Medical Disclaimer: This is educational content only, not medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare provider for diagnosis/treatment. Information based on sources like WHO/CDC guidelines (last reviewed: 2026-02-13).
Medical Disclaimer: This is educational content only, not medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare provider for diagnosis/treatment. Information based on sources like WHO/CDC guidelines (last reviewed: 2026-02-13).
The first heart sound S1 is produced mainly by closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves at the onset of ventricular systole and coincides with the carotid pulse and R wave of ECG.
S1 consists of two components: M1 from mitral valve closure and T1 from tricuspid valve closure, which are usually heard as a single sound.
A loud S1 occurs when AV valve leaflets are wide open at the start of systole, commonly seen in mitral stenosis with mobile leaflets, short PR interval, tachycardia, and hyperdynamic states.
A soft S1 is seen in mitral regurgitation, long PR interval, left ventricular dysfunction, and calcified or immobile mitral valves.
In atrial fibrillation, variable diastolic filling leads to inconsistent ventricular contraction force, resulting in beat-to-beat variation in S1 intensity.
Jugular venous pressure is a clinical estimate of right atrial pressure assessed by observing pulsations of the internal jugular vein.
The internal jugular vein has a direct connection to the right atrium without valves, making it a reliable indicator of right atrial pressure.
The normal JVP waveform includes the a wave, c wave, x descent, v wave, and y descent, reflecting different phases of the cardiac cycle.
Absent a waves are seen in atrial fibrillation due to loss of organized atrial contraction.
Cannon a waves are large intermittent a waves caused by atrial contraction against a closed tricuspid valve, seen in complete heart block and other forms of AV dissociation.
Kussmaul sign is a paradoxical rise in JVP during inspiration, seen in constrictive pericarditis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and right ventricular infarction.
Raised JVP indicates elevated right atrial pressure and is commonly seen in right heart failure, tricuspid valve disease, pericardial disease, and fluid overload.