Cardiology · USMLE Step 1

USMLE Cardiology: Murmurs and Heart Sounds

Heart murmur and abnormal heart sound recognition tested on USMLE Step 1.

35 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.

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What is the timing and quality of the aortic stenosis murmur?
A crescendo-decrescendo (harsh) systolic ejection murmur
Where does the aortic stenosis murmur classically radiate?
To the carotid arteries
What carotid pulse finding is classic for severe aortic stenosis?
Pulsus parvus et tardus (weak and delayed upstroke)
What is the timing and location of the mitral regurgitation murmur?
A holosystolic murmur best heard at the cardiac apex
Where does the mitral regurgitation murmur typically radiate?
To the axilla
What two auscultatory findings characterize mitral stenosis?
A mid-diastolic rumble preceded by an opening snap
In mitral stenosis, what does a shorter S2-to-opening-snap interval indicate?
More severe mitral stenosis
What is the timing and location of the aortic regurgitation murmur?
An early diastolic, decrescendo murmur at the left sternal border
What pulse finding is associated with chronic, severe aortic regurgitation?
A wide pulse pressure with a bounding, water-hammer pulse
What is the timing and location of the tricuspid regurgitation murmur?
A holosystolic murmur at the lower left sternal border
What is Carvallo's sign?
The tricuspid regurgitation murmur getting louder with inspiration
What is the character and location of the pulmonic stenosis murmur?
A systolic ejection murmur at the left upper sternal border
What is the classic murmur of a ventricular septal defect?
A holosystolic, harsh murmur at the left lower sternal border
What is the classic murmur of a patent ductus arteriosus?
A continuous, machine-like murmur
How does the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy murmur change with Valsalva or standing?
It becomes louder

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