Murmurs are extra sounds heard over the heart and are associated with eddies and flow turbulence.
Many murmurs are organic indicating valvular defects or other abnormalities within the heart.
Differentiating between organic and functional murmurs is often difficult by auscultation alone. It should be also be noted whether a murmur is associated with mid or late systole or diastole, or if it is continuous. Diastolic murmurs are graded on a scale of 1-4. The sounds may be rough or harsh. Some murmurs may be felt with the flat of the hand against the chest or with the stethoscope barely touching the chest if they are very high grade such as 5 or 6.