Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification Practice Exam 2025 - Free Cardiac Vascular Nursing Practice Questions and Study Guide

The mitral regurgitation murmur is characterized by a holosystolic or pansystolic pattern, meaning that it occurs throughout the entire duration of systole without interruption or variation in intensity. This type of murmur arises due to the backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during ventricular contraction. The continuous nature of the murmur makes it easily recognizable, and it provides critical information about the presence of mitral valve disorders.

In contrast, both aortic and pulmonic stenosis murmurs typically begin after the first heart sound (S1) and end before the second heart sound (S2), often changing in intensity throughout systole. These murmurs are often characterized by a "crescendo-decrescendo" pattern, where the sound can shift from soft to loud and back to soft, reflecting the dynamics of blood flow through the narrowed valve.

Mitral stenosis murmurs can also change during systole, often being associated with an opening snap following S2, which marks the beginning of diastole rather than remaining constant through systole.

Overall, the distinctive characteristic of the mitral regurgitation murmur being consistent throughout systole makes it the correct answer to this question.