Heart Sounds and Murmurs — Physiology

A 35-year-old woman with rheumatic mitral stenosis and a 28-year-old man with mitral regurgitation both present with cardiac murmurs. Which feature best distinguishes the murmur of mitral stenosis from that of mitral regurgitation?

A 52-year-old man is found to have a high-pitched, early diastolic murmur at the left sternal border, accentuated by leaning forward. The murmur is suspected to be aortic regurgitation secondary to aortic root dilatation. Which investigation is most appropriate to assess the aortic root diameter and determine the need for surgical intervention?

A 62-year-old man with a long history of hypertension is found to have a late systolic murmur that increases with Valsalva maneuver. Which feature best distinguishes this from a holosystolic murmur of mitral regurgitation?

Which feature best distinguishes the murmur of mitral stenosis from aortic stenosis in a 55-year-old woman presenting with dyspnea?

A 52-year-old man with chronic hypertension presents with a systolic murmur best heard at the right upper sternal border. Regarding the physiological mechanisms of systolic murmurs, all of the following are correct EXCEPT: