Aortic Regurgitation - Murmur best heard with patient sitting forward, Stethoscope in bell mode positioned over the second intercostal space to the right of right of the sternal border, or over the 3rd - 4th intercostal space just to the left of the sternal border. Murmur is enhanced during expiration.

Note that the aortic component of the second heart sound is soft. The characteristic murmur is an early diastolic murmur. The intensity is loudest at the onset of diastole and becomes softer during diastole - the so-called "decrescendo" murmur.

Contributed by Dr. Darryl A Smith FCP (SA) Cardiology