hartgeluiden

Hartgeluiden are the sounds produced by the heart during the cardiac cycle. They are generated by the closure of heart valves. The two main heart sounds, S1 and S2, are commonly heard during a physical examination. S1, often described as "lub," is produced by the closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves at the beginning of ventricular systole. S2, described as "dub," is caused by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves at the end of ventricular systole. These sounds are crucial for assessing heart function.

Additional heart sounds, known as S3 and S4, can sometimes be detected. S3, or a "gallop rhythm," occurs when the ventricles are rapidly filling with blood. It is typically heard in children and young adults but can indicate ventricular dysfunction in older individuals. S4, also part of a gallop rhythm, is caused by atrial contraction and the forceful filling of a stiff ventricle. It is usually heard in individuals with conditions like hypertension or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Abnormal heart sounds, known as murmurs, are caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart valves or chambers. Murmurs can be indicative of various heart conditions, including valve stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage), septal defects, or other structural abnormalities. The timing, loudness, pitch, and location of a murmur help in diagnosing the underlying cause. Auscultation, the process of listening to heart sounds with a stethoscope, is a fundamental diagnostic tool in cardiology.