innocent murmur
A benign heart sound heard in healthy children caused by normal blood flow, requiring no treatment or restriction of activities.
Full Definition
An innocent murmur, also called a functional or physiologic murmur, is a heart sound produced by normal blood flow through the heart and great vessels in children with structurally normal hearts. These murmurs are extremely common, present in up to 80% of children at some point during childhood. Innocent murmurs are typically soft (grade 1-3/6), systolic, and change with position or activity level. They are often more audible during febrile illnesses, exercise, or emotional stress when cardiac output increases. Key characteristics include absence of associated symptoms, normal heart sounds, and no radiation to the neck or back. Unlike pathologic murmurs, innocent murmurs require no treatment, activity restrictions, or routine cardiology follow-up, though parental reassurance and education are important.
Usage
Usage note: Reassuring terminology preferred over 'functional murmur' when communicating with families.
In Context
- "Physical examination revealed a soft innocent murmur with no associated cardiac symptoms or abnormal findings." — well-child examination note
- "Parents were counseled that the innocent murmur is benign and requires no activity restrictions or further cardiac evaluation." — patient education documentation