Final answer:
Paradoxic splitting, or paradoxical split S2, occurs when the sounds of the heart's second beat become split during expiration rather than inspiration. This is typically seen in conditions that delay the closure of the pulmonary valve.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paradoxic splitting, also known as paradoxical split S2, occurs when the sounds of the heart's second beat, or S2, become split during expiration rather than during inspiration.
This phenomenon is typically seen in conditions that delay the closure of the pulmonary valve, such as in patients with pulmonary hypertension or a delay in right ventricular emptying.
Paradoxic splitting of S2 can be heard during auscultation with a stethoscope and is characterized by a delayed closure of the pulmonic valve causing a split sound.