How is the murmur of mitral stenosis described?

The murmur of mitral stenosis is characterized as mid-diastolic and low pitch. This murmur arises due to the turbulent blood flow across the narrowed mitral valve during diastole, when the left atrium is emptying into the left ventricle. The low pitch is a result of the slower blood flow through the stenotic valve, which produces a sound that is best heard with the bell of the stethoscope. The mid-diastolic timing is crucial; it occurs after the opening snap of the mitral valve, which is an early sound reflecting the abrupt halt of the valve as it opens.

In addition to its characteristic sound qualities, the murmur is often best listened for at the apex of the heart, where the flow dynamics can be most clearly heard. The presence of an opening snap preceding the murmur further emphasizes the diagnosis of mitral stenosis, marking the abrupt cessation of the rapid filling of the ventricle.

Options that describe the murmur in other terms, such as high pitch, pansystolic, or continuous, do not accurately reflect the specific auditory characteristics of the murmur associated with mitral stenosis. High-pitched sounds are typically related to other types of murmurs such as those