Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 71%
Simulated
A nurse is collecting data about a client's cardiac functioning. The nurse auscultates an S3 sound. Which of the following causes should the nurse suspect?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
The correct answer is B: Ventricular gallop. An S3 heart sound is indicative of rapid ventricular filling during diastole, which is commonly associated with heart failure. This sound occurs during the early phase of diastole when the ventricles are filled rapidly due to increased pressure in the atria. The S3 sound is heard immediately after S2 (closure of semilunar valves) when blood is rushing into the ventricles. Atrial gallop (choice A) is not associated with the S3 sound. The closing of the atrioventricular valves (choice C) is part of the normal heart sounds and does not produce an S3 sound. Similarly, the closing of semilunar valves (choice D) occurs during S2 but does not cause an S3 sound. Therefore, the correct answer is B as it directly relates to the pathophysiology of an S3 heart sound.