Murmurs of atrioventricular valve stenosis (mitral and tricuspid) are typically described as what type of pitch?

Atrioventricular valve stenosis, specifically involving the mitral and tricuspid valves, typically produces murmurs that are classified as low-pitched. This characteristic is primarily due to the nature of the turbulent blood flow that occurs when these valves are narrowed.

Low-pitched murmurs arise from slower blood flow and are often described as having a "rumbling" quality. In the case of mitral stenosis, the murmur can be heard best when the patient is in the left lateral position and is associated with the diastolic filling phase when blood flows from the left atrium into the left ventricle through the narrowed valve. Similarly, tricuspid stenosis will produce a low-pitched murmur as blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle.

Recognizing the low-pitched quality of these murmurs is crucial during auscultation, as it helps healthcare providers distinguish them from other types of heart sounds and murmurs, which may vary in pitch and are associated with different cardiovascular conditions.