Ambulatory Care Nurse Certification Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Resource for Comprehensive Exam Success!

A murmur is an abnormal sound produced by turbulent blood flow in the heart or blood vessels, which often indicates a problem with one or more heart valves. When it comes to the mitral valve, a murmur can occur when the valve is narrowed (stenosis) or when it does not close properly (regurgitation), allowing blood to leak backward into the atrium.

While options like a pansystolic sound can be a specific type of murmur associated with mitral regurgitation, the most encompassing term that indicates any issues with the mitral valve's function is a murmur. Rhythm alteration and gurgling sounds are not typically representative of direct issues with the mitral valve. Rhythm alterations might indicate arrhythmias, while gurgling sounds are not commonly associated with heart sounds but may represent other physiological issues unrelated to valve dysfunction.