Venous hum
Venous hum (pronunciation: /ˈviː.nəs hʌm/) is a specific type of vascular murmur that is typically heard in the neck. It is a continuous murmur and is usually benign.
Etymology
The term "venous hum" is derived from the Latin vena, meaning "vein", and the English hum, which is an onomatopoeic word that describes the sound that is heard when auscultating this murmur.
Description
A venous hum is a continuous, low-pitched, and soft murmur that is heard over the jugular veins of the neck. It is most commonly heard in children and young adults. The sound is produced by the turbulent flow of blood in the jugular veins. It can be accentuated by turning the head to the side, and it usually disappears when the patient is lying down or when pressure is applied to the neck.
Clinical significance
While a venous hum is usually a benign finding, it can sometimes be associated with more serious conditions such as thyrotoxicosis, anemia, and arteriovenous fistula. Therefore, if a venous hum is detected during a physical examination, further investigation may be warranted to rule out these conditions.
Related terms
- Vascular murmur: A sound made by the turbulent flow of blood in the vascular system.
- Jugular vein: A vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the head back to the heart.
- Thyrotoxicosis: A condition caused by an excess of thyroid hormones.
- Anemia: A condition in which there is a deficiency of red cells or of haemoglobin in the blood.
- Arteriovenous fistula: An abnormal connection between an artery and a vein.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Venous hum
- Wikipedia's article - Venous hum
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski