What abnormal heart sound is described?

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Multiple Choice

What abnormal heart sound is described?

This item tests recognizing an extra heart sound that signals a stiff ventricle. The described abnormal sound is S4, generated by atrial contraction forcing blood into a noncompliant ventricle. It occurs late in diastole, just before the first heart sound, and is typically low-pitched and best heard with the bell at the apex in the left lateral position. It points to decreased ventricular compliance, as seen with long-standing hypertension and LV hypertrophy or other stiffening conditions. By comparison, S3 is an early diastolic sound from rapid filling and volume overload, S1 is the normal first heart sound from AV valve closure, and a murmur is a turbulent flow sound often due to valve disease.

This item tests recognizing an extra heart sound that signals a stiff ventricle. The described abnormal sound is S4, generated by atrial contraction forcing blood into a noncompliant ventricle. It occurs late in diastole, just before the first heart sound, and is typically low-pitched and best heard with the bell at the apex in the left lateral position. It points to decreased ventricular compliance, as seen with long-standing hypertension and LV hypertrophy or other stiffening conditions. By comparison, S3 is an early diastolic sound from rapid filling and volume overload, S1 is the normal first heart sound from AV valve closure, and a murmur is a turbulent flow sound often due to valve disease.

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