Murmurs are

• A. abnormal arteries in legs
• B. twisted veins
• C. abnormal heart sounds
• D. inflammation of veins

Answer: (C)

Murmurs are abnormal heart sounds produced by turbulent blood flow within the heart or great vessels. This turbulence happens when blood passes through a narrowed or leaky valve or flows through a septal defect, creating a whooshing noise heard with a stethoscope. They’re categorized by when they occur in the cardiac cycle (systolic or diastolic) and by intensity, and they can be innocent or indicate underlying valve or structural heart disease. They are not related to arteries in the legs, twisted veins, or inflammation of veins, which describe peripheral vascular conditions rather than heart sounds.