Heart valves can malfunction on one of two ways: They can fail to close completely, allowing blood to flow backward, or they can become damaged, limiting blood flow.
The mitral valve sits between the left atrium and left ventricle. It's job is to keep blood flowing in the right direction. Mitral valve prolapse is the bulging of the valve causing blood to leak backwards.
Heart murmurs may be caused by a number of factors or diseases, including defective heart valves, fever, and pregnancy. Read on to learn more about this condition.