Where do you listen for venous hum?

The flow of blood can cause the vein walls to vibrate creating a humming noise which can be heard by the subject. Typically, a peculiar humming sound is heard in the upper chest near the clavicle.

Where is venous hum best heard?

A venous hum, which is a continuous bruit throughout systole and diastole, is a common finding that has no pathologic significance. With the patient in the erect position it is audible below the clavicles and is best heard in the neck.

What does a venous hum indicate?

A cervical venous hum is an extremely common type of innocent heart murmur. It is caused by the sound of blood flow returning normally through the veins above the heart. Specifically, the jugular veins drain blood from the head and neck and connect to larger veins which return to the heart.

Is venous hum continuous?

The venous hum, a continuous murmur usually of maximum intensity in the supraclavicular area, is a common auscultatory finding. Heard particularly in children, it is of no known pathological significance.

Where does the venous hum sound come from?

This is the sound of venous hum, a murmur heard not uncommonly in children. It is usually best heard just above the right clavicle, and radiates into the neck. You will notice that it is a continuous murmur which does not change from systole to diastole, a slight hum in this example which sounds almost like background noise.

Which is not an innocent murmur or venous hum?

Venous hum (jugular venous hum; cervical venous hum). What is not an Innocent Murmur? It is high pitched and is best heard with diaphragm of the stethoscope in the second left intercostal space (pulmonary area) with radiation to lower left sternal border and apex.

How to test for the presence of a venous hum?

When a continuous roar or whine is heard, test for the presence of a hum by applying moderate pressure with the fingers a few inches above the stethoscope. A venous hum will disappear with moderate pressure on the internal jugular vein.

Can a venous hum be obliterated by Digital pressure?

Typically, the murmur of venous hum can be obliterated by brief digital pressure on the ipsilateral internal jugular vein. You may hear a slight pause in the hum of this example which is an artifact of the looping of the sound file, depending on your computer.