Osmosis video - Normal heart sounds

Heart sounds are the noises generated by the beating heart and the resultant flow of blood through it. Specifically, the sounds reflect the turbulence created when the heart valves snap shut. In cardiac auscultation, an examiner may use a stethoscope to listen for these unique and distinct sounds that provide important auditory data regarding the condition of the heart. There are two normal heart sounds: S1 and S2. S1 is caused by the closing of atrioventricular valves at the beginning of systole; whereas S2 is caused by the closing of aortic and pulmonary valves closing at the beginning of diastole.