What murmur is commonly associated with mitral regurgitation?

The murmur associated with mitral regurgitation is a systolic murmur that is best heard at the apex of the heart. In this condition, the mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow back into the left atrium from the left ventricle during systole (the heart's contraction phase). This backflow creates turbulence in the bloodstream, which results in the characteristic holosystolic or pansystolic murmur that typically occurs from the beginning to the end of systole.

The sound is often described as a "blowing" murmur and is best heard with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position, enhancing its audibility. Recognizing the characteristics and location of this murmur is crucial in diagnosing mitral regurgitation and differentiating it from other types of heart murmurs, which have distinct timing and localization in the cardiac cycle.