Congenital Abnormalities

Coarctation of the Aorta 58 - Auscultation Lesson

Here we present an example of coarctation of the aorta, a congenital abnormality. This first heart sound is normal. The second heart sound is intensified. There is diamond shaped murmur occupying most of systole and a high-pitched decrescendo murmur in the first half of diastole. In the anatomy video you can see a constriction in the descending aorta which is responsible for the systolic murmur. There is regurgitant flow from the aorta into the left ventricle which causes the diastolic murmur. The left ventricle wall thickness is increased due to aortic pressure elevation caused by the aortic coarctation.

Listen

The patient's position is sitting leaning forward.

Visualize

Observe

Play the cardiac movie and observe a constriction in the descending aorta which is responsible for the systolic murmur. There is regurgitant flow from the aorta into the left ventricle which causes the diastolic murmur. The left ventricle wall thickness is increased due to aortic pressure elevation caused by the aortic coarctation.