What type of murmur is associated with aortic regurgitation?

Aortic regurgitation is characterized by a high-pitched diastolic murmur that is best heard along the left sternal border. This murmur occurs due to the backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole as a result of the aortic valve not closing properly. The high-pitched quality of the murmur is due to the turbulent flow of blood in the ventricle as it fills during diastole, which can be accentuated in patients who are hypertensive or have a high stroke volume.

The location where the murmur is heard (left sternal border) corresponds to the anatomy of the heart and the positioning of the aortic valve. The timing of the murmur in diastole further indicates its relationship to the hemodynamic changes occurring during this phase of the cardiac cycle. Murmurs associated with aortic regurgitation can also become more pronounced with maneuvers that increase venous return, such as squatting, which enhances the volume overload situation in the left ventricle.

The other options describe different types of murmurs that are characteristic of other conditions. For instance, a continuous murmur throughout the cardiac cycle suggests a condition like a patent ductus