Which statement about right‑sided heart murmurs and respiration is correct?

Which statement about right‑sided heart murmurs and respiration is correct?

• A. Increase with inspiration
• B. Decrease with inspiration
• C. No change with respiration
• D. Increase with expiration

Answer: (A)

Right-sided murmurs become louder with inspiration because inspiration lowers intrathoracic pressure and increases venous return to the right heart. More blood flows into the right atrium and ventricle, boosting flow across the tricuspid and pulmonic valves and making their murmurs more prominent. Left-sided murmurs, in contrast, are typically louder with expiration when intrathoracic pressure rises and the left heart fills more. So increasing with inspiration is the correct pattern for right-sided murmurs.

Right-sided murmurs become louder with inspiration because inspiration lowers intrathoracic pressure and increases venous return to the right heart. More blood flows into the right atrium and ventricle, boosting flow across the tricuspid and pulmonic valves and making their murmurs more prominent. Left-sided murmurs, in contrast, are typically louder with expiration when intrathoracic pressure rises and the left heart fills more. So increasing with inspiration is the correct pattern for right-sided murmurs.