What is an S3 heart sound commonly referred to as?

An S3 heart sound is commonly referred to as a ventricular gallop. This sound occurs during the rapid filling phase of the ventricles and is typically associated with conditions such as heart failure or volume overload. The S3 sound is produced by the vibrations of the ventricular walls and the flow of blood into the ventricles, which can be indicative of underlying heart function issues.

In contrast, the other terms do not accurately describe this specific sound. An atrial gallop refers to the S4 heart sound, which occurs just before the S1 sound and is associated with conditions like hypertensive heart disease. A diastolic murmur indicates a turbulent blood flow during the diastole phase but is not synonymous with an S3 sound. Similarly, while the term "heart murmur" represents a broader category of sounds created by turbulent blood flow within the heart, it does not specifically refer to the S3 sound itself, which has distinct clinical implications.