What is the expected heart sound associated with mitral regurgitation?

The expected heart sound associated with mitral regurgitation is a loud, high-pitched pansystolic murmur. This specific type of murmur occurs due to the backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole, which is when the heart is contracting and pumping blood out to the body. The terms "pansystolic" or "holosystolic" describe the continuous nature of the murmur throughout the entire systole.

The loudness and high pitch are indicative of the turbulence created by the regurgitant flow, and this murmur is typically best heard at the apex of the heart and may radiate to the left axilla. Understanding this heart sound is crucial for recognizing mitral regurgitation in a clinical setting, as it can help guide further diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.