Final Answer:
The most common innocent murmur of childhood is the systolic ejection click.
Step-by-step explanation:
The heart of a child is different from that of an adult, and as a result, some sounds and murmurs that are considered normal in children may be considered abnormal in adults. One such sound is the systolic ejection click, which is the most common innocent murmur of childhood. This sound is heard during systole, the phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out to the body.
It is caused by the closure of the mitral valve, which separates the left atrium from the left ventricle. In some children, this closure is accompanied by a clicking sound, which is completely harmless and does not indicate any underlying heart condition. The ejection click is most commonly heard in young children, particularly those between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, and it typically disappears by the age of 5 or 6 years.
It is important for healthcare providers to distinguish between innocent murmurs like the ejection click and pathological murmurs that may indicate a heart condition, as this can help to avoid unnecessary testing and treatments for children with normal heart function.