When was heart murmurs discovered?

Heart murmurs have been recognized since ancient times, with descriptions of heart sounds appearing in texts from ancient Greece and Rome. However, the systematic study and understanding of heart murmurs began in the 19th century with the advent of the stethoscope, invented by René Laennec in 1816. This innovation allowed for more precise auscultation of heart sounds, leading to a better understanding of murmurs and their significance in diagnosing heart conditions.