in children and during pregnancy.
• "Pathologic" cardiac murmur: A murmur caused by an underlying structural heart problem, such as valve stenosis or regurgitation.
• The character of the cardiac murmur—such as being holosystolic or mid-systolic—helps cardiologists narrow the differential diagnosis.

Variants and Related Words

• Heart murmur: The more common, synonymous term in general and clinical use.
• Murmur: Often used alone in a medical context when the cardiac origin is clear from the discussion.
• Systolic murmur / Diastolic murmur: Terms specifying when the murmur occurs in the cardiac cycle.

Synonyms

• Heart murmur
• Cardiac bruit (less common, can be used interchangeably in some contexts, though "bruit" often refers to vascular sounds)

Related Phrases

• To have a murmur: A common phrasing to indicate the condition.
  • The pediatrician said the child has a murmur but it's likely innocent.
• Evaluation of a murmur: Refers to the diagnostic process, which may include an echocardiogram.

Noun

1. an abnormal sound of the heart; sometimes a sign of abnormal function of the heart valves