False regarding Austin-Flint murmur is: March 2009
**Core Concept:** Austin-Flint murmur is a specific type of diastolic blood flow murmur heard best at the apex during inspiration. It is a result of the pressure difference between the left atrium and ventricle during relaxation, which is influenced by factors like heart size, valve competence, and pulmonary artery pressure.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right:**
The correct answer is not mentioned in the provided options, so we will discuss the concept of Austin-Flint murmur briefly. Austin-Flint murmur is a diastolic murmur heard at the apex during inspiration, which is caused by the pressure difference between the left atrium and ventricle during relaxation. This pressure difference is determined by the size of the heart, valve competence, and pulmonary artery pressure.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**
A. False regarding the murmur's location: The murmur is indeed heard at the apex during inspiration, but the incorrect option selects "March" as the reason, which is unrelated to the murmur's characteristics.
B. False regarding the murmur's cause: The murmur is caused by the pressure difference between the left atrium and ventricle during relaxation, not the heart's size.
C. False regarding the murmur's characteristics: The murmur is not specific to a particular condition, as it can be heard in various cardiac conditions affecting the pressure difference between the left atrium and ventricle during relaxation.
D. False regarding the murmur's characteristics: The murmur is not limited to a specific heart rate, as it can be heard in various cardiac conditions affecting the pressure difference between the left atrium and ventricle during relaxation.
**Clinical Pearl:** Austin-Flint murmur is a non-specific cardiac murmur heard at the apex during inspiration. It is caused by the pressure difference between the left atrium and ventricle during relaxation, influenced by factors such as valve competence and pulmonary artery pressure. This murmur can be heard in various cardiac conditions affecting these factors, indicating the need for further evaluation.