Which term describes a short, high-pitched sound heard on auscultation?

• A. Bruit
• B. JVD
• C. Murmur
• D. Click

Answer: (D)

Short, crisp sounds heard with the stethoscope are described as clicks. These come from rapid valve movements or closures, such as a mitral valve prolapse producing a mid-systolic click or the closing of a mechanical heart valve, which can sound like a brief, high-pitched tick. Murmurs, by contrast, are longer, swooshing sounds from turbulent blood flow within the heart and aren’t described as a brief, high-frequency click. Bruits are turbulent flow sounds heard over arteries, not cardiac valves, and jugular venous distention is a sign, not an auscultatory sound. So the brief, high-pitched auscultatory sound is a click.