Mitral valve prolapse occurs when the mitral valve does not open or close properly. When this happens, the valve may balloon into the left atrium of the heart, causing the mitral valve to leak blood backwards. When the valve leaflets flap a clicking sound may be heard. Prolapse means that the two leaves are a little loose or floppy so the valve does not close as firmly as it should. This causes the faint clicking or it may allow a small amount of blood to leak through, which is what produces a murmur. People who have mitral valve prolapse may experience both a click and a murmur or only one of the two. Some people may have no unusual heart sounds at all, while others have heart murmurs that come and go.
Mitral valve prolapse is named
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