When is a systolic murmur heard?

A systolic murmur is specifically characterized by its occurrence during the systolic phase of the cardiac cycle, which is the period when the heart chambers contract to pump blood out of the heart. This murmur is created by turbulent blood flow through the heart valves during this active pumping phase.

Understanding the timing of a systolic murmur is crucial, as it can be associated with certain cardiovascular conditions such as aortic stenosis or mitral regurgitation. During systole, as the ventricles contract, blood flows from the heart into the aorta and pulmonary artery, and any obstruction or abnormality in this flow can result in the characteristic sounds of a murmur.

In contrast, murmurs that occur during diastole represent different issues, typically relating to blood flow across heart valves when the heart is relaxed. Thus, recognizing that systolic murmurs happen exclusively during the heart's active pumping phase is essential for proper clinical assessment and diagnosis.