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Multiple Choice

Which statement correctly describes an aortic stenosis murmur?

Aortic stenosis produces a harsh, crescendo–decrescendo systolic murmur from turbulent flow across a narrowed aortic valve. Because the aortic valve sits at the right upper sternal border, the murmur is heard best at the right second intercostal space and often radiates to the neck (carotid arteries). A diastolic murmur would not describe aortic stenosis, since stenosis is a systolic event. Hearing a systolic murmur best at the left infraclavicular area is not the typical location for aortic stenosis and would not fit the classic auscultation of this lesion. The apex, at the left fifth intercostal space, is the mitral area and aligns with mitral murmurs rather than aortic stenosis. So the hallmark description is a systolic murmur best heard at the right second intercostal space with radiation to the neck.

Aortic stenosis produces a harsh, crescendo–decrescendo systolic murmur from turbulent flow across a narrowed aortic valve. Because the aortic valve sits at the right upper sternal border, the murmur is heard best at the right second intercostal space and often radiates to the neck (carotid arteries). A diastolic murmur would not describe aortic stenosis, since stenosis is a systolic event. Hearing a systolic murmur best at the left infraclavicular area is not the typical location for aortic stenosis and would not fit the classic auscultation of this lesion. The apex, at the left fifth intercostal space, is the mitral area and aligns with mitral murmurs rather than aortic stenosis. So the hallmark description is a systolic murmur best heard at the right second intercostal space with radiation to the neck.