Narrowing of the aortic valve is known as

• A. Mitral Stenosis
• B. Murmurs
• C. Aortic Stenosis
• D. Thrombophlebitis

Answer: (C)

Narrowing of a valve is called stenosis. When this happens at the aortic valve, the condition is aortic stenosis. The valve can’t open fully, so blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta is restricted. This increases the heart’s workload and often leads to left-ventricular hypertrophy over time. People with aortic stenosis may notice chest pain, shortness of breath with exertion, or fainting with activity. On exam, you typically hear a harsh systolic murmur best at the right upper sternal border, often radiating to the carotids. The other terms don’t fit: mitral stenosis is narrowing of the mitral valve, not the aortic valve; murmurs are abnormal sounds rather than a disease name; thrombophlebitis involves veins and is unrelated to the heart valves.