What is the characteristic murmur produced by a ventricular septal defect?

Prepare for the PAEA Pediatrics EOR Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart condition where there is a defect or hole in the ventricular septum, which separates the left and right ventricles of the heart. The characteristic murmur associated with a VSD is a harsh holosystolic (or pansystolic) murmur, which occurs throughout the entire systole of the cardiac cycle.

This murmur is produced because blood flows from the higher-pressure left ventricle through the defect into the lower-pressure right ventricle, creating turbulent flow. The term "holosystolic" indicates that the murmur can be heard from the onset of ventricular contraction until its end, making it distinctive and easy for clinicians to identify upon auscultation. The harsh quality of the murmur is due to the rapid passage of blood through the defect, typically contributing to its loudness.

Other types of murmurs mentioned in the options are associated with different cardiac conditions. For example, a high-pitched diastolic murmur might suggest regurgitation across an incompetent valve, a continuous machinery murmur is classic for patent ductus arteriosus, and a prominent systolic ejection murmur indicates increased blood flow across the outflow tract of the heart, such

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