Sydänääninä

Sydänääninä is a Finnish term that translates to "heart sounds" in English. It refers to the noises generated by the heart during the cardiac cycle, primarily caused by the closing of heart valves. These sounds are crucial for medical professionals to assess the health of the heart.

The most common heart sounds are referred to as S1 and S2. S1, often described as "lub," is produced by the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves, marking the beginning of systole, the contraction phase of the heart. S2, often described as "dub," is caused by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves, signaling the end of systole and the beginning of diastole, the relaxation phase.

Variations or abnormalities in these sounds can indicate various cardiac conditions. For example, extra sounds like S3 and S4 can sometimes be heard. S3, heard in early diastole, can suggest fluid overload or heart failure. S4, heard in late diastole, may indicate stiffened ventricles. Furthermore, murmurs, which are abnormal extra sounds, can arise from turbulent blood flow through narrowed or leaky valves, or through abnormal openings within the heart.

Auscultation, the act of listening to these sounds using a stethoscope, is a fundamental part of a physical examination for cardiovascular health. The characteristics of heart sounds, including their timing, intensity, pitch, and quality, provide valuable diagnostic information to clinicians.