What does a heart murmur indicate?

A heart murmur indicates turbulent blood flow within the heart, often due to valve defects or abnormalities in the heart's structure. This turbulence can occur during the heart's contraction or relaxation phases and is typically detected through auscultation with a stethoscope. Murmurs can arise from various conditions, such as valve stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leaking), where blood flows abnormally through the heart chambers or valves. Understanding murmurs is crucial for assessing cardiac function and determining potential underlying issues that may require further investigation or intervention.

Normal heart function and normal blood flow would not typically produce a murmur, as they are characterized by smooth, laminar flow without turbulence. Conversely, the absence of blood flow would not lead to the detection of a murmur, as sounds associated with turbulent flow can only occur when there is an active flow of blood through the heart.