What is an opening snap in heart sounds?

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Multiple Choice

What is an opening snap in heart sounds?

Explanation:
Opening snap represents an abnormal heart sound seen with mitral stenosis. It occurs just after S2 in early diastole when the stenotic mitral valve, which is stiff and restricted, abruptly opens and the leaflets snap open, producing a brief, high-pitched sound. This tells you the valve isn’t opening smoothly, a hallmark of rheumatic or other restrictive mitral valve disease. It isn’t a normal heart sound, it isn’t a murmur, and it doesn’t reflect closure of the semilunar valves (that’s S2). Clinically, it’s often best heard at the apex with the patient in the left lateral position and may be followed by a diastolic rumble from turbulent flow across the narrowed valve.

Opening snap represents an abnormal heart sound seen with mitral stenosis. It occurs just after S2 in early diastole when the stenotic mitral valve, which is stiff and restricted, abruptly opens and the leaflets snap open, producing a brief, high-pitched sound. This tells you the valve isn’t opening smoothly, a hallmark of rheumatic or other restrictive mitral valve disease. It isn’t a normal heart sound, it isn’t a murmur, and it doesn’t reflect closure of the semilunar valves (that’s S2). Clinically, it’s often best heard at the apex with the patient in the left lateral position and may be followed by a diastolic rumble from turbulent flow across the narrowed valve.

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