Retrograde blood flow from the right ventricle into the right atrium caused by inadequate closure of the tricuspid valve orifice during ven¬tricular systole.
Tricuspid regurgitation is most often caused by a dilated valve ring secondary lo right ventricular failure. Infective endocarditis is a less common cause (see Ch. 39). The holosystolic murmur (maximal along the lower left sternal border) is accentuated on inspiration. A large posi¬tive systolic w;ive in the jugular venous pulse is also present. Medical treatment of heart failure lessens the regurgitation.