How would an aortic stenosis murmur best be described?

The murmur associated with aortic stenosis is characterized as a crescendo-decrescendo systolic ejection murmur. This type of murmur occurs during the systolic phase of the cardiac cycle, specifically between the first heart sound (S1) and the second heart sound (S2).

In aortic stenosis, the narrowing of the aortic valve creates turbulence as blood flows through it, leading to the characteristic sound. As blood is ejected from the left ventricle into the aorta, the intensity of the murmur gradually increases (crescendo) to a peak, followed by a decrease in intensity (decrescendo) as the ejection of blood diminishes. This pattern is indicative of an ejection murmur, which is often heard best at the right second intercostal space and may also radiate to the carotids.

The proper identification of this murmur is crucial for clinicians in diagnosing aortic stenosis and differentiating it from other cardiac conditions.